This is a sponsored post for T-Mobile 

 Just like mozzarella is to pizza, or breadcrumbs are to buttermilk, family meals are the things that make a family bond and strong. The family that cooks together, stays together. Did you ever hear that one? 

Maybe not, but it’s a phrase we sling around in our home. Sunday is a traditional Family Only day, and a time where we shut the outside world out and turn to our family and spend time together. With the scurried pace of the week, separate schedules and nothing more than texts to communicate, Sunday meals are the fusion that makes a family strong. 

However, there’s more to a Sunday meal than just getting together. Here’s why Sunday Meals are the fusion that makes a family strong and how you can effortlessly start making your own. 

Why Sunday Meals Are Base Ingredients To A Strong Family

John Legere Does It Again… 

Charismatic, friendly and caring John Legere has done it again. It’s not enough that John Leger is an incredible CEO but he’s also a Chef. Did you know he has an ‘un-hidden’ talent? Well in fact John does. 

I just got done reading a book, called  ‘#SlowCookerSunday – Leadership, Life and Slow Cooking with CEO and Chef, John Legere’, a great read and a good inspiration. We have been doing the Sunday Meal thing in my house forever, but there are more reasons in his book, than I really ever thought about.

And by the way John, I want to cook with you on a #SlowCookerSunday episode and do the Pam Shuffle with you! That is my #bucketlist for cooking and culinary creating. 🙂 

#SlowCookerSunday 

Before I ramble on about how great #SlowCookerSunday is, and what it means to me, you need to get your own copy. Trust me, you want to. The books  are available on the T-Mobile Website and in T-Mobile stores nationwide.

**Spoiler Alert *** Maybe? Inside you are about to find 52 of John’s favorite recipes.  Plus you know he’s ‘extra’ so he’s giving you a glimpse into his life and some advice. (My favorite is on page 144 and I took out the spinach (kids don’t like that) and added in Shrimp!)  His recipes are a springboard of inspiration. 

Remember, he’s the CEO of the ‘Un-carrier’. With that comes some very relevant advice that he provides to take from the office to the kitchen.  Further, and why I really urge you to purchase the cookbook, is because all net proceeds from the sales of the book go to Feeding America! 

I guess I would not have expected any less from this change-maker company and CEO. As always, the Un-carrier (and John) are committed to giving back and creating a future that’s brighter for everyone, so this book is that balance! Buy it! 

 Shut Up and Listen

Nah, I am not telling you to shut up and listen just to be ignorant, it’s something I read in John’s book. It did not take long to find another reason to love John! He says it like it is. Chapter 2 makes a very candid suggestion: “Shut up and listen & spice things up.”

It’s a time to Shut Up and Listen to each other. Take a turn, hear what everyone has to say. “Never stop learning from everyone around you.” Honestly, for me this translates this way: you might be a boss, but you can’t be good unless you really know each other and listen. Talking at people is offensive, talking with is incredible and the game-changer. 

Take this into your home. You might be the King or Queen of the domain, but if there are rifts, or things not making it right, then clean it up. Listen to your family, talk together, be together. Your castle only runs as smooth as those that reside in it.

Perhaps a lot less ruling will be necessary if you hear WHY you are asked things from the kids. There’s usually a reason behind everything. Smile, turn off the world and really listen to each other. It’s these moments that build our family. Give each other your undivided attention and you might learn a thing or two. You never know everything so take a moment to get insight. 

However if you are too fast to just say No, and talk to and not with, you won’t learn what is going on. Shut up and listen. Thank you JOHN. Which brings me to my point. 

Make Cheesy Spinach and Mozzarella Rigatoni. Yes, I said cook together! 

John offers a simple to follow, recipe for your slow cooker. Ingredients are easy to find in the store and the process is 2 step easy. 

Sunday meals are a time to just be a family, and see what everyone has going on in their lives.  Here’s where you get to really talk. It’s not about passing the cheese or who has to clean up, this is really about life. 

 Base Ingredients To A Strong Family

Bonding 

Bonding is effortless in the kitchen. If you are a couple and cooking, you get to spend time together. Maybe it’s as simple as stirring something together, or suggesting a simple item to drop in. Communication keeps rolling and before you know it, more chatter and banter about life. Communication is success in a life. 

Togetherness 

Turn off the WiFi, and turn on the music. Sing together, be together and just have fun. If everyone is in one room someone is bound to belch or do something funny which may just lead to more fun. 

Time For Each Other and Not The World 

Plus when you are all together, it’s a chance to talk, distracted by nothing except each other. It’s a chance to talk about upcoming vacations, or days off, or that fabulous ‘to-do’ list. Just use your time to talk together, not as the ruler of the universe and the home. 

A simple recipe to help others, (by purchasing the book), and creating a strong family all happens in the kitchen! Cooking together is fun, Slow Cooking brings it all together and life is good~ DANA