My daddy pictured below was a cook before he became a mechanic.
Growing up I remember him cooking as much if not more than my mom. He was used to preparing meals for large crowds – in the Navy, at Frank’s restaurant and later on at church. He’d experiment with different recipes always getting ideas from his friends Raymond and Jerry aka Mr. S and Mr. V to us.
His specialties were fried chicken (with pancake mix in the crust) and chili or stew in quantities to large enough feed a fleet. I loved when he brought home leftovers from Thursday night men’s club meetings. I have fond memories of camping and his cooking a full breakfast over a Coleman stove. “Break the yolk on my egg daddy” “One hockey puck coming up” Nothing ever tasted so good.
Days like today are bittersweet. Bitter since we do not have his earthly presence but sweet – oh How Sweet It Is! because his legacy lives on. And I still talk to him … alot. When things get rough but more often when something good happens. Keep on smiling while honoring his memory.
Happy Father’s Day to all the daddies and father figures out there.
As always, more to come.
J-Dub's Grin and Bear It 
My dad was the “outside” cook in our family. I rarely saw him cook anything on the stove or in the oven but man could that guy work a BBQ! He’s been gone for over 35 years now and I still miss him. Great story, J. Thanks
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He wasn’t just a cook, he was a commissaryman, what the Navy now calls a culinary specialist. Did he use Bisquik in his fried chicken? Food and music carry with them such great memories…
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Oh yes! He was a Culinary Specialist for sure feeding all those men on the USS Copahee. I can only imagine what it took to do that without the same modern conveniences we have today. I don’t remember if it was Bisquick or some other boxed mix he tossed in with the flour. I do remember he rarely measured anything and each time the crust was just a little different. I also remember he had a sink full of hot soapy water ready to go once he started cooking. He’d prep, clean, and cook simultaneously. Must’ve been efficiency of the Navy in him.
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