For Dad Bacon And More Bacon

 Every man - even the vegans and vegetarians ;pve bacon.It could be made from prk, turkey plants and even beef. Dads love these crispy ,salty strips on their own or with other foods. Give them this for a great day to celebrate them.

What is bacon exactly? It'straditionally a cut from the pork belly , hence the streaks of fat in the strips. The Chinese first started salting and curing it as early as 1500BCE and the Amglo Saxons made their version called bacon - where we get the word from. Tomorrow morning would be the perfect time to serve this classic. Think a piled breakfast sandwich on a toasted English muffin.Piled with chive infused scrambled eggs and then add on the bacon. Another tasty breakfast dish is a riff on Eggs Benedict assemble the sandwich with a poached egg and then layer on the bacon. Pur on a mix Hollandaise sauce or a homemade one. A scratch Hollandaise  sauce is easy to make.It requires whisking melted butter and lemon juice in egg yolks - usually three - and then a dash of Cayenne pepper is blended in. Keep in mind that both egg dishes can  be made vegan by using  Just Egg plant based egg substitute,Morningstar Farms vegan bacon strips and Melt Bitter for cooking the eggs. What about the Hollandiase sauce?It's more trickier with some recipes requiring up to twenty-five (!!!) ingredients. One only has eight an d that one requires tahini and nutritional yeast to sub in for the egg yolks. A tiny pinch of turmeric is used to get that rich yellow yolk color.

Lunch and dinner can also have dad's favorite too. Nothing beats a simple BLT.TUse good quality bacon and sour dough bread for the best bite. Time tomatoes can be beefsteak but the Caprese or Roma actually have a sweeter richer flavor. Lettuce should be crispy. Try Iceberg for the best results. Again a  good mayo is crucial here so try to use Duke's or Hellman's .Again the vegan version involves Hellmans vegan mayonnaise and Morningstar Farms plant based bacon strips. PIle on the bacon and greasy on the other two fillings. You can vary it by having sliced avocados or caramelized onion in the sandwich as well. Every man love a good bacon burger or good cheese burger. This can be made out on the grill. Remember that the bacon too can be grilled outdoors as well. To avoid any flare ups from fat dripping into the flames. create a foil tray for the bacon to cook in. Any leftover bacon can be used for a sundae for the special guy. This can be any ice creamed topped with chocolate syrup, caramel, sauce ,nuts  and slice so f bacon on top. You can create a vegan version too using plant based ice cream and vegan bacon strips.If you have time bake Dad some bacon maple cupcakes using maple syrup as the main ingredient with a smattering of bacon bits added in. If you;re using the strips let them get cold first. Hot bacon can throw off the batter. and won;t allow it to bake and rise properly.

It;s Dad's day. Serve him his favorite food in any way you can. He;ll love this bacon fest all for him !!

Juneteenth All Year Round

 Today is Juneteenth the day when African American people were freed from brutal enslavement. There are big celebrations that reflect the day in taste and tradition. Yet these recipes can be made all  summer - and all year long.

One of the standards in a Juneteenth barbecue is grilled meat. African Americans were the original pit masters bringing over techniques form their native African to cook meats to tender perfection.Barbecue ribs are the perfect dish that can be made outside on the grill even for Christmas and New Year's. Try it with a sweet and hot barbecue sauce made from strawberries - another Juneteenth food and favorite. You'll need strawberry preserves along with honey. This gives the ribs that sticky red glazed look. Brown sugar can be added too to intensify the glaze. Apple cider vinegar is added to combat all that sweetnessDrilling does require cooking the meat on either hickory, cherry ,apple or pecan wood. Apple juice is spritzed on the meat every thirty to forty-five minutes to keep the meat moist and tender. A strawberry barbecue sauce is also made to dip the ribs in.Simmer this until smooth and slightly thickened.  You could also make a strawberry ketchup to go with this along with hamburgers too. This is taking fresh strawberries and cooking them with shallots and garlic along with curry powder, star anise and bay leaves.Cloves and red chili are also blended in for zing and spice.

