Southern Daddy

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Join Chari at Happy to Design for Sunday favorites and Charlotte and Ginger at Blogger Spirit for Spiritual Sunday and enjoy your Sunday.

Today, January 3rd would have been my daddy’s 72nd birthday. Many of you who have read my blog know that my daddy died at the age of 54 of cancer. I wrote this article last January about him and it will always remain one of my favorites.

Just before daddy turned 50, he and my mom sold everything they had and moved from the small town, where they both grew up and raised their family, to Fort Worth, Texas where my dad entered the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

He had felt called to do this and I so admired him for taking this huge step to follow the will of God. He received his Masters of Religious Education in short order. Unfortunately, it was not long after that when he died. Here is my favorite post for today from January 26, 2009:

Southern Daddy-isms

Daddy

Since I posted Mama-isms, one of my two beautiful sisters requested that I give equal time to Daddy-isms. My Daddy died in 1992 at the age of 54 of cancer. Daddy was a big, lovable man, full of integrity and loved by all who knew him. He laughed a lot and smiled a lot and I am very blessed to have had such a great Daddy. He was a very optimistic and positive man who had sayings that deserve equal time as well as a few funny memories.

When asked how are you his response was invariably, “If I was any better I couldn’t stand it!”

You can’t go through life looking in the rear-view mirror.

About anyone who was a good cook – You’re a good cooker.

About Marriage – Love is important but commitment is equally important.

The Bible is a book that is meant to be understood by reading.

When we were kids, my younger sister had a slumber party on March 31st one year. The following morning, my Daddy woke all of the sleeping girls and told them to be calm but to hurry outside because the house was on fire. When they were all safely outside he called to them from the door “April Fools.” He loved to pull April Fools jokes but that was one of the best.

Daddy loved to swim and he made sure we all had swimming lessons. He would take us to the pool and delight us by throwing us high in the air. We would wear him out by begging him to throw us again.

He would wake us up in the morning by turning on the light and singing (loudly)

Good morning to you,
Good morning to you,
We’re all in our places
With bright shiny faces.
For this is the way,
To start a new day.

If we didn’t wake up after the singing, he would stand at the end of the bed and say chop, chop, chop (as he was falling forward) to give us time to get up before he said TIMBER and fell on top of us. To my recollection, he never actually fell on top of any of us.

I could go on and on. As you can see, Daddy was a fun guy.

Today’s Lagniappe:  Recipe for Spinach Madeleine or Crawfish Spinach Dip

I spent the afternoon yesterday with my friend Darlene planning our upcoming Mardi Gras party and it put me in mind of something with a little New Orleans’ Flavor. This is copied from Chef John Folse & Company Website. If you don’t have the River Road Cookbooks, look for them, they are great.

Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Yields: 5-6 Servings

Comment:
This traditional Louisiana recipe was first presented in River Road’s cookbook from the Junior League of Baton Rouge. It is safe to say that this single recipe made the book world famous. In the late 1990s, Kraft foods did away with their jalapeño cheese roll which was originally used in the recipe. Recently, an alert customer informed us that Kraft’s Velveeta line introduced a similar Mexican cheese.

Ingredients:

* 2 packages chopped spinach, frozen
* 4 tbsps butter
* 2 tbsps flour
* 2 tbsps chopped onions
* ½ cup evaporated milk
* ½ cup reserved spinach liquor
* ½ tsp black pepper
* ¾ tsp celery salt
* ¾ tsp garlic salt
* 6 ounces Velveeta Mexican cheese, sliced into ¼-inch cubes
* salt and red pepper to taste
* 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Method:
Cook spinach according to directions on package. Drain and reserve liquid. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add flour, stirring until blended and smooth, but not brown. Add onions and sauté 3-5 minutes or until wilted. Add evaporated milk, spinach liquor and Worcestershire sauce slowly, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cook mixture until smooth and thick, stirring constantly. Add seasonings and cubed cheese. Stir until melted and combine with cooked spinach. This may be served immediately or put into a casserole and topped with buttered bread crumbs. The flavor is improved if the latter is done and kept in refrigerator overnight.

This traditional dish can be spruced up for the holidays by adding ¼ cup diced red bell peppers when the onions are sautéed.

There are other great dishes that can be made with this versatile recipe, such as:

Crawfish Spinach Dip: Add 1 pound of Louisiana crawfish tails when you add the cheese and serve warm with tortilla chips or crackers


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14 responses to “Southern Daddy”

  1. Chari Avatar

    Hi Christi…

    My friend, what a wonderful and endearing post about your father! I’m so sorry that you lost him but I know that you will meet again…thank the Lord for this blessed hope!!! I just loved reading his “Daddy-isms”!!! Also…I just giggled when I read about his April Fool’s joke to the sleepover girls…too funny!!! Thank you so much for sharing about your father and his “Daddy-isms” with us today for Sunday Favorites!!!

    I also would like to say thank you for supporting and participating in Sunday Favorites this past year…I have sooo enjoyed your posts and friendship, Christi! I’m really looking forward to what the new year holds for all of us here in blogland…so exciting!!!

    Sending you my warmest wishes and blessings for a fabulous new year, my friend!!!

    Chari @Happy To Design

  2. Ginger Avatar
    Ginger

    Your dad sounds like he was wonderful. I admire people who follow their hearts for God will.
    God Bless,

  3. Clif Avatar
    Clif

    Thanks for sharing these special memories of your dad. He sounds like a special man. It would have been fun and inspiring to have had him for a dad.

  4. Debbie Avatar

    My relationship with my father was a difficult one and there are not many good memories. He too died at a young age. He was only 47. I LOVE LOVE to hear memories of those who had such wonderful relationships with their dads. How blessed you obviously were. This was a wonderful tribute to him. Thanks for sharing it. Blessings, Debbie

  5. Charlotte Avatar

    What a nice tribute to your Dad. You are fortunate to have these wonderful memories. My Dad lived to age 85. He died over 11 years ago. His birthday is coming up this month. I still miss him.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

  6. Dayle Avatar

    I’m sorry you lost your father at such a young age. He sounds like a very special man.

  7. sue Avatar

    What a beautiful post and a beautiful tribute to your father. Your post brought back wonderful memories of my father as well.thank you for sharing.
    Blessings,
    Sue

  8. Lori E Avatar

    I am sure you know how lucky you were to have this man for your dad. What more can a father hope for than to leave his children with such loving memories of life with him.

  9. Myra Avatar

    Oh, how I enjoyed this! Now, I’m remembering all my own Daddy-isms … what a gift you’ve given. I’ll bet-cha your Dad’s smiling down on you, his chest full of pride!

    Happy New Year!
    Myra

  10. Keetha Avatar

    I think I saw this when you posted it before – – it was great then, and still is!

  11. Ann Messick Avatar

    Great story, Great memories!

  12. patsy Avatar

    Great story!! i really enjoy your blog, very good for the soul.

  13. Cherie Avatar

    OH how much I love my Dad. Your post just brought wonderful thoughts streaming through my mind. Hold him closely even in passing. Jesus bless you!

  14. cindy dodd Avatar

    Wonderful post! Such a tribute. He sounds like he was a man of God.
    cindy

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