{Cooking for Dad}: A Father's Day Menu

There are few things that compare to the love, care, protection, guidance and affirmation that come from a father (or father-figure).  An undisputed daddy's girl, my father represented many "firsts" in my life.  He was my first love; the first man to affirm me and see the best in me; the first to lovingly foster the big dreams that he had for me.  And although he wasn't perfect, he was perfect for me.

Our earth story ended shortly before my 19th birthday, when he moved to heaven, but there isn't a day, or year, that goes by in which I'm not thinking of him, thankful for the love he gave to me, and wishing I still had him on this side of heaven with me.

If my dad were still here with me, I would prepare for him a meal fit for a king.  And as you prepare to cook for the special man (or men) in your life, this menu is all you need to make for a delicious and unforgettable meal:  Roasted Chicken and Vegetables, Rosemary Popovers, Arnold Palmer Special, and Cherry Upside Down Cake.  Now who wouldn't want that for dinner?! (No guy that I know. :))

So here's to a Happy Father's Day...and Happy Eating!

Arnold Palmer Special
Roasted Chicken and Vegetables
Rosemary Popovers
Cherry Upside Down Cake

Cherry Upside-Down Cake

There will always be certain foods and tastes that whisk me right back to my childhood.  And upside-down cake--of the pineapple variety--is one.  While it was never a staple in my family's baking repertoire, I was always delighted when I happened upon a well executed (or otherwise) taste of this unconventional cake.  Unconventional in my childhood meant sans frosting.  And with cooked fruit.  The only cake in my confectionery world that hit those marks back then was my mom's Christmas Fruit Cake (and, shhh... I was never really a fan.)  Still, the sweet and caramelized pineapple atop decadent, sponge-like cake worked for me.

Fast forward a "few" years, and I happened upon a recent cherry rendition via Bon Appetit.  A one bowl wonder, and the memories of upside-down cake indulgence of days gone by, fueled my resolve to bake. this. cake.  And I'm so glad I did.

A leisure Sunday afternoon provided the perfect backdrop for abandoning myself to the tasks of prepping, baking, "unmolding" (fingers were crossed!), and finally tasting this gem of a dessert.  The sweet, dark cherries, accented with hints of citrus, and the buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cake made for a great pairing--and not too few cake, coffee, cake, tea, cake rotations in the days since.

Frozen cherries worked fine, so there's virtually no hassle in assembling your ingredients and getting down to baking business.  Add it to your baking agenda--and your memories will soon thank you, also.

Happy Eating!

Cherry Upside-Down Cake