Baked Mac and cheese is the classic Juneteenth go to. What's great about this is that everything can be added to the recipe.A lush summery take is putting in lobster  and changing the traditional cheddar for richer cheeses.It usually requires a cup of cooked lobster and such cheeses as the Swiss Gruyere, Fontina and Parmesan. You can add cheddar but make sure its the sharp white one.Crab can be subbed in a long with a dash of Old Bay Seasoning. Crumbled Ritz crackers top it for a crunchy , buttery topping. Of course just adding  bacon to the original recipe is also tasty and a great side too, Hoppin John or black eyed peas cooked in a variety of veggies and spices is a big side dish for this day. Yet its a great barbecue and holiday side all year round.Bacon or ham hocks is first simmered with onion ,bell peppers and garlic sauteing first and then simmering.Rice is cooked and added t this as the bay leaf and meat are removed. If you want a quicker,cooler way to cook it, then use your Instapot for this.This frees you up to make other dishes. Where would Junettenth be without red velvet cake. For the summer switch out the traditional cream cheese frosting with vanilla ice cream. You could also do a red velvet trifle for the holidays. This is the cake layered with a mix of cream cheese and whipped cream and layers of fresh or frozen strawberries. Decorate with strawberries or chocolate covered ones.

Juneteenth is a very special day. Why not extend it to throughout the year. It;s a great way of enjoying traditional and comforting flavors.

Good Bye TO An Era Donahue's Closing

 Restaurants lasting almost eight decades in New York City is a rarity.Yet Doanue's managed just that until recently. This classic Manhattan eater y is shutting it's kitchen and closing it's dining room. Despite this , it gave thousands upon thousands of New Yorkers and tourists great food and drink.

Regular contributor and the paper's restaurant critic Pete Wells, wrote about this sad occurrence in yesterday's New York Times Wednesday Food section. The eatery started in 1950 when Irirsh immigrant Martin Donahue born in Country Galway built four restaurants for each of his four sons. Only one, run by his son Martin until he died in 2000, and now his granddaughter Maureen Donahue-Peters. ran it.However the city was not as it once was. it has become too crowded and noisy and Ms. Donahue -Peters would rather be at her second home in Westhampton.  Still he has kept all the charming touches that were with the eatery during it;s first year. There is still the original early 1950's phone on the wall along with the checkerboard floor and blue glass engraving behind the bar of an elephant looming over a cocktail as if it were a mouse. Orders are still written up by hand. There is nothing electronic like what modern restaurants have. Even the menu is pure Americana. Yes there is steak and filet mignon but there is also Maryland turkey and gravy along with BOston scrod and Hawaiian ham steal.Hot turkey and roast beef sandwiches were also popular,.

Seventy-five years brought the famed and the regular tooIt was the hangout of such famed CBS journalists Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather as well as NBC's Matt Lauer . Former mayor Michael Bloomburg often dined at Donahue's as did Cardinal Timothy DOlan.Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy was a regular in the old fashioned black vinyl booths.  It even brought in such famous writers as the famed Tennessee Williams and Gay Talese. Even the infamous con man Bernie Madoff spent a few meals there. Yet it was also a neighborhood place. Diners like Brooke Emmerich has been coming to the eatery since childhood. She and her family lived around the corner and ate there every Thursday always enjoying Donahue; famed corned beef and cabbage.It never took long for non famous regulars t be treated like stars.Bartenders and servers knew their drink and meal preferences down pat.Unfortunately Donahi=ue'sw ontl be picked up by a new owner. Another type of restaurant will probably be moving in and with it a raise in rent. Not to worry though, Ms. Donahue=Peter has opened up a Donahues in Westhampton.The menu is more or less the same. There are chicken pot pies and steak dinners but also trendy salads to fit the diets of the posh East End/

Every good thing must come to an end. Sadly this is the case with Donahue's. It will live on in history and people's beloved memories of the place.

Make Those Pancakes Perfect

 Nothing beats a good Father's Day breakfast tan a plate of perfectly made flapjacks. What dad doesn't love a stack oozing with melted butter and dripping wit rich maple syrup.Yet  sometimes it;s hard to create a good stack. There are so many problems that can arise. Luckily there is help.

Regular contributor Melissa Clark offered tips in a guide published in today's New York Times Wednesday Food section. The ideal pancake should be golden and fluffy wit air holes to soak in the melted butter and  syrup. However there are so many factors that can ruin that crumb.One is that old ingredients are being used.Scratch recipes call for baking powder and baking soda. This give the batter lift and creates that fluffy texture These also give pancakes their deep golden brown hue and vigorous rise. However both can go stale. Always check the expiration date before using. If it's not visible then try this test. For baking soda drop a pinch of either lemon juice on vinegar in a small pile. It should give a vigorous bubble.Baking powder just requires a mix wit a bot of hot water.A fizz means it;s still good to use. Another problem is that the batter hasn't been rested enough.A quick rest can be between ten and thirty minutes.An ideal rest would be forty-eight hours which will deepen the flavor. The buttermilk which is required in Melissa Clark's recipe will have more time to work on the batter. By morning it should be thick and perfect for griddling.

Pans can also factor in creating the perfect pancake.Pan temperature is important. Cook with a low flame and the pancakes will turn out doughy and white. Too high a flame and the exteriors will be scorched. The best bet is heating the pan over a medium sized flame for two to three minutes, Flick in a few dri=ops of water.If they sizzle and evaporate then it;s the perfect temperature.Use a mix of butter and a neutral oil to fry the cakes. Use a generous amount of butter  to create the crispest edges.There shouldn't;t be a thin sheen but enough to swirl around the pan.Test it with the first flapjack. Also the choice of pan is important too. Use either stainless steel,carbon steel or cast iron. Another important factor is how much batter is used. Don;t make those big wagon wheel ones seen on Tiktok or Instagram. Smaller ones are much better.They'll have crispier edges and will be much easier to flip.Use a large ice cream scoop to measure out the batter,DON"T touch the water once iit's in the pan .The pancakes will be ready when bubbles speckled the entire surface.Use a wide, thin spatula and flip it in a confident motion.The second side takes as long as the first to cook.Both sides should be golden and lightly springy in the middle. Mix in like blueberries and chocolate chips  should be added in when the pancake first hits the griddle,.

Dads love a good stack of golden pancakes. Follow this guide to give the man of the day a perfect breakfast. The result will be crispy and fluffy griddle cakes perfect with maple syrup and butter.

Dad In The Kitchen

 Usually Father's Day gifts revolve around the Grilling Dad. There are tongs and aprons, spatulas and rubs. yet there is the other dad - the kitchen one. He's the guy who likes to make his own pasta and bread, boil lamb chops and make phenomenal salads. What to get him ? Everything kitchen for this Father's Day!

If your dad or partner loves to bake then think everything baking. King Arthur Baking site and stores -not just for the baking gear but also for the croissants and baguettes!) King Arthur  has everything for the consummate baker. They have mixesa nd pans packages along with recipe bundles.These offer everything from how to make homemade ravioli to making sourdough hot dog and hamburger buns( in case he does want to grill for his day) There is a pizza bundle too , perfect for those summer at home movie nights. Creating a basket of four ,yeast and flavorings is another perfect gift too. A lux gift is a hand stand mixer. This is an investment gift that will last for years. Kohl's has them on sale now for $76.49 These have attachments such as a bread hook ,  mixers and a balloon whisk. A hand held mixer is another great gift because it allows for more freedom of movement than the standing one. Target has one for as low as $19.99 for a Hamilton Beach model.

For the dad who loves ethnic cooking think a wok or a pasta maker. You can easily get a good carbon steel one for only $17.99 at the Restaurant Store. Add a steamer like the JOyce Chen one at Wal-Mart for $19.95 . Add a gift certificate from H_Mart and let him go wild there. The store has a wide variety of sesame oil and fish paste - vital ingredients for Asian cooking.If Dad loves cacio e pepi or a good old fashioned sauce with spaghettini then a pasta maker is your best bet for a great and well appreciated gift. They very inexpensive right now. Lidl  is selling their Silvercrest brand for only 14.99 while Wal-Mart offers a more elaborate one at $23.36 For the ultimate luxury pasta maker consider Vevor Electric maker for $83.00 It has three speeds and can make a variety of different pastas from wide ones for lasagna to very thin ones like angel hair/ Extra gifts can include a strainer for draining the pasta water and pasta tongs. Think about getting Dad a cheese grater to grind up Parmesian blocks into cloudlike flakes. Target has the NutriChef Rotary cheese grater for only $24.99.It comes with five different blades to produce an array of different textures. Packs of sundried tomatoes are a nice add in for a tangy kind of homemade sauce.

A dad in the kitchen is a benefit to the family. Give him Father's Day gifts that highlights his talents. He'll shine and cook fabulous meals.

