Happy Father’s Day to all Father’s!  Today we celebrate our Dads … how special they are to us, what they have taught us and how they have helped shape us to become the person we are and will continue to become.  My Dad was the kindest, the sweetest man and the most wonderful father two sisters could hope for.  My sister, Cherie and I were very blessed with the love our father showed us, the compassion, the kindness, and the patience. Oh did he have patience!  Maybe one day I’ll tell the story of super gluing my eye shut while trying to apply fake nails.  This was back when we didn’t have the internet to google what to do in this situation.  Him and my mom figured it out and needless to say, that’s the last time I tried to do that on my own.  Since then, I’ve discovered the Nail Salon.  I thank goodness for Nina every other Thursday.

Today, I celebrate my husband, our daughter’s father.

He is just like my father in that he is very kind, patient, compassionate, and a very hard worker.  Kylie and I love Dennis with all our hearts.  Kylie means everything to Dennis, she is as lucky as I was growing up.  Her Dad is always there for her, always willing to help her with anything she may need (algebra a couple years ago, geometry after that, chemistry this year.  I can’t forget teaching her to drive!).  They love spending time together, if it’s going to the movies, washing the car together or watching a softball game on t.v.

Dennis really wanted to spend the day at the beach for Father’s Day, and that is what we did.  I packed up a picnic and off we went.

For dinner, Dennis requested burgers and baked beans.  His wish was my command.  If Dennis wanted burgers, burgers we would have.  One of my Dad’s favorite meals was also burgers.  He always said “the best meat is ground”.  For tonight’s burgers, I mixed a pound and a half of ground beef with two cloves of chopped garlic, two tablespoons of olive oil, kosher salt, fresh ground pepper and a package and a half of Ranch Salad Dressing mix.  I grilled the burgers and when they were done, I topped them with applewood smoked bacon, French Fried Onions and a barbecue sauce that I added a tablespoon of Bourbon to.  I grilled the bacon on the grill pan along with the burgers.  I figured the fat from the bacon would only help to flavor the meat.

Along with the burgers, I served the baked beans Dennis requested and a simple wedge salad.  I topped the wedge of lettuce with chopped tomatoes, diced red onion and some of the bacon that I chopped up.  Of course, I sprinkled kosher salt and fresh ground pepper on top of that.

For dessert, I figured S’mores would be a tasty treat.  I definitely don’t make dessert every night, but since it is Father’s Day, I wanted Dennis to have a special treat after dinner.

Until next time, Kris