Sunday suppers

Big pots and long afternoons, for the day you're home anyway.

• Nonna's Sunday sauce, and why it takes all day: Short ribs, sausage and meatballs in one big pot of tomatoes, simmered until the bones slide out. It takes most of a Sunday, but you only work for the first hour.

• Nonna's Sunday Sauce: Short ribs, sausage and meatballs simmered in San Marzano tomatoes until the rib meat falls off the bone.
• Creamy Parmesan Polenta: Slow-stirred coarse polenta with butter and Parmigiano. The thing to spoon a braise over.
• Red Wine Braised Short Ribs: Short ribs braised in red wine until a fork slides through. Better the next day.
• Lemon Ricotta Cookies: Soft, cakey cookies with lemon zest in the dough and a sharp lemon glaze.