Father’s Day

I love that there is such a holiday as Father’s Day.    I think the good men in our lives don’t get enough recognition and a day dedicated just for them is a great way to reflect on all the good things they do and to tell them how much we love and treasure them.   Today, we celebrate the fathers in our lives, and I’m celebrating mine.

And so, for this special occasion, we’re getting together at my place for some feasting. (Is it selfish to relish the idea of cooking for people who enjoy your food, especially if you’ve been away from your kitchen for a while?)

Fathers Day Table

Nibbles/Appetizers/Salads:

• Egg Salad — This time, I added one scallion and used finely grated Parmesan cheese

• Roasted Peppers Salad -  I used green beans instead of asparagus today and sliced the peppers differently

• Potato and green bean salad – boil 2 pounds of new potatoes (I used a mix of Yukon Gold and red potatoes), add blanched green beans, and a half of raw red onion thinly sliced.  Dressing: 3/4 cup good olive oil, 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, salt and pepper

• Roasted Eggplant and garlic spread – Roast eggplant; remove skin and seeds once cool enough to handle; chop the remaining eggplant very finely, till it’s almost a paste; add finely chopped garlic (2 large cloves), 1 cherry tomato finely chopped (and seeds removed); salt and pepper to taste.

• Sparkling Lemonade: 1/2 liter seltzer water, 1 cup of sugar dissolved in 3.5 cups of hot water; juice and zest of 4 lemons.

• Freshly (home) baked bread.

Main:

• Steak kabobs (aka meat on a stick): cut steak into 1.5 inch cubes and sprinkle Montreal Steak Seasonging. Grill to your preferred donness.

• Grilled chicken — I used Turkish and Southwest seasoning from Pensey’s: sprinkle seasoning generously under the skin and on top, marinade overnight in the fridge, remove from fridge a few hours before grilling; grill till done.

Grilled Chicken and Steak Kabobs

Dessert:

• Strawberry cake — I mixed the strawberries into the batter and added a few to the top of the cake.

• Whipped Cream (home made)

• Fruit (blueberries, strawberries, and a melon)

Melon, Tea, Lemonade, Whipped Cream, Strawberries and Blueberries, Strawberry Cake

Strawberry Cake