Daddy’s Girl – Happy Fathers’ Day

Is there anything more important than Daddy in a girl’s life?  As a woman who was once a little girl (a long time ago J) and the mother of two little girls I believe that Daddy is the most influential person in a woman’s life.  Dads give little girls confidence.  If Dad says you are his beautiful little girl then it must be true!  And most importantly, Dads are the measuring stick by which we choose all other men in our lives.  In my life I have been privileged to know two great Dads.

The first is my own father, John Edmund Glasgow.  My dad taught me that I was first and foremost unique.  I was a Glasgow and that was special.  I have big ears and as a kid they seemed really big.  But my Dad explained to me over and over that they were not big ears, they were Glasgow ears.  They were the ears of my Grandpa and my Dad’s.  And that made them special.  The same was true for my eyes.  Despite the billions on the planet with blue eyes, mine were uniquely blue because they were Glasgow blue.

He also taught me that I was smart and that was important.  My parents were divorced and Dad lived out of town which meant many long drives in the car playing games.  Our favorite game was a nameless word game where we would go through the alphabet stating the largest word we could think of beginning with each letter.  The key was you had to spell it to get points for your great big word.  I will never forget his reaction when I used and spelled correctly the word “similar.”  I was about 8 years old and you would think I had just discovered the cure for cancer.  His praise and excitement fueled in me a strong desire to be smart.

My Dad passed from this world in 2010.  As the pain of loss subsides I am left with a grateful heart and a strong sense of self from the gift of his presence in my life.

The second fantastic Dad in my life is my husband.  To our two little girls he is superman with unlimited strength, the world’s greatest outdoorsman and a concert worthy crooner.  My husband was a man born to be a Dad.  Since our girls were tiny he was able to get down on the floor with them and just play, something that I really struggled with being able to do.  He spent hours having a “makeover,” complete with curlers, lip gloss and nail polish (he is going to kill me for sharing that).

He is stern only when necessary but when it is, he is patient, methodical and most importantly, loving.  I thank God every day for the father that my husband is to our daughters.  I know the bar is set high for all the future men in their lives.

 

I am sure you have had your own champion Dads in your life.  In honor of those Dads I am compiling a list of Dad friendly recipes below.  Treat Dad to something special this Fathers’ Day.  Because after all, there is no one else like him in the world!

 

APPETIZERS

Chicken Wings: sweet and saucy and finger lickin’ good man food

Sausage Balls: perfect for munching on from the recliner

Little Ham Sandwiches: he’ll enjoy one, two, three, or more of these snacks

 

MAIN DISHES

Hamburger Steak with Onions: my husbands very favorite meal!

Dad’s Steaks: these were my Dad’s famous and absolutely delicious steaks, best if grilled

Bacon Wrapped Tenderloin with Wine Mushroom Sauce: go fancy for Dad this year

Bacon French Toast: start Fathers’ Day off right this year

Smothered Hashbrowns: smother him with kisses and hearty hashbrowns

Chicken & Dumplings: a classic dish for Dad

BBQ Smothered Chicken: chicken piled high with love for Dad

Chicken a’la King: for the king of the castle

General Tsao’s Chicken: another of my hubby’s favorites

Shrimp Boil: perfect if your feeding a few great Dad’s this year

Pulled Pork BBQ: Dad will love this on buns or by itself

Pork Chops with Blueberry Sauce: blueberries are in season for Fathers’ Day

Sticky Ribs: so Dad can get down and dirty on his special dinner

 

SIDES

Corn Muffins: for that loveable Dad who can be a little corny (much like these tag lines

Baked Potato Salad: a crowd pleaser for Dad’s celebration

Strawberry Corn Salsa: great for brunch or on fish/seafood

Ham & Veggie Fried Rice: one of my hubby’s favorites

 

DESSERTS

Triple Threat Cheesecake: Dad will know is loved with this dessert

Giant Oatmeal Cookies: for the Dad with a giant heart

Banana Pudding: my hubby’s favorite

Double Peach Crisp: double up for Dad

Pinto Bean Pie: the 2011 Lunch-Wagon recipe winner submitted by Norman Myers, a great dad and cook

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