Happy Birthday, Dad

We love birthday celebrations in our family.  We all get together and talk loudly, and then we eat and drink too much.  After dessert and coffee, we spend a significant amount of time complaining that we made too much food, and that we really should down size the meals.  It never happens. (Some of us find a place on the floor or couch and nap.)

But here’s how it works: About a month before your birthday, one of us will start planning the get together.  First, we pick a date, which may have absolutely nothing to do with your birthday.  It’s a date that works for us.  This is followed by a conversation with you about what you would like to eat on your special day.  Anything you want—we can make it.  My husband refuses to answer this question.  He says I’m like my mom; we ask him what he wants to eat, he tells us, and then we make what we want.

Today, we celebrated my dad’s birthday.  His birthday was two days ago, so that was good planning as far as my mom and I are concerned.  I don’t know if my mom asked him what he wanted to eat for his birthday dinner.  We served salami, cheese, olives, roasted peppers, vegetable dip, and pickled herring (I think he like this) as starters; followed by lasagna with braciole, sausage, pepperoni, and meatballs; salad with our home style Italian dressing; garlic bread; a side of rigatoni for the little kids; and, Italian Crème Cake for dessert. We had Sangria too. It was an awesome dinner.

(I think I was supposed to make a baccalà salad. Something to think about for next year.)

My dad, of course, doesn’t like lasagna.  His favorite cake is German Chocolate.  He drinks Paisano. That’s all irrelevant.  Birthday celebrations are a reason to get together and share great food. Today was no exception.  Happy Birthday, Dad! Mangia bene, vivi felice.