The origins of the British Sunday roast reportedly date back as far as the 15th century<\/a>, but the ritual\u2014which is enjoyed across the United Kingdom and Ireland\u2014became popular in the 19th century<\/a>. During that era of rapid industrialization, meat (and fuel for cooking it) became widely affordable for the first time. At its core, the Sunday roast is a family-centered event, though the food is important, too: There will typically be a roast beef on the table, along with Yorkshire pudding, gravy, potatoes, and a range of roasted vegetables.<\/p>\n Admittedly, I didn\u2019t grow up eating a traditional Sunday roast\u2014there were never Yorkshire puddings or peas on our table, and we usually preferred oniony, fall-apart-tender brisket<\/a> to a bone-in rib roast\u2014but the custom of a weekly meal shared with family is definitely one I can get behind. Every Sunday, my parents, sister, and I would go to my grandparents\u2019 house for dinner, where we\u2019d eat red sauce spaghetti with Italian sausage and mushrooms, barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs in the summer, and (if it was one of our birthdays) fried fish followed by pie or lemon cake.<\/p>\n I recognize that none of those dishes are quite<\/em> classic (to say the least), but I also believe that a Sunday roast is more of an attitude than a rigid set of rules. With that in mind, I\u2019ve compiled a list of our best recipes\u2014some more traditional than others\u2014and tools to help you plan, execute, and enjoy your next feast, without any of the fuss.<\/p>\n