Happy Fathers Day!

June 21, 2009 – 5:39 am
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We got lots of great responses to our Fathers Day essay contest, and today seemed like, well, the perfect day to share them with you all.   Happy Blogoversary! One qualifying entry was selected at random, and the writer received a gift code she could use for a free four-dish session at Let’s Dish! To everyone who entered, we say thanks for sharing what makes your dad special, and please enjoy this special day with him…

Jeremy’s Signature

 Our finalists:

“Steve is a fantastic involved father. He’s coached every sport our kids have ever played whether or not he ever played them himself (except cheerleading, but he’s at all the competitions and he even made a routine suggestion to the coach that the coach liked!) He plays mom and dad January to April when I am busy with work, runs everyone to their activities, assists with projects and makes dinner. Pizza used to be the staple during tax season, but he’s really improved his cooking skills over the years. Let’s Dish has been a lifesaver during tax season; it’s taught him to experiment too. He’s always there for his kids and they are the number ONE priority in his life. Family will always come before everything else, and that’s the key.”  - Claudia [essay drawn as winner]

“My husband is the most amazing father and person I have ever known. He is currently a Army Chaplain Canidate, working on his Masters in Divinity while serving as a Children’s Pastor for a local Church Plant. During this season in our lives, I (his wife) am working full time to support us, while he cares for our children (ages 3 and 5) at home. He is often responsible for preparing meals, laundry, and giving hugs, all while balancing school and church demands. He deals with is all gracefully and is always loving, reliable, and full of humor. I know how much he would appreciate this gift. We love Let’s Dish!”  - Chrissy

“My husband has been a great Dad since our son was in utero (9 months of morning sickness meant I didn’t eat -let alone cook- much during my pregnancy!) I had a hard recovery, and he was extremely supportive, changing most of our son’s diapers, washing bottles while I pumped, and cooking dinner the first few weeks while I recuperated. In fact, 18 months I will admit that except for the nights I cook “Let’s Dish” or suggest something similarly easy like takeout, my husband is still the designated cook! And he still changes diapers (though not as many, hmmm…) and does the dishes. He also tries to take our son for a walk every day so they can spend time together and so Mommy can have some quiet time to relax (or catch up on laundry!)” - Andrea

“Greg is such a great dad - he is funny, lovable, affectionate and no-nonsense with two boys, 3 and 5. He is also a great dad because he is such a great husband. He works full-time taking care of HIV+ patients and doing clinical and public health research. He does absolutely everything our boys need - pays the bills, cleans, does the dishes, yardwork, is the best bath giver ever, washes their hair (which is torture), brushes teeth, tidies up - is there anything else? He makes meals which include french toast, pancakes, and grilled cheese. He is not a gourmet cook, but is always happy to take care of the boys so that i can go to lets dish and make nutritious and well-balance meals for our family! That has to be the best dad ever!” - Cynthia

“My husband Eric is a wonderful husband and the best daddy ever to our 9 month old son Parker. He takes care of Parker while I work night shift as a nurse. Eric spends his every other weekend (after working all week) getting up with Parker all night long and stays up with him when I get home from work exhausted in the morning and lets me sleep. He fixes me dinner every once in a while when I’ve had a hard day and does a good job in the kitchen when he tries. He has a “special touch” in putting Parker to bed some nights when I just can’t do it & can change a diaper in the most ridiculous places without barely a gripe! I just want to thank him for being such a great daddy and a wonderful husband for his first father’s day ever!” - Jamie

“Our dad loves us and cares for us. He always works hard but still has time to spend with us. Our dad knows that sometimes the little things are the ones that mean the most, like when he brings home McDonald’s after swim practice. Our dad is always the first to admit if he’s wrong. Once a preacher preached on Father’s Day about what a dad should be, and it turned out that he based his sermon on Dad. When we were little and he was reading to us he’d change the words to make us laugh. When our parents bought a treadmill, Dad turned the box into a playhouse, and we played in it and decorated it for weeks. We later turned it into a dressing room to use with the stage he built. Dad not only tells us that he loves us, but he shows us every day.” - Amy, Sara, Christina and Laura

“Many call Chris a HERO because he served a tour in Iraq. He’s our HERO because of the type of father he is for 3 children. He shows them daily he loves them. He continued to be an active part of their lives during his deployment. We made decisions together (over the internet). He video taped himself reading stories for our toddler. He sent email to our teen to let her know he was there if she needed an ear. The day he came home it was so obvious he’d done a great job. They could barely contain themselves. Its true they missed him not being here. But, they never missed him being their father. 10 months later, we welcomed our son, Robert into our family. And YES, Chris changes diapers. Help us to recongized him for the HERO he truely is.” - Tawnya