The Simplicity Of Summer

 The ot weather makes cooking and creating desserts easier. No on e ant to be spending time in a hot kitchen. It's easier to grill as for baking - that's another method that should be simple too. It's summer.Times to take it easy

One thing about summer cooking is that you really don;t have to use the oven.The air fryer  should be your best friend.It;s great at cooking cutlets and steaks The same with the outdoor grill. I'ts just easy to throw burgers and hot dogs on it. There's nothing fancy about this. It's just cooking for a few minutes and then placing them on buns. Even keep the fixings simple too. Sliced tomatoes work along with lettuce. Don;t go fancy with special sauces and extras like sauerkraut. Mustard and ketchup will do just fine. This also applies to wings and drumsticks too. Do you need to marinate them ? If you want for more flavor however if its too much don't. Simply dusting them with salt and freshly ground pepper works. You want to taste the actual chicken and crispy skin - not a host of other flavors. This philosophy also works for ribs. Don;t go crazy with elaborate rubs.Use a simple mix of garlic powder and paprika with salt and pepper . If you want flavor have a bowl of barbecue sauce out for dipping. Keep this idea for salads too. A simple salad works ,especially if there's a fixings tray where people can add their favorites like avocado slices and cherry tomatoes. Use a simple vinaigrette if you want to bring out the veggies and extras tastes.

Summer desserts and treat should also be kept  simple. N o one wants to turn on a 350 degree Farenheit oven when the temps hit the nineties or higher.Icebox cakes are easy and fun to make. One of the most classic is the Nabisco chocolate wafer log or zebra cake. This is simply taking chilled whipping cream and mixing it with one teaspoon of vanilla extract for more flavor . It's then mortaring the wafers together with this cream and them covering the log with more whipped cream.It;s left to set and chill in the fridge overnight. To make t fancy. just sprinkle handfuls of chocolate sprinkles on top.If you want some variation then sub in mint extract for the vanilla. Another easy dessert is taking Nabisco's Nilla wafers and layering them with either strawberries or blueberries or both and then adding whipped cream or Thawed out Cool Whip .It's a nice end to a barbecue and perfect for celebrating a summer birthday.Another treat is a tray of ice cream cupcakes. This is pulverizing cookies in your chopper , and then adding melting butter to the crumbs.This is the crust that's pressed into cupcake cups. Add a scoop of ice cream to each and then freeze until it sets. Top with a squiggle of Whipped cream and a toss of sprinkles.

It's summer.It;'s hot. Make simple foods and treats that are easy to create and even easier to eat.

The Dirty Soda Craze

 Just when you thought there couldn't;t be another drink here comes the dirty soda This is a lush take on those frothy creamy dessert like coffee drinks but with9out the coffee . It's an easy to make drink and the perfect foil for a very hot day.

How did the dirty soda come into being? It all started in 2012 in Utah.It was a reaction the the Mormon ban on coffee ,tea and alcohol.  This includes all those tasty iced  mochas and cappuccinos too. Iced tea is off the table too .That leaves soda albeit ,like coffee and tea most colas are caffeinated - a definite no in the Church of Latter Day Saints. Many Mormon colleges and households didn't  have soda for decades because of this. However in 2012 the Church released an official statement clarifying that the health code does not prohibit caffeine consumption . Tha['ts only for hot drinks that was listed in their scriptures. High sugar syups, dairy creamers and soda bases are entirely compliant with church rules. Dirty sodas could also be categorized as mocktails which fits in nicely with the non alcohol ban in the religion and heavy regulated throughout Utah. The craze brought forth a number of soda shops with names like Sodalicious Fizz, Thirst Drinks and Quench It! Sodalicious offers a menu that includes all the popular sodas ,from Coke to Mountain Dew and Dr.Pepper and then a variety of added in from coconut and raspberry to name a few to cherry and chocolate.

A dirty soda is an easy make at home. Take a ice cream soda glass and fill it nugget ice. These are small pellets of ice which are usually made in an expensive ice machine. However not to worry Target, WalMart and Shein sell nugget ice trays so you can make them at any time. Then fill the iced filled glass with  the soda of your choice. It can be anything from Coke to Pepsi to Sprite or Mountain Dew. You can even use Diet soda if you want. The next steps the creamer. Coffee Mate has gotten in on this craze and even came out with a dirty soda flavored creamer.It's basically a coconut lime mix that should be added to Dr Pepper (or any soda.)  They also came out with an orange creamsicle flavor that can be added to any orange soda from Crush to Fanta.Hoever if you just want a plain one ,then use a vanilla flavored creamer instead. Stir with an ice tea spoon or a stainless steel cocktail stirrer. You could also make an ice cream less root beer float. Sub in the iced cream with ice and vanilla ice cream with the ice pellets and vanilla creamer. You could add some toffee syrup for a richer flavor.

A dirty soda is a fun way to celebrate the simmer. Whip up one with your favorite fizzy drink and falvritings. Then sip and enjoy.