My dad, like most dads according to the stereotype, is a meat-and-potatoes man. But that's not to say he's boring and unadventurous.
He just prefers real adventure to anything that could be found on a plate.
We had normal trips -- visits to Six Flags over Texas and trips to Disney World -- when I was growing up. But our family vacations often involved piling into a car and driving cross continent.
One summer we packed up our tiny, yellow Datsun and headed to Mexico to visit friends and explored the Nevado de Toluca -- one of Mexico's highest mountains and a dormant volcano -- to gaze upon the Lago del Sol (Sun Lake) and Lago de la Luna (Moon Lake).
Another year, along with my grandparents, we camped our way from North Little Rock to Fairbanks, Alaska, driving the Alaskan Highway, which in those days was not much more than a rutted gravel road in many places. There we saw bears, elk and caribou, dodged mosquitoes as large as hummingbirds and panned for gold.
Once we rode in what felt like a glassed-in bucket suspended from a cable over a gorge near Niagara Falls.
Trips closer to home included hiking Petit Jean and floating the Buffalo National River.
Late last year we explored the Big Island of Hawaii by helicopter and minivan. And perhaps the biggest testament to his courageous nature is he let me do the driving.
As I write this, he and my mom are in their motor home, along with a couple of grandkids, on their way to the Dakotas so my mom can mark "Visit all 50 states" off her bucket list.
Thanks for the adventures, Dad. Happy Father's Day.
Pan-fried Cube Steaks
1 pound cube steaks (sometimes called minute steak)
Salt
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon Cavender's Greek Seasoning
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
Season the cube steaks very lightly with salt on both sides.
In a wide, shallow dish combine the flour and Cavender's. Dredge cube steaks in flour mixture, pressing to coat every crevice.
In a large skillet, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat. When the foam subsides, add batches of cube steaks without crowding and cook 1 to 2 minutes or until deep golden brown. Turn and cook on second side for 1 minute more. Repeat with remaining meat, if necessary.
Serve hot with mashed potatoes and green beans.
Makes 2 generous servings.
Food on 06/14/2017