Esculent

So, when a loved one passes, friends and family gather. They tell stories, share happy memories and memorialize the loved one by supplying the survivors with flowers, donations to favorite charities, cool garden statuary. Thanks to co-workers and friends Mom and I are working on memorial gardens for dad. I planted all annuals in the color red - his favorite color.

When my dad passed those things happened, but I want to share with you the one thing that really made me cry. Yeah, it's a grill. My River Falls friends decided to honor the memory of my dad by getting me a grill. You may shake your head in wonder but you should know that my dad taught me to grill. Charcoal grill. And I think the River Falls folks appreciate my little talent. None of the men folk ever ask me if they should do the grilling - well, Ryan did once, but he was kidding. He knows he's not half the man I am when it comes to grilling - he he!

Here's my grill

The added plaque was what made me tear up.  I take pride in knowing how to grill, and that I learned from the best. I love having people over, entertaining, feeding. One of my fondest memories was a few years back. Dad had knee surgery, I was over for dinner with an aunt an uncle in from out of town. Steak was to be grilled. Instead of handing the tongs to Uncle Jerry, dad handed them to me. Wow! I was so proud he trusted me with those delicious, expensive pieces of meat. I'm not even sure how they turned out - I was just proud to have the honor. Sorry Jer - I think it's because you cook on a gas grill ;)

Dad always made sure I had charcoal and lighter fluid on hand. Usually when he came over he did the grilling - and hey, I let him because he's my dad - the grill master. But he did indulge my new ideas and recipes. Once, I wanted to put asparagus on the grill and he said "no, we don't need that." Me, being me, did it anyway. Gee - guess who liked to grill his asparagus after that. I also fondly remember making him steak sandwiches one night. The next day I got a phone call. "Yeah, I was thinking about the dinner you made last night. That was really good." High praise indeed!

This is what we ate for the christening of the grill:

Chicken, steak, leeks, asparagus and peppers - num!

Here are some of the people who participated in the memory grill. Love these guys! (In the pictures and the ones who couldn't make it)

Some friends are coming over tonight. I'm grilling. Tuscany lemon chicken, sweet potatoes wrapped in bacon, glazed with maple syrup. Should be ok - maybe I'll post pictures.