Last month we presented an elegant luncheon for mom on Mother's Day, complete with decorations, both old and new. This month, the focus shifts to dad, that man who probably only wishes for a Sunday with no lawn mowing and a chance to read the entire newspaper.
I don't know about your family, but in ours, Father's Day meant the first really nice barbecue of the season. My parents invited friends over as they had no parents of their own to include. Instead, the late afternoon became an excuse for the men to talk a about baseball and maybe watch a game, while the women unwound from busy weeks. Dinner was always easy and revolved around that most masculine of meals, grilled steak, corn, fresh breads, salads, watermelon, and short cakes. After dinner the fireflies blinked, we came in to wind down from the weekend, and people drifted home to do the same. The ritual is etched in my memory. The sound of my father's voice calling everyone to select a steak and "eat slowly so you can eat more," and the sight of his apron with some silly Father's Day slogan written across his stomach are as clear as if it was yesterday.
Let's get ready for our celebration for the man who ran behind us when the training wheels on our two-wheeler were removed. The same fellow who never said a word about curfew except with his eyes, and whose expectations of his children helped make each of them respected adults. This man who appeared as a gentle giant when we were children and who became a shorter grandfather as an older man deserved many days, but this one, as the advertisement goes, "is for you" -- June 21.
First, decide who you will be inviting to your home. A few close friends are better than a bunch of strangers who share little or no history. If brothers or sisters are near by, you may want to include them and have friends another time. Whichever, make sure you include people who mean something to this special man of yours. Call and give the date and time in advance and get your R.S.V.P.s so you can plan on how much food to buy.
Next make the important decision as to what to buy this man for a gift. As I write this during the second week of May, I received 3 catalogues today, filled with Father's Day gifts which range from outdoor items for the sports-minded to sterling pens and Italian casual wear. You know your dad. Buy him something that he won't buy for himself, but that you know he really wants. It may not be big, but it needs to be important to him. Our children who lived far from their grandfather often sent him letters with pictures, all of which we found after his death, along with a golf shirt or fancy golf balls. Since he was an avid golfer, they often opted for theme gifts, as we, his children would get together to buy a special golf weekend, golf club, or sometimes tickets to a hit theater production. He was easy to surprise or he was a great actor. It never mattered. The same could be said of my husband who delighted in our children's gifts, which they often wrapped themselves in the funny papers of the previous Sunday newspaper. They delivered their gifts to him at the first crack of dawn, along with homemade pancakes and blueberry syrup. The question was always who would get to eat the pancakes first, he or one of our dogs, who were very fast on their feet.
It's easy to set up for an outdoor meal. Table cloths in bright colors are set on the tables and large baskets of dazzling flowers contain a silhouette of a man playing his favorite sport or a store-bought star with a "Best Dad" ribbon attached placed amongst the flowers. Each table has a picture of Dad with a son or daughter instead of placecards. Plates can be re-usable plastic or earthenware; just keep it simple. Use large glasses for iced tea or other cool beverages. Set up a few games for children of all ages like croquette, badminton, or volleyball. Colorful helium-filled balloons weighted down on the buffet tables, along with some Father's Day cards and flowers will do the trick. One year, I displayed pictures of my husband and friends as children. That went over like a lead bomb. The following year we used pictures of the same men and their children and they loved it. We found both silly and loving pictures and had them around the tables. Even the children laughed.
For serving platters, think wood, earthenware; you know, heavy. And, now you are ready to make up a menu. This one is easy. We've decided to update the old grilled steak to cut down on protein, but never totally on this day of days. Our menu is Tex-mex in name, but all-American by today's tastes. If dad won't relinquish the tongs for the grill, let him at it, or if he wishes, let someone else do the grilling. Marinate the steak that morning in the fridge. Make the slaw the day before and bag the ingredients for the salad at the same time. Also bake the shortcakes and prepare the Corn and Black Bean Relish, making enough for the vegetarians in the group to use to make bean fajitas. Check on the condiments and drinks so you have no trips to the market on Sunday. Assemble the shortcakes after dinner and enjoy while you are making your own memories.
(for the recipes, click on The Recipes or click on the individual recipe above)