“My dad, Jeremy Clayton, is always trying to do the best for us (me, my brother Christopher, and my mom). He is very funny. He encourages us all the time and says “good job” when we do well and “keep on trying” when we are having trouble. My dad tries to make great food for our family - and he succeeds. He is the best cook I’ve ever seen. And he loves Let’s Dish food. He really deserves to win some free meals because of all of his hard work at home and for his job. I will help my dad make the meals at Let’s Dish if he wins! He is the best dad in the world!” - Meghan (8 years old)

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By Jeremy Kugel (Click the author to see all his/her posts.)

Make Your Favorite Dad *This* Happy

June 17, 2009 – 9:00 am
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Happy Blogoversary!See this happy-looking guy?  You can hardly tell that he reared two girls (his “two lovely daughters,” he calls us) and has been the target of many, “but, Dad…(insert angst-ridden sigh)” comments since the mid-1980’s, many of which I now wish I could take back.

Yup that’s my dad, and he’s enjoying Fusion Pork Tenderloin (and a glass of Merlot) shortly after Father’s Day 2008.  And while moms get most of the press here on thedishblog.com, I’d like to take a cue from my own father and raise a toast to my two favorite dads, John Klimas (pictured) and Rick Corcoran.

These are two guys who are surrounded by women (wives, daughters, even female dogs) and manage to enjoy life amidst the constant chaos, chit-chat and emotion (”How do you think I got all this gray hair?,” my Dad always asks with a smile.)   A key part of that was that is that we had and continue to have dinner together as a family just about every night (admittedly easier for my family now than for my father, since Rick is one of my founding partners of Let’s Dish! Mid-Atlantic).  Family dinner maintains a connection to each other and everyday life, one that gets harder and harder as it all grows more hectic.  It’s not surprising, but there is no substitute for that time to talk, laugh, even “but Dad…(sigh)” at the dinner table.  I cherished those moments, Dad, and look forward to many more, Rick.  Cheers…my love to you both this Father’s Day.

“J,” as my daughters call their grandfather, has a tradition of “Question Time” at dinner every - and I mean every - night.  And, despite my groans as a I child, I now see the wisdom in his ways and carry on the practice at our family dinners.  So, in the spirit of that tradition, I’ll ask and answer: “Name three ways you can toast your Dad this season.”

1) Sign up to dish with him - you’ll love spending some side-by-side time and be surprised to find out, even now, little dietary quirks. (One man in my life can’t stand broccoli; the other abhors mayonnaise.)

2) Why not send him Let’s Dish! Gift Card?  If he’s a “do-it-my-own-way” kind of guy, your gift is much more nurturing than, say, another Amazon or Home Depot card - and you know he’ll get to choose the meals he wants to enjoy.

3)  Perhaps even better, you can spoil your Dad long-distance if you order some meals via DishDelivery (we send them anywhere from NY to NC).  It’s a great way to say, “thanks dad… tonight, I’ll take care of dinner,” even if you can’t celebrate Fathers Day together this year.

How’s that, Dad?  Did I get it right - Rick, do I get to have dessert?  :-)

Happy Father’s Day to all you deserving fathers out there!

Alexa’s Signature

(small space)

p.s. I’m going to get in big trouble for leaving out my father-in-law, so Rick Sr, will you accept the gift of your beloved scampi on the July menu and the fact that you get to spend Father’s Day with us (not necessarily in that order)…   Happy Pop’s Day to you too!

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By Alexa Corcoran (Click the author to see all his/her posts.)

Dishing with My Kids

June 15, 2009 – 2:29 pm
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Many of you are already doing it– we’re seeing marked increases in the interest in and attendance at our Kids’ Sessions. We’re also noticing more parents bringing their kids to regular sessions.

(A quick reminder of the “rules” for “Little Dishers”– As a general rule, kids need to be at least 8 years old to dish. It’s important that they be able to follow food safety rules, reach the ingredients, and comport themselves well so as to ensure a good experience for other dishers. And finally, kids need to stay with their parents while dishing. The same rules about bringing a friend apply to kids– max of one extra person per order and the pair needs to stay together while dishing.)

I’ve been dishing with my daughters almost monthly. It’s normally a “Daddy activity” so we trade off each month. But sometimes my wife comes, too, and we place two orders and take both girls. The girls really love it. It’s always fun to work with food. We talk about nutrition and food safety. We work on math (and especially fractions) while doing the measurements. They interact with the staff and with other kids. They take great pride in writing their names on the finished meals. And then, perhaps the best part, when we get home and eat the meals (see pic!), they take such pride in having prepared the meals that they eat more of them, and try virtually everything! (OK, maybe I lied a bit– THEIR favorite part is the warm scones and the chocolate milk they get during breaks…)

As a father of girls, I’m cherishing this time while they are young. As they get a bit older, I fear they won’t want to hang out with Dad as much. Though hope remains– there are a couple dads I see semi-regularly dishing with their teenage daughters. They don’t talk quite as much as they probably used to, but they work together, side by side, usually smiling, and I can sense the warmth between them. I like that dishing can be a way for them to further their relationship. I hope that will be me in a few years.

And I hope it can be you, too. I look forward to seeing you and your kids at a Let’s Dish! session soon.

Rick’s Signature

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By Rick Corcoran (Click the author to see all his/her posts.)

Dishing Makes It Easier - Even For Kitchen Creatives!

June 9, 2009 – 9:37 am
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We know Let’s Dish! is a dream come true for folks who don’t like to cook.  But what about people who really know their way around the kitchen?  Turns out Let’s Dish! can greatly enhance the fun and creative parts of cooking, even for veteran (but time-starved) chefs.

I really enjoy the customers who tell me that they heard about Let’s Dish! from their friends but resisted coming in because they considered themselves to be good cooks and they didn’t need Let’s Dish!  Those same people usually go on to tell me that once they tried Let’s Dish! they were hooked. They enjoy getting creative at home with their Let’s Dish! entrees and they love the ability to serve different things each night without having to take the time or go to the expense of collecting small quantities of unusual ingredients just to try something new.

One customer recently told me that her family loves Let’s Dish! Chicken Bruschetta. When she prepares it she chops up the chicken into small pieces which she said make it easier to pile it on top of the garlic toast. Another customer, listening to the conversation, chimed in to say that she adds red sauce to the mixture while it’s cooking and pours all of the chicken and tomatoes over angel hair pasta. She serves the garlic toast in a basket on the side. Another creative idea came from a customer who serves the Asian BBQ Pork wraps by spooning some Hoisin sauce onto the tortillas before adding the pork and then she tops the pork with chopped green onion. She said when she serves it like that it reminds her of Peking Duck from Shun Lee on New York City’s upper west side but without the wait and the cost. A little sweet, a little crunchy and a lot delicious.

So, foodies, come on in and see what you can do with our entrees. Even if you love to cook at home and even if you have a loyal spouse who claims to love chopping ingredients for you all day long we think you’ll be impressed with our recipes, our ingredients and they way Let’s Dish! entrees can make it even more enjoyable for you to cook dinner in your own kitchen. We know you’re a good cook and so does your family and every lucky person who passes through your kitchen.  You may become an even better cook with some help from Let’s Dish!

Please feel free to add a comment telling us the special and different ways that you prepare your Let’s Dish! entrees at home.

Elizabeth’s Signature

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By Elizabeth Marcotte (Click the author to see all his/her posts.)

Take It On Vacation

June 1, 2009 – 10:36 am
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Some of you veterans have heard us say this before, but I think it’s so important that I’m going to say it once more, with feeling:  “Take Let’s Dish! meals to the beach with you this summer!”  Please, just trust me.  You won’t regret it.  It will save you money, eliminate stress, and make your vacation that much better.

I’ve been taking meals to the beach for almost 5 years now, since  the early days after we started the company.  I’ve taken the locally to the Eastern Shore in a cooler in my car.  I’ve shipped them up to the Jersey shore with Dish Delivery and rendezvoused with them there after a business trip.  I’ve even checked them as baggage on a plane to the Caribbean (it works great- the food stays nice and cold in the luggage compartment of the plane).

The transporting is easy, but the real win is when you get there.  Assuming you are staying somewhere with a kitchen, your vacation life just got much simpler.  No more shopping at a local store and making meals from scratch.  No more hustling the crew together each night for a dinner out.   And certainly no more paying exorbitant prices for those dinners out!  Instead, spend that extra half hour at the beach and then mozy on up and pick from one of the delicious meals you’ve brought.  Let the kids keep playing while you pop it in the oven or put it on the stove.  Grab a glass of wine and chat with your spouse and friends while dinner cooks.  