My Dad

A Dad is a son’s first hero and a daughter’s first love.  Any man can be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad.  A father might hold our hands for a little while but holds our hearts forever.

This coming Sunday, June 20^th, is Father’s Day, a day to love your dads and to remember your dad if he has passed away.  This is a day to celebrate your dad just as we celebrated our mothers on Mother’s Day. 

Father’s Day gives me this occasion to share my memories of my dad who died when I was a high school junior.  Dad missed out on the last of my teen years, my marriage, children, grandchildren and now, great-grandchildren.  

He was an excellent cook.  Few people knew this skill but my mother would say that he read and devoured cookbooks! My dad was originally from South Carolina so he brought new ideas to our household when it came to cooking—food that folks didn’t eat in “these neck of the woods” back then.

Daddy loved to fix white rice that was a popular dish further south.  Whenever local friends shared a meal with our family, they often remarked that eating rice was a first for them.  We lived in “meat and potatoes” country!

Most recipes call for rice to cook until all moisture is removed.  The secret to perfect, fluffy white rice is quite simple.  Add two cups of white rice to salted boiling water.  Cook, uncovered, on medium heat for 14 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Drain in a colander, place in a covered dish, and now with a microwave, put the dish in for a couple of minutes to let the rice dry out slightly.  Fluff with a fork and serve.  It couldn’t be simpler!  The old way was to use a double boiler for removing moisture, but the invention of the microwave was a boost for rice.

Spoon bread was another favorite dish that dad and I could inhale! Fry up a pan full of fish, fix some slaw and hot spoon bread with butter and you’ve got a feast fit for a king! And, maybe a queen!

Dad was quite a gardener but one veggie he always planted that didn’t quite make it in my book was the dreaded okra!  Both of our parents tried to get my brother and me to try it but there was NO way that we were going to eat that slimy green stuff.  Now, okra is readily served as a fried dish and most folks like it prepared that way.  My brother actually grew okra in his garden these past years because he liked it for pickling!  

I guess Dad’s favorite thing to cook was his delicious golden fried chicken.  When we would return home from running errands, the smell of frying chicken would meet our noses at the door.  My chicken has never turned out quite like his.  A crispy, juicy chicken breast with browned pan gravy over white rice with fresh butter beans on the side was a treat!  Mom would quickly fix her homemade biscuits and we’d enjoy every bite.  Geez, I’ve gained ten pounds just by reminiscing!

Remember, a dad is neither an anchor to hold us back, nor a sail to take us there, BUT a guiding light whose love shows us the way.  Remember your dad this Father’s Day!