It’s Sunday here and David is working. Gerald is camped out on the couch. Good only knows what Charlie is doing. I’m camped out in my office working this morning.

I’m going to get off in a few minutes to watch TV. I have no, clue if #football is on today or not but that isn’t something I plan on watching. I’m going to look for a movie. Either a romance or mystery. Bring your favorite beverage and come watch it with me.

Charlie should be leaving in a few minutes to go over to Lisa Marie Bird’s for Joseph’s Birthday party. He turns 21 today. Before you ask if I’m going no, there will be too many people that I don’t know so I’m staying home.

As I work this morning I wanted to remind you Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed is more than just a tagline around GreatfulMoments. Our GreatfulMoments is based on the Lord, our faith, our family, and those everyday moments that make life special.

And yes, I already know what some of you may be thinking when you see the word beer in this post. “And she’s a Christian?” Yes, I am. And yes, I do cuss a little bit, too. I’m not going to pretend I’m somebody I’m not.

I also happen to believe there is room in a Christian life for a Sunday supper, family gathered around the table, and David having a beer every once in a while.

After all, Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana. If the Lord can turn water into wine, then David can have a beer every now and then. Because that man works hard.

And sometimes he needs to sit down, relax and de-stress. And quite honestly, I don’t want to listen to him complain about needing to de-stress, and I don’t think you do either. 😂

So today we’re putting together a Sunday meal that brings together several things we love: good food, family, football, a little bit of fun and a whole lot of choices.

Because I don’t want to make a meal where everybody has to eat the same thing. I want everybody to find something they like. Or will at least eat when it comes to Charlie.

And since we’re catching up on some of the September holidays, this meal lets us have a little fun with World Beard Day, National Beer Lover’s Day, National Salami Day and Sunday Down-Home Cooking all at once.

And because it’s football Sunday, we’re going to make this a football-watching spread, too. Because tt’s Football Sunday! somewhere just not in my home. Sorry Pa you may be watching#football in Heaven but I don’t plan on watching it.

Because today is a football Sunday, with NFL games scheduled throughout the afternoon and evening, including the Dallas Cowboys playing the Washington Commanders later today.

So if you’re planning to settle in and watch some football, why not have some food ready? You don’t need a fancy party. You don’t need matching serving dishes.

And you certainly don’t need to spend the whole day in the kitchen. We’re making food that people can grab while they’re watching the game. There’s soup and there’s bread.

There’s meat and there’s cheese. There’s crackers. There’s chicken nuggets for the kids. And yes, there’s ranch. Because we’re feeding a family, not a food magazine.

Let’s Start with Beer Bread: Beer bread is one of those recipes that works beautifully for a casual Sunday meal. It’s hearty enough to serve alongside soup, but it’s also something people can grab while they’re building a plate from the charcuterie board. Plus it taste good and it is #Fall so it is #soup weather.

Easy Beer Bread

Ingredients
3 cups self-rising flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 12-ounce bottle or can of beer
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 teaspoon salt, if needed

Directions
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Grease a loaf pan.
Combine the flour, sugar and salt.
Slowly add the beer and stir just until combined. Don’t overmix.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
Drizzle the melted butter over the top.
Bake for approximately 45–55 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
Let it cool slightly before slicing.

Serve it warm.

And don’t worry — we’re still putting crackers on the table. Because some people simply prefer crackers to bread. Which at times I like Crackers more than the Bread. How about you?

Now, beer bread by itself isn’t going to make a meal by itself. When you have hungry men and teenages. We needed something substantial. That’s where beer cheese soup comes in.

Beer cheese soup is a natural fit for this spread, and recipes commonly combine beer with cheese, broth and other savory ingredients to make a hearty soup.

Beer Cheese Soup

Ingredients
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup beer
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat.
Whisk in the flour and cook for about a minute.
Slowly whisk in the chicken broth.
Add the beer and milk.
Continue cooking and stirring until the mixture begins to thicken.
Reduce the heat.
Gradually stir in the cheeses.
Add garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Stir until the cheese is melted and the soup is smooth.
Serve warm with beer bread.

You could also put extra shredded cheese or green onions on the table for people who want to add their own toppings. If you know Charlie like I do he might say Sour Cream as well.

Now Let’s Build Our Family Charcuterie Board This is where we’re going to have some fun. I love a beautiful charcuterie board, but sometimes I look at them and think:

Who’s actually going to eat all of this? We’re not making that kind of board today. We’re making a GreatfulMoments Family Charcuterie Board. And ours is going to be substantial enough that it can actually be part of the meal.

The Meat: We’re starting with:

Salami
Summer sausage
Hot links or sliced hot dogs
Mini Smokies

Summer sausage is a must because it’s one of David’s favorite meats. And honestly, if we’re feeding a group of hungry people, I’m not going to apologize for putting plenty of sausage on the board. Are you? I might even add some Chicken for the women.

Now we need cheese. And not just one kind. We’re choosing some of our family favorites: Pepper Jack which is David’s favorite. Cheddar which is Charlie’s favorite.

American Cheese- Good old American cheese — my favorite just remember it must be Kraft. Smoked Cheese And this is our slightly unexpected choice.It’s one of our favorite cheeses to buy around Christmas from Hillshire Farms in the Mall and I think it’s perfect for this board.

It’s not necessarily the first cheese everybody thinks about when they hear “charcuterie.” That’s exactly why I like it. Crackers, Pretzels and Beer-Flavored Chips

We already have beer bread, but we’re still having crackers. Because we’re feeding real people. And around here: Club crackers are for Charlie. Ritz crackers are for me.

Then we’ll add a fancy cracker that pairs well with beer. And because we’re having fun with this: Pretzels and the other day at Walmart I saw Beer-flavored chips

Put the beer-flavored chips in their own bowl. I think that’s going to be one of those little touches that makes people say, “Oh, that’s fun.” Then add Pickles, Mustard and Olives

You can’t build a big sausage-and-cheese board without something tangy. Which is where different Pickles, different Mustards and even Olives come into play.

If you want you could even add Tomato’s and Lettuce and let everybody choose their favorite. For something fresh we’re also adding a little fruit and some vegetables.

Not because we’re trying to make this a health-food board. We’re just making sure there are choices. The ladies in the group may not want all those Sausages the men want.

Try:

Grapes
Strawberries
Apple slices
Celery

And if you’re feeding kids, put out some peanut butter with the celery. Celery and peanut butter is easy, inexpensive and familiar. It will get the kids to eat there Vegetables which is a Godsend in my home.

Don’t forget the kids which is where our board becomes very GreatfulMoments. Because what happens when kids show up? They’re not necessarily going to eat salami.

They may not want smoked cheese. They probably aren’t going to touch the olives. So we’re adding: Chicken Nuggets. Yep. Chicken nuggets on the charcuterie board.

And we’re putting out: Ranch. Don’t tell anyone but I might even put out small bite sizes of Pizza because then I know Charlie and his friends would eat something instead of complaing all day that there is nothing for them.

Because we all know somebody who isn’t going to eat their chicken nuggets without ranch. And if Charlie is around, I’m not taking any chances. There will be ranch.

This Is No Longer Just a Charcuterie Board: At this point, let’s take inventory.

We’ve got:

Beer cheese soup
Beer bread
Salami
Summer sausage
Hot links or hot dogs
Mini Smokies
Pepper Jack
Cheddar
American cheese
Smoked cheese
Club crackers
Ritz crackers
Fancy crackers
Pretzels
Beer-flavored chips
Pickles
Mustard
Olives
Fruit
Celery
Peanut butter
Chicken nuggets
Ranch

That’s not an appetizer. That’s supper. That’s food people can eat all day and not be saying where hungry or there isn’t anything I liked. And that’s exactly what we wanted.

Now let’s talk about the other part of today’s catch-up as we work through the #Holidays. World Beard Day and we’re going to have some fun with this one, too.

If you’re a man with a beard, or you’re shopping for a man with a beard, like David has and even Charlie who keeps shaving because he doesn’t want facial hair today is a perfect day to start making that Christmas wish list.

Because while you’re sitting on the couch watching football, you can be thinking about what you actually need. Making Santa’s job easier. Is your beard brush getting old?

Are you almost out of beard oil? Do you need a new beard comb? Have you been thinking about getting a better trimmer. Or maybe you just want somebody else to buy you a complete beard-care kit for Christmas.

So grab your phone, sit back, watch the game and start making that list. I thought I would help you by sharing a few Beard Gift Ideas to Put on the List and if you have teenagers in your home you may want to add extra products because what is dad’s becomes there’s. Just ask David.

I’m going to share a few beard-care products here that could make good Christmas gift ideas.

Beard Oil– Beard oil can be a simple gift for someone who already has a beard-care routine or is just starting one.

Beard Balm- A beard balm can be another option for someone who wants conditioning and a little more control.

Beard Brush or Comb– These are easy stocking-stuffer possibilities and don’t take up much room under the tree.

Beard Grooming Kit– If you’re shopping for somebody who needs a little bit of everything, a grooming kit can make Christmas shopping much easier.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in our shopping sections may be affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links, GreatfulMoments may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We appreciate your support because it helps us continue bringing you family content, reviews, recipes and gift guides.

And honestly, this is exactly why I like doing these holiday posts. We’re not just saying, “Today is World Beard Day!” We’re giving you something you can actually do with it.

Make the list.- Then keep that list handy when you’re Christmas shopping. Which is why you will find these gifts for men ie older teens inside our Christmas SHopping Guide/ Wish List as we help Santa pack the sleigh.

before the party is over we need dessert. The obvious choice would be brownies. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with brownies. But I don’t always want to do the traditional thing.

And David loves cheesecake and cheesecake bites can be picked up and eaten with your fingers. So we’re going with cheesecake bites in several different varieties.

Easy Cheesecake Bites

Ingredients
1 package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mini vanilla wafer cookies
Optional fruit topping or chocolate drizzle

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Line a mini muffin pan with liners.
Place one vanilla wafer in the bottom of each liner.
Beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
Add the egg and vanilla and mix until combined.
Spoon the cheesecake mixture over each wafer.
Bake for approximately 15–18 minutes.
Allow the cheesecake bites to cool completely.
Refrigerate before serving.
Add fruit, chocolate drizzle or another topping if desired.

And there we have it. No ordinary brownies today. We’re doing cheesecake bites. That’s the thing I love about a meal like this. It looks like a lot. But it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Some things are homemade. Some things come from the grocery store. Some things are family favorites. Some things are there because somebody will absolutely refuse to eat without them.

And that’s okay. That’s real family cooking. We’re not trying to impress somebody on television. We’re trying to feed the people sitting in our living room.

Making this Down-Home Cooking Sunday meal something for everyone.

David gets: Beer
Summer sausage
Sausage
Pepper Jack
Football

Charlie gets: Cheddar
Club crackers
Chicken nuggets
Ranch

I get: Ritz crackers
American cheese Beer Cheese Soup & Beer Bread
And hopefully some of that smoked cheese before everybody else gets to it.

And the kids? They get choices, too. That’s the whole point. We’re putting food on the table that gives everybody a reason to pull up a chair. Including the dogs if we don’t watch out.

And Yes, This Can Become Your Christmas Shopping List If you’re sitting around watching football today, here’s another idea. Start your Christmas wish list.

Not just for yourself. Make one for the men in your family.

Think about: Beard care
Grilling
Cooking
Football
Tailgating
Entertaining
Favorite snacks
Kitchen gadgets
Outdoor cooking

And we’ll keep adding ideas to our Christmas Gift Guide/ Wish List throughout the season. Because men deserve to be part of the Christmas shopping fun, too.

Pull Up a Chair At the end of the day, that’s really what this meal is about. Not the beer. Not the football. Not the charcuterie board. Not even the recipes or is it?

It’s about people. It’s about David coming home after working hard and getting to relax. It’s about Charlie finding the Club crackers and ranch and not fussing God willing and the Creek doesn’t rise.

It’s about kids having chicken nuggets while everybody else eats sausage and cheese. It’s about somebody grabbing a cheesecake bite. It’s about sitting together, watching football and laughing about something that happened during the week.

Those are the moments I want to remember. Those are the moments I want to share. And those are the moments that make up our Greatful Moments. So whether you’re drinking a beer, drinking sweet tea, drinking coffee or just grabbing a glass of water, pull up a chair.

There’s always room for one more at our table.

Beer Bread Recipe Card

Ingredients

3 cups self-rising flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 12-ounce bottle or can of beer
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 teaspoon salt, if needed

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Grease a loaf pan.
Combine flour, sugar and salt.
Slowly add beer and stir just until combined. Do not overmix.
Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.
Drizzle melted butter over the top.
Bake 45–55 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
Cool slightly before slicing.

GreatfulMoments Tip: Serve warm alongside Beer Cheese Soup or slice and add to your family charcuterie board.

Beer Cheese Soup Recipe Card

Ingredients

4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup beer
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat.
Whisk in flour and cook for about 1 minute.
Slowly whisk in chicken broth.
Add beer and milk.
Cook, stirring frequently, until the soup begins to thicken.
Reduce heat.
Gradually stir in cheddar and Pepper Jack.
Add garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Stir until cheese is melted and soup is smooth.
Serve warm with Beer Bread.

Optional Toppings: Extra shredded cheese or chopped green onions.

🍰 Easy Cheesecake Bites Recipe Card

Ingredients

1 package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Mini vanilla wafer cookies
Optional fruit topping or chocolate drizzle

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line a mini muffin pan with liners.
Place one vanilla wafer in the bottom of each liner.
Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
Add egg and vanilla; mix until combined.
Spoon cheesecake mixture over each wafer.
Bake 15–18 minutes.
Cool completely.
Refrigerate before serving.
Add fruit, chocolate drizzle or another favorite topping.

GreatfulMoments Tip: We chose cheesecake bites instead of the usual brownies because David loves cheesecake — and sometimes it’s fun to serve something people aren’t expecting.

Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed.

GreatfulMoments.com

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates