I just came across an article written by a colleague about cooking fathers. It discusses how dads don’t cook much. I guess the men I know aren’t part of the survey because I know plenty of dads who prepare meals for their families on a regular basis! And since it’s nearly Father’s Day, I thought I’d give a hats off to the many dads who do.

I’ve found that the main reason people don’t do a lot of cooking is that they find the process overwhelming. It’s always best to keep it simple! So, for fathers (and anyone else) looking for some dinner ideas that can be made quickly and/or easily, I created a short list of menu concepts. Whenever people are unsure how to come up with a menu, I suggest that they start with a cuisine or a theme and work from there. If you have an Asian noodle dish you want to make, round out the meal with some edamame and grilled chicken or tofu.

I called a friend in Seattle who cooks the majority of his family meals and asked him for his most popular dinners. All of these (with the exception of the Pad Thai) are extremely easy to pull together. Since he rarely cooks from a recipe, I searched online for similar dishes that look tasty, have good ratings, and don’t take long to prepare. The cherry tomato pasta dish is so easy that his 10 year old daughter often  makes it by herself!

Top Five Go-To Meals by Dad

1) Latin: Chicken Fajitas made with Green Peppers and Onions, served in Flour Tortillas with Homemade Guacamole

2) Seattle: Barbecued Salmon, served with Steamed or Grilled Asparagus with Butter, and a Baguette

3) Asian: Thai Dinner: Pad Thai and Coconut Red Curry with Shrimp or Tofu served with Sticky White Rice

4) Italian: Penne with Cherry Tomatoes, Fresh Basil, Garlic, Olive Oil, and Parmesan Cheese

5) American: Flank Steak made with Soy Sauce, Red Wine, Honey, Garlic, Salt and Pepper (marinated for 24 hours) served with Caesar Salad, and Baked Potato or Rice Pilaf (or Grilled Corn in the summer)

I’m keeping this post short and sweet. Happy Father’s Day to all the incredible papas who take such care good care of their families. We love ya.