Surprise Dad with a Beautiful Dinner

Ahhhh, Father’s Day… always a bittersweet time for me, having lost my dad just 4 1/2 years ago. While our family has since celebrated numerous wonderful occasions, it saddens me to think how much joy both he and my mom have missed. My father loved nothing better than when one of his girls “put out a spread” any time our family got together. I can still hear his voice asking me on the phone that morning… “So what are ya havin’ and who’s comin’?” As my Dad was truly a life-long “foodie,” I know he would be so very proud to share this year’s Father’s Day Dinner Menu with you.

Grilled Pepper Caprese Salad is a fitting start to our tribute to Dad. Caprese salads certainly make a beautiful statement just on their own. However, I kicked this version up a notch by adding garden-fresh peppers and cherry tomatoes that explode with flavor from grilling.

Sticky Chicken is guaranteed to please with its perfect balance of “ooey-gooey” goodness. I’m betting all the dads out there will agree! Not to mention, it’s my most requested dish amongst my family and friends as well as the most popular recipe ever on my website!

Garden-fresh Veggie ‘n Quinoa Stuffed Zucchini is healthy, colorful and super-fun to make. Got picky veggie eaters in your house? I’m betting this dish will be a winner! Pan-Roasted Green Beans with Caramelized Onions dresses up plain veggie “sides” by soaking in the sweetness of caramelized onions. But don’t save this dish just for special occasions as these flavorful green beans can be on your weeknight dinner table in minutes.

And for an unforgettable finale to Dad’s special dinner, I offer my Dark Chocolate Oblivion Torte. Is this tantalizing plate of extreme chocolate decadence seriously “over the top?” Absolutely. The thinnest of slices is sure to suffice served with nothing more than summer-ripe berries…and perhaps a tad of freshly whipped cream!

 

Father’s Day Dinner Highlights 2014

 

I try to honor my Dad’s memory by continuing to create dishes I know he would love. I’m happy to say my Dad lived long enough to enjoy many of my recipe concoctions and meals (all the way back from my “Easy Bake Oven” days!) So I am dedicating this beautiful dinner to my Dad as well as all the fathers, father in-laws, grandfathers and great grandfathers in your lives. Treasure them every moment!

 

Hungry for More?

I invite you to visit my Recipe Collections where lots of goodies such as Sizzling Summer Dishes, Healthier Frozen Treats, Dinner in a Flash, Freezer-Friendly Meals, Crockpot Dishes, Pack ‘n Go Lunch Favorites, and MORE await your discovery!
 

 

Can You Become a Meal Planning Maven Success Story?

YES! Contact me for more information about my services. I would love to share my healthy eating secrets you can use, today, tomorrow and always. My specialties include creating customized meal planners and one- on- one food coaching using tried ‘n true methods. Whether your goal is to feed your family healthier meals, build a collection of quick ‘n easy recipes, “go gluten-free,” or perhaps knock off that pesky Winter “pudge” …I’d LOVE to help!

 

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Linda Shapiro, Meal Planning Maven

8 Responses

  1. Patty Anderson
    Linda what a beautiful sentiment about missing your Dad. My dad loved to cook and he was darn good at it. Just know that your Dad is always around at any family gathering - in spirit.<br /><br />Patty, thank you soooo much for your beautiful words. I can't tell you how much they mean to me. I bet your father was absolutely amazing and i think he and my dad would have enjoyed each others company. Thank you for taking the time to visit. Linda
  2. Kecia
    All such Father friendly dishes! I would love them, too... especially the Torte! Yum. What a wonderful post!<br /><br />Thank you so much Kecia! This was a fun menu and recipe collection for me and hope everyone enjoys it. Thanks for stopping by!
  3. Nicole Neverman
    I'm sorry to hear about your Dad, Linda :( This is a fantastic menu, I especially love the chocolate torte. YUM!<br /><br />Thank you Nicole. My dad was the ultimate foodie and lived his life always dreaming about the next meal! Thank you for stopping by!
  4. Katerina
    What can I say? I don't know which one to choose! Can I take them all?<br /><br />Yes you may Katerina! This was a super-fun menu to work on and hope you get to try some of the dishes one day!
  5. nettie moore
    What a delicious menu Linda! You always inspire me! Nettie<br /><br />Nettie...you brought tears to my eyes as I have always considered you one of my mentors! Thank you so much for your kind words...and I am so appreciative of the share!
  6. Debi
    You are always so sweet! And, dedicating this meal to him is awesome. It looks so yummy! Any dad would be happy to have this for Father's Day! I hope you celebrate the day with your family and loved ones!<br /><br />Debi,,,thank you sooooo much for your kind words! I can't tell you how much your support means to me! My dad was so special...I just wish he were here. He would have been fascinated with all our blogging friends and would have insisted I make all of your goodies!
  7. Michele @ Flavor Mos
    Your Father's Day dinner looks amazing, especially the sticky chicken and chocolate torte! Pinned!<br /><br />Thank you very much Michele for your kind words and support! I'm so happy you stopped by!
  8. Cindy @ HunWFD
    What a gorgeous dinner fit for a King! That torte looks out of this world!<br /><br />Thank you for your kind words Cindy and I'm so excited you stopped by!