Last Sunday, my very Italian, very New York/New Jersey extended family on my mother’s side gathered at Anderson Park in Tarpon Springs for an impromptu mini family reunion.

Over six generations of the Pennucci family arrived with armfuls of casseroles and piles of potluck dishes, enough to feed an Army but barely enough to feed an Italian family.

Some family members flew in for this long awaited reunion. Others made the long journey by car for our impromptu picnic. Regardless of how they came, nobody wanted to leave.

With such busy lives, it was wonderful to put it all on hold and spend a food-filled day with family to catch up with one another or greet, hug and kiss new faces and kin.

Cousins who never met instantly became real life friends and friends on social media.

An average sunny Florida Sunday became an extraordinary day filled with smiles, laughter and some tears as we remembered loved ones long gone but forever in our hearts.

We even had party favors to commemorate the event.

My contribution to the family reunion potluck included Homemade Hummus with fresh veggies and Asian-Style Broccoli Slaw. But I couldn’t get enough of my cousin, Sharon’s sausage and peppers. In fact, I’m craving it and requested her recipe for this week’s dinner menu. While I await Sharon’s response to my recipe request, I’ll bookmark this sausage and peppers recipe by Giada of the Food Network.

As for the rest of the week, here’s what I’m serving for this week’s dinner menu:

Sunday – Orange Ginger Grilled Wings with Asian-Style Broccoli Slaw

Meatless Monday – Lentil Soup with Fresh Baked Bread and a Mixed Greens Salad

Taco Tuesday – Ground Turkey Tacos

Wednesday – Chicken Italian Sausage and Peppers on Hoagies with a Mixed Greens Italian Salad

Thursday – One-Pot Caprese Pasta with a Mixed Greens Italian Salad

Friday – Pizza

What recipes are you pinning and planning? What’s on your dinner menu this week?

Follow Run DMT on Pinterest for more kid-approved healthy recipes and healthy living tips.