We all need to connect


Happy Papa’s Day to everyone out there who takes their parenting job seriously. There are a lot of deadbeat dads out there but I’d say most are trying to do their best. I salute you. My dad was a good dad when I was growing up, he cared and was a good listener, and he often offered solid advice. He was not perfect by any means. He was a writer who always had a cigarette in his hand and life often beat him down. That’s him above with 3-year-old Tristan in the Grand Canyon. 

My husband is a caring, funny father because he likes to entertain his three children and loves to tell stories. Groovy Girl is off to work today at the water park and Kaylee is out there in Brooklyn living her cool life. She sent a lovely handwritten letter that he opened this morning. Tristan surprised Greg by showing up in person. He works a lot and Sunday is his one major day to rest and recuperate yet he made the hour drive to show up. Luckily I had a heads-up that he might show up and I whipped together this potato breakfast scramble so we could eat together. This is a recipe I found a year ago on Instagram from vegan influencer Tabitha Brown and I love that she seemingly throws easy, on-hand ingredients together to make comfort food. She has a calm spirit and a sense of humor just like my yoga guide Adriene. 

There is so much good stuff out there and even though I miss my dad I have lots of other dad-like influencers that I have come to rely on. My dad’s friend Marv, my friend Mike W., Rocky P. and Steve T. who died just a few months ago are all people who are just a bit older and have that dad wisdom that we all could use now and again. My brother, even though he is younger, is someone I can rely on for help. We all need people to care about us, to listen, and offer free good advice. Be a dad to someone. 

I also made a non-vegan breakfast that we scarfed up earlier, that should have been served to friends but the timing just didn’t work out. It was delicious; like having your eggs and toast in one. I loved that I could put it altogether last night and then bake it this morning. I sprinkled bacon on half of it instead of using sausage so that the vegetarian (me) in the house could enjoy it. And the father in this house loves the bacon! And I shook up two Bloody Mary’s too. Oh, yeah, summertime brunch. 

Enjoy. Hug all your people.

Weekend Cooking; The true meaning of brunch…

We love breakfast at this house and because we are like passing ships on weekday mornings it is great when we can gather for brunch on the weekends. Brunch has such wonderful memories for me; I remember as I child huge meals that my dad would make either on Saturday or Sunday after church, My dad loved making huge skillets of scrambled eggs.  He sauteed the onions in butter first while he whisked the eggs together using a fork and then he’d pour the cool egg mix into the hot cast iron creating a sizable sizzle.  I remember that sound like it was yesterday but I don’t think it has anything to do with why I love brunch today.

In my 20’s brunch meant meeting friends for food and beverages at classic little joints from Minneapolis and St Paul to Denver and Boulder, Colorado.  These gatherings could take the better part of your day but what an excellent way to relax and enjoy your friends before husbands and children came along.  Bloody Mary bars, crispy hash browns fresh off someone else’s griddle, patio dining, and laughing all come to mind when I think of those shared brunches around big round tables.  We were free with our time and you only had to pay for what you ate and drank.

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Now as a family it is not only much harder to take the family out for brunch price-wise but also what we can create at home often tastes much better.  Our local nature center hosts a maple syrup festival this weekend and I had my heart set on going though but with the snowy week we had I didn’t make it over there until Friday to pick up tickets and once I parked my car and trekked the long winding path to the lodge I was not happy to find the door locked.  Searching the assortment of signs I saw they had closed 10 minutes ago.  “Aaargh” is how I felt.  I told myself it was okay I didn’t really want to go anyway and now I really didn’t plan to go!  I got in my car to drive away and 5 beautiful mama deer (does) ran right in front of me through the snowy park path and my mental balance was completely restored.  When I got home and explained how I’d screwed up getting the tickets, and the deer running in front of me, my husband and I decided what was most important was the maple syrup after all.  For the price of the tickets I would be better off with a big bottle of their syrup anyway..  I broke the news to the kids by telling them I would be hosting my own maple syrup festival in the morning around 10 am.  We ate pancakes, fried eggs, pineapple and cups of steaming homemade hot chocolate. There was laughter and good food, which is really all it takes. Bliss.

A new tradition is born; The Holt Family Maple Syrup Festival: to be held any Saturday morning we can all get together.

I followed Katie Workman’s pancake recipe but it is quite similar to this one from the recipe girl. I use whole wheat flour and I don’t add sugar.  I couldn’t find Katie’s recipe online and if I keep copying her recipes to my blog they’ll be some kind of copyright issue I’m just sure…You’ll have to buy the book as I’ve done.

This post is linked to Beth Fish Reads Weekly Cooking meme.  Click her link to find many other marvelous food-related posts and lots of lovely conversations.

 Have a peaceful Saturday.