Dad’s are in the kitchen for #SundaySupper on Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is this week and it just wouldn’t be fair if we didn’t give Mom’s the day off. I have asked some special Dad’s to step in and take over Sunday Supper this week.  I am honored to have connected with some amazing Dad’s through Social Media. This Mother’s Day I am featuring these men that I admire, have touched my heart, that are great Dad’s and are just awesome in the kitchen. I kid you not, these boys can cook!

The first Dad I am featuring is Jim Joseph.  Without realizing it, Jim helped me find my Voice.  I know, some of you are thinking…. why did he do that?  One evening back in August or September, after chatting on Twitter, Jim sent me a tweet that said “I love what you stand for and would love for you to do a guest post for me.”

I was a new blogger and didn’t  realize that anyone was listening to me, never mind actually reading my blog.  I couldn’t believe that someone would actually want me to do a guest post?  I am still honored and thankful that Jim gave me the encouragement that I needed to continue with Family Foodie.

Honestly, I haven’t stopped learning from Jim since that day.  I have watched many webinars that he has hosted and learned that I am a Brand.  Did you know that? I am a Brand!  Are you sure Jim?  There are days that I still question this. But one thing I have learned, if Jim tells me I am a Brand, then I must be. When I was feeling guilty about occasionally eating out because now that I am a Brand that promotes eating Around the Family Table… Jim is the one who reassured me that the Family Table can be anywhere the only ingredient needed is love!

Jim is an absolute wealth of information on Marketing, Branding and delivering the experience that our audience is craving. His books The Experience Effect and The Experience Effect for Small Businesses are must reads.  And if you ever have a chance to attend one of his webinars, do so! You won’t regret it!

Today, I am honored that our roles are reversed. Jim has agreed to do a guest post for me. I can’t wait to try his Meatball Recipe and love that we love some of the same brands!  Here is Jim’s Mother’s Day  Post:

 A Dad’s Mother’s Day

To be completely honest, as a kid I never really paid that much attention to Mother’s Day.  Like most kids, I’d scramble at the last minute to get my Mother a gift and then try to make it look like I had it planned all along.  Just being honest.But when I had my own kids, I suddenly felt an obligation to give some ceremony around Mother’s Day.  I didn’t worry as much about Father’s Day truthfully, but Mother’s Day was a holiday where I felt a responsibility to perform.

Maybe it was because I was a divorced Dad and for awhile a single Dad to boot, so I felt a real need to acknowledge the holiday.  There were several years early on where I was the entertainer on that day, and some years I was even the “Mother”.  So I’ve had as much a vested interest in Mother’s Day as any other Mother.

One year in particular, my kids Mom was out of the country, so I was celebrating Mother’s Day in my home.  I decided to make spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, a true comfort food for me and I was in need of some comfort that day.

I planned a bunch of activities to keep us busy and the kids had a ball that day – it turned out to be a record day for me with them.  And they loved my dinner.  When I was tucking them in that Mother’s Day night, my daughter asked me if we could celebrate Mother’s Day every week.  What a great feeling for a Dad trying to make sure my kids celebrated the day appropriately.

Now I’ve never told anyone this before, but one of my favorite family traditions was born at that very moment … on Mother’s Day when my kids were with me, their Dad.

From that moment and now every Sunday night without fail we have spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.  It’s a ritual that both celebrates the weekend together and prepares for the week ahead.  If we are home, we make them home made – and try all sorts of varieties like beef, sirloin, turkey, lamb, veggie and even salmon.  If we are out, we go to a restaurant that serves our favorite.  When ever I travel, I make sure I check with the locals to help me find a place for Sunday night.So what was born out of a need to create a celebratory Mother’s Day has become a weekly tradition for my family. I think that’s more than appropriate coming from dear ‘ole Dad.Although we have several meatball recipes, this is my favorite, compiled from a few variations that ended up being sheer perfection IMHO.[print_this]Jim’s Meatballs

• 1 ¼​lb. Shady Brook Farms Ground Turkey
•  1 ¼ lb. Shady Brook Farms Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage
•  1 ¼ lb. Shady Brook Farms Hot Italian Turkey Sausage
•  1 Medium to Large Onion Chopped
•  4 Cloves Garlic Chopped Fine
•  ½ c. Four C Seasoned Bread Crumbs
•  ½ c. Italian Parsley Chopped
•  2 lg. Eggland’s Best Eggs Beaten
•  ½ c. Kraft Parmesan Cheese
•  1 tsp. McCormick Oregano
•  ½ c. Swanson Chicken Broth
•  (sorry, could help myself with all the brand mentions!)

1.  Mix ingredients with a large metal kitchen fork.  Mix until just combined, do not over mix.  Form meatballs using an ice-cream scoop (2oz.).  Place balls on a rimmed baking sheet using Pam or a Silpat mat to prevent sticking.  Bake at 425 for 20 to 25 minutes (makes aprox 30 meatballs).
2.  To use, drop into your favorite tomato sauce or freeze.  I usually make a double batch and freeze for future use.
3.  When I am ready, I place frozen meatballs and sauce in a Le Creuset Dutch Oven at 350 for 1 1/2 – 2 hours for my “no stress” spaghetti and meatball Sunday Supper.[/print_this]

That’s my #SundaySupper weekly experience!

Jim Joseph is the Father of two teenagers along with far less important titles as Agency President, Award-Winning Author, and University Professor

 

 

Join us this week for many more Recipes by Dad’s!  We love your recipes, tips and inspiration and love connecting with new friends.  The fun starts at 3pm EST and lasts all afternoon until dinner time and sometimes beyond.  All you have to do is follow the hashtag #sundaysupper on twitter or follow along on TweetChat.  There is always room Around the Family Table for you.