Family Dinner

Every Friday night, Paul and Mary Adler bring their large family together for a Shabbat dinner to welcome in Sabbath. Everyone has a role as Mary and her daughters make the meal with their signature dishes while Paul and the boys tidy up the house.

Baseball player Roy Smalley and his wife began their family in the midst of his career. The schedule was hectic, but Sunday meals were always prioritized. The kids are now grown with families of their own, but they still make time for this tradition.

The Garner sisters have always been close, but their bond became even tighter after the passing of their mother. Rachael, Brittany and Kae keep her memory alive with their family's favorite recipes and a new creative tradition: painting.

The 24 hour shifts at Union Fire Department means the firefighters feel like family. Chef Louis Ferroni has been keeping them well-fed for 18 years. His culinary school training refined his skills, but it's the busy firehouse that's kept him on his toes.

Life as an NFL player can be hectic, so Jordan Hicks and his wife, Ivana, have leaned on family dinners to feel more at home wherever his career takes them. Hosting Ivana's family for a large Mexican feast is one of their favorite ways to feel grounded.

Summers at the lake house are sacred for the Wetherbee family -- and so is spending time on the boat. Between their family’s easy-to-make bars and casserole dishes, they’ve perfected an ideal lake life dinner menu.

The Kwon family immigrated from Korea to North Carolina 40 years ago, bringing their traditional Korean recipes with them. As their family grew, so did their dinners. Today, family dinners are a fusion of those Korean dishes with other cultural cuisines.

Growing up in rural Minnesota, the nearest neighbors were miles away and family dinner was a nightly occurrence for the Lassen siblings. Today, they still come together for home-cooked meals with their favorite recipes passed down by their family.

Kim Ratcliff followed in her father's footsteps by leaving corporate America to work on the family ranch in Texas. Kim has also taken over in the kitchen since her mother's passing and keeps her spirit alive by making the family’s favorite recipes.

Kelly and Nancy Stirn have run the R Lazy S dude ranch for 35 years, raising their sons Matt and Will to become the next generation of ranch owners. While their season keeps them busy, they treasure family dinners and time together.

Mema Pat was a profound presence for everyone in the Goss family and especially influenced Becki Shepherd's passions and career goals. Becki gained her love of cooking from Mema Pat and honors her through family dinners.

Wood's great-grandparents immigrated from Italy to Cumberland, WI in the 1880s and brought their Italian dinner traditions with them. Her grandparents continued hosting Pasta Sunday dinners and now her mother has taken the reins.

The Devine family have been seafood purveyors for decades and it’s a lifestyle that makes its way to their dinner table, too. Nancy Faidley Devine and her family seek to spread love and happiness for generations to come through her renowned recipes.

The Frasers are a chosen family. Though they're not all related, they're bound by history, love for each other and shared appreciation for spending time together. Their dinners are a mix of generational recipes and favorites that they've created together.

The McConville family members are culture keepers who honor their Native American ancestors by passing generational traditions to their children. Among their traditions are the meals they prepare from resources provided by the land and river in Oregon.

Marlynn Schotland grew up cooking with her grandmother and family dinner was a nightly occurrence. Along with her parents, Marlynn is passing on her family's Filipino traditions and favorite recipes to her own kids.