I’m always going on and on about growing up with and being inspired by my Mom’s wonderful cooking, but what about dear old Dad??
Ahh, Summertime. Bettertime.
Although he wasn’t the primary cook in the house, I have very specific and fond memories of my Dad in the kitchen from when I was young.
If he wasn’t on a canning kick (we still have mason jars filled with homemade bread & butter pickles lining our basement shelves 20 years later! PS How sick is it that I can say things like 20 years later?!) he was whipping up a big, spicy batch of his famous gumbo.
Gumbo is my Dad’s DISH. He’s got this super secret recipe that he always and forever intended to only share with the men in the family (pssht!) but accidently emailed it to me in a moment of fatherly-love induced weakness a few years ago.
SCORE! 
It wasn’t, and still isn’t, uncommon to walk into my parent’s kitchen on a freezing cold Saturday morning in the winter and find my Dad surrounded by mountains of gumbo making ingredients.
Oodles of onions, cups of celery, and butt-loads of bell pepper would be sautéing in bacon grease, while chopped, smoked kielbasa (which I loved to steal pieces of!) and chicken waited to join the party on nearby cutting boards.
I’d beg my Dad to go easy on the cayenne pepper he liberally added to the tomato-based broth the ingredients would soon be swimming in, and he always did his best to cater to my sissy needs, while keeping my spice-loving brothers happy. 
Regardless of the heat level, lots of love always went into those big pots of homemade, Iowa gumbo, and we’d all come back to dunk our bowls in it over and over again throughout the entire chilly afternoon.
Lots of love also went into the big brunch we could always count on Dad to make after coming home from church on sleepy, Sunday mornings. He never failed to wake us all up by 7am sharp (by clapping, I might add) so we could attend 8am service, but he more than made up for it with the boundless buffet he’d make when we got back.
It was a free for all, I’m tellin’ ya. You wanted eggs? You got eggs. Any way you wanted em’. Scrambled for me, ’til I hit 13, then over-medium was all the rage.
You wanted bacon too? No problem. Toast? Done. A three-tiered iced cake? He’d make you chocolate AND vanilla.
The thing I requested more often than not though, was Dad’s French Toast.
I don’t exactly know how he does it, but my Dad has got the lock and key on the technique to moist, luscious, perfect French Toast. The outside was always golden brown and just slightly eggy, while the inside was creamy and chewy. The ratio of egg to milk was always just right, too.
He’d serve it with a sprinkling of powdered sugar, at my request, that just so took it there, and I was as happy as could be.
‘Til Sunday morning chores commenced. Can you say, buzzkill?!
At any rate, it was my Dad I was thinking about when I decided to put a little twist on his classic French Toast for dinner tonight, and make Pumpkin French Toast Bake.
Pumpkin French Toast Bake combines cubed bread with a thick and richly spiced pumpkin-flavored custard-like batter.
The batter sinks into the bread to create a mix between French Toast, and bread pudding. Mmm.
The whole thing is topped with a sugary crumb topping then baked until bubbly and golden brown.
The smell of this dish when it came out of the oven was intoxicating. I could not WAIT to dig in!
Well, it turns out I should’ve waited a little longer…it was terrrrrrible. Terrible, I tell you!
The custardy batter? Yeah, more like gloopy ball of dough that is now sitting like a softball in my stomach. A few bites was more than enough of the semi-tasteless, bad-textured terror. BLECH!!!
Ahem, excuse me! That is to say, I’d rather be eating my Dad’s timeless, tasty French Toast right about now. Good thing he’s a 2 minute drive away!
~~~~~
Who was the main cook in your kitchen growing up? Mom, Dad, siblings, grandparents?
Aw! My dad makes some amazing French Toast, too!
Same here. My mom was the main cook, but when my dad cooked, it was always something memorable and good.
Beautiful wedding picture, by the way!
my mom was/is the main cook!
My mom always cooked. I just recently learned that she didn’t like it and since my sister & I moved out and got married and such she doesn’t cook anymore unles we’re there. My dad once tried to make pancakes from scratch and they were awful!
This so sweet! So many recipes remind me of my dad. His pot pie is one of them. Love this post girl.
Omg that wedding picture of you and your Dad dancing is so pretty. Awww Im going to cry!
My Dad was the main cook in the family. He rocks!
Such a sweet picture of you and your dad at your wedding! My dad’s go to meal is beef stew, cooked all day long. Ah-mazing!
My Dad was/is the cook! He can make anything in my opinion. He makes anything from French Onion Soup, to Lemon Meringue and Apple pies etc. I always cook with him and he’s my greatest inspiration in the kitchen. One of the more funnier moments recently was him making impromptu spaghetti sauce, he was adding a bit of everything and it turned out tasting awesome and I mentioned we should have it again and he said “if I can remember what I put in it” ha.
Beautiful pictures by the way
Mom was the cook when we didn’t have our family restaurant, and she really shouldn’t have been,
Learned everything I know from my Dad, thank the Lord! I think besides my Dad, I’m the only other immediate family member that can cook. My sis and 2 brothers cannot cook!
My Dad made the best goulash, and he also gave us the same awesome breakfast on Sundays and will still make me whatever I want for breakfast when I come home. (as long as we watched the CBS morning show and didn’t mess up his paper
)
Oh so sad when a family favorite recipe doesn’t come out.
My mom cooked most when we were growing up, but now dad does most of the cooking–and he’s really good! He wasn’t always the best cook, but he’s pretty great now. Mom still does a great job, but after all of those years cooking, it’s nice that she gets a break now!
Mom, definitely.
I don’t think my dad’s ever cooked anything in his life!
Hi Kristen! My mom was the master of the kitchen, while my dad was the master of the grill! I looove BBQ, and I attribute it to the fact that my dad would BBQ almost as much as my mom cooked! Lucky for me, they were both awesome at what they did
I absolutely love that wedding picture of you and your father. And your dress looks like it is stunning too, by the way!
Mom was definitely the main cook- but occasionally dad would whip out his famous breakfasts or sandwiches, two things that my mother hates making.
That picture of you and your dad on your wedding day is precious!
My mom cooked in my family and when my mom became gravely ill while we were in high school my dad took over. Let’s just say it was not good. I learned to cook quickly because of it. Nobody in our family, extended even, has been a great cook. We all grew up on shoestring budgets so it was just basics. Then when I married my husband I was introduced to a whole new culinary world! It was so fun.
What a sweet tribune. My dad was the primary cook in our family – but he went to culinary school, so it makes sense! I love his french toast best (it really is the simple things).
My mom was the main cook growing up (unless we were grilling, dad all the way). My husband loves to cook (and his food is amazing) and I am really excited to see the traditions and memories he is able to contribute (food wise) to our family once we have children & as they grow up.
that picture of you and your dad gives me goosebumps! i hope that’s framed somewhere!!
Mom! (And only mom!) My dad is known to blow up hot dogs in the microwave. We think it’s because he grew up a farm boy — and always had a hot meal waiting for him on the dinner table thanks to his sisters and mom.
Side note: I love bread pudding! Have you ever ordered Biaggi’s white chocolate bread pudding? Do it, you won’t regret it!
We lived with my great grandma and mom growing up. It was always me or great grandma cooking. I learned to guestimate measurements and play with flavors because grandma refused to go to the store for one ingredient.
This is so sweet! My mom was the sole cook in our immediate family. I have an occasional memory of my dad making Hamburger Helper when I was younger, but otherwise my dad was (and still is!) famous for asking us where we wanted to get food when my mom was out of the picture for dinner.
I love your daddy story! And what a fabulous wedding pic. 2 minutes to Dad’s French Toast! go get some, girl.
What a sweet post and I adore the pictures with the fam! My mom was the main cook, but dad could man the grill and cook up a tasty breakfast for dinner dish!
Aw, what a sweet post. That pumpkin french toast looks delicious! My mom was always the main cook in our kitchen when I was a child. My dad did have a few “specialties” though, including homemade tacos and pizza.
What a gorgeous picture of you and ur dad at ur wedding! *weepy*
That picture of you and your dad at your wedding is just stunning!
That is such a GORGEOUS picture of you and your dad! I can’t wait for wedding photos someday! And thanks so much for the recipe for the gnocchi that I ended up making tortelloni with! I just made the gnocchi today and it was SO good!
my dad was NOT the cook. to be honest, can’t remember a single meal he ever made!! worked out well, though, because my mom loves the kitchen. dad’s dinner nights were reserved for our favorite…. pizza delivery!
That last picture, omg! So beautiful and full of love.
This is such a lovely ode to your Dad! I have fond memories of cooking with both my parents. Mum did most of the everyday cooking but on the weekends Dad would teach my sister and I how to bake. Thus the lifelong affair with butter, sugar and flour began
This is such a sweet post! I love the picture of you and your dad at your wedding. So beautiful
My mom did all of the cooking in our house. I wish that my dad would have done more cooking or if all of us could have cooked together. I think it would have been fun and memorable.
my mom was the main cook. my dad grilled and made pancakes. a couple years ago, he made a batch of cookies. it was so impressive that we took a picture.
My mom was the main cook at our house. My dad could really only make pancakes and waffles. And then he was on a muffin kick for a while, I don’t remember what that was about. Otherwise he would occassionally help my mom stir a pot and then he would claim that he had made it, haha, nice!
My Mom was the main cook, but my Dad made some mean toast! Your pumpkin french toast looks divine! I also LOVE your wedding dress. I’m about to start wedding dress shopping and am super excited!
Bummer – I hate it when I try a new recipe and it bombs. If you’re interested in a second try, I recommend this pumpkin bread pudding (skipping the pumpkin bowls – just throw it in a casserole dish): http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21492989/ns/today-food/t/baked-pumpkins-filled-pumpkin-bread-pudding-topped-pomegranate-sauce/
My dad also is a French toast master. While I love cooking, I butcher French toast and have only gotten around to getting pancakes right. Never ending process!
I can not stop crying!! That wedding picture of you and your dad dancing is beautiful!! My dad passed away when I was 19. I have a lot of great memories of him….one of which is cooking related. He tried to make my nana’s pasta fagioli, he didn’t put enough liquid in the beans so when he added the pasta is turned into a starchy clump of pasta and bean mixture……hilarious!! We ate it anyway because we didn’t want him to feel bad….lots of water was consumed during that meal. LOL
Oh my gosh, I need to make that!! Your dad sure knows his stuff in the kitchen.
The main cook in my family was definitely my mom and now me (well, when I’m home visiting anyway). My dad and brother would be lucky to know how to turn the stove on.
Aww – It seems like every good dad has a few quirky dishes up his sleeve!
In our house, my dad made fried eggs, custard pie, and oatmeal : ) All three are the standard to which I hold my own versions of these favorites. So good, so comforting. Pretty random…
Thanks for the little memory trip!
My teacher assigned my English class to follow a blog for two weeks. She recommended your blog because she follows it. My plan is to follow it every day and leave comments. I enjoyed your article “Father Knows Best”. I look forward to experimenting the gumbo recipe. My teacher told me that there is multiple ways to make it. Mr. Prince puts shrimp and crab legs in his. I have browsed through your blog and I appreciate the variety of your various food options.
My mom was definitely the main cook – 6:30 pm every night, we were to be home because dinner was on the table. But, my dad will forever be known for his AMAZING soft-boiled eggs. Holy Yumm!! He made them every vacation and they are perfection. Now that I’m married, I wish I could venture home more often on Saturday mornings and have him make these for me.
Ps-that wedding picture looks gorgeous! love to see more!
We lived in India for most of my childhood as my parents were teachers there, and so we had cooks
Thankfully, cos my mum had five kids plus a demanding job! I wish I had a cook now, would be great to come home to a five course meal every now and then 
LOL! Loved this post! So sweet! Also makes me feel better to know that even you have kitchen fails once in awhile.
My mom did all the cooking. Not sure whether dad could even handle the toaster… 
My dad was always (and still is) the main cook in the house. I love all of his recipes, but of course he doesn’t have anything written down and cooks everything from memory and by taste. I need to shadow him in the kitchen and start writing these things down!
Well, that post sure choked me up. There is just something special about dads and their daughters. Am not thinking about gumbo…mmmmm Thank you for always cooking for us and entertaining us! Lynette
my mum was the main cook, but dad had a speciality: gourmet sausages cooked, then split down the middle filled with creamy mashed potatos, topped with grated cheese then grilled – yum! beautiful wedding photo
Cannot wait to try! And the homage paid to your dad – so adorable
(p.s. post more wedding pictures!!!)
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I love that you made a French Toast Bake for dinner! Very cute post. I am sure your Dad loved it.
…and gumbo? Very, very smart man!