Friday, June 10, 2016

Use Your Words: Beer and Martinis

Today’s post is a monthly writing challenge. If you’re new here, this is how it works: participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once. All of the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That’s the challenge, here’s a fun twist; no one who’s participating knows who got their words and in what direction the recipient will take them. Until now.

Use Your Words: a multiblogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


At the end of this post you’ll find links to the other blogs featuring this challenge. Check them all out, see what words they got and how they used them.
I’m using: Father's Day ~ beer ~ teddy bear ~ transportation ~ career ~ barber

They were submitted by: Spatulas on Parade.

I'm guessing I'm not taking anyone by surprise by saying that Father's Day is right around the corner. It'll be my first without my dad.

It's funny, I've been 1500 miles away from my family for so long now that Father's Day has been about my kids' dad for many, many years. So it's not that I've been physically with my dad for these celebrations lately, it's just that my dad has been physically celebrating and celebrated. This year we'll honor Hubs as usual, but there will be a sense of melancholy too.

My dad wasn't much of a beer drinker. He went for Martinis. Rather than showing up with a case of beer, I'd often buy him Vermouth for Father's Day. I think the martini kind of fit him. He was not just a CPA, but through his career had gotten his Masters in Taxation, had started and run his own firm. He wasn't someone you sat down, had a beer and watched sports with. He was a martini guy.

Now Hubs, he's a guy you have a beer with while screaming at the Red Sox on TV. 

Different guys, yet in many ways alike. Both intelligent, dedicated, hard workers. Both dependable and honest. And both teddy bears.

Then with Dad and now with Hubs, there'll be no transportation required on Father's Day. Home cook outs are the way to go. And no need for him to shave, no trips to the barber. Casual and comfortable was and will be the order of the day. My stepmother used to grill us steaks. This year Hubs has requested Marinated Grilled Ham Steaks. I'm making another favorite, Mashed Potato Casserole (recipe coming next week). Dessert is a Father's Day tradition around here, Ice Cream Sandwich Cake.

Marinated Grilled Ham Steak, cooked ham steak marinated and grilled for a fast, flavorful easy dinner | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #reciepe #dinner

Marinated Grilled Ham Steak
Marinated Grilled Ham Steak, cooked ham steak marinated and grilled for a fast, flavorful easy dinner | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #reciepe #dinner

(going onto the grill)


So we'll have a casual, comfortable cook out again this year on Father's Day. My husband and sons will have a beer together. I'll be there too, of course. Yelling at the Red Sox on TV. And drinking a Martini.


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Marinated Grilled Ham Steak
                                                                          ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1 fully cooked ham steak (boneless or bone in)
2 TBSP brown sugar
2 TBSP maple syrup
1 TBSP stone ground mustard
1 TBSP vinegar
1 TBSP orange juice
1 TBSP water

Directions:
*On a plate with a lip, mix the brown sugar, maple syrup, mustard, vinegar, orange juice and water. 
*Place the ham steak in the marinade, then flip over so both sides have the marinade on them. Place a piece of wax paper over it and refrigerate for 2 hours to all day, turning the ham steak over now and then.
*Spray your cold grill grates with nonstick spray. Heat the grill to medium.
*Place the ham steak on the grill. Do not discard the marinade on the plate. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes. You are just heating the ham as it's already cooked.
*Flip the ham and cook the other side for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the ham to the plate with the marinade still on it. Cut and serve. 

12 comments:

  1. How do you like your martinis? Or does it matter? Will anyone do?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually, unlike Dad, I usually make the flavored ones.

      Delete
  2. My dad went home just before Father's Day last year, so this is our second without him. Doesn't seem possible that he's been gone a whole year. He wasn't into either beer or martinis, but he sure could pick good ice cream! So we'd be sitting, eating ice cream and his favourite cookies . . . and telling stories.
    P.S. Great work on those words!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the way we all find such meaningful ways to pay tribute to our dads. Hope you and your family have a lovely day, Diane.

      Delete
  3. You and your Dad are in excellent company; James Bond likes his martini shaken not stirred!
    I'm sure your Father will appreciate your having a martini honoring him. 🍸

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope so. Although mine will probably be a flavored one, which I bet he'd never touch!

      Delete
  4. We were at a wine tasting this evening, and ne of the wine companies there was offering free personalized wine labels for "Dad's Day". Both my and hubbie's Dads are long gone. I'm thinking about them both now. And your recipe sounds yum, as always. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry for both of your losses. Hope you think of them both as you celebrate your husband next weekend.

      Delete
  5. I know what you mean about Father's Day. Mine has been gone for 31 years and its still hard, but I will be thinking of you this year. I never thought to marinate one of those ham steaks and throw it on the grill. I buy them all of the time for breakfast or a quick supper. Pinning this for the marinade recipe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 31 years, that just sounds like forever. I'm sorry you've spent so many Father's Days without him.
      I hope you try the marinade, it adds great flavor to the ham steak for such a simple dinner.

      Delete
  6. Great job using the words! No challenge too great for you.
    I love ham steaks but I never thought about grilling them. Great idea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, these words really spoke to me, especially with Father's Day coming up.

      Delete

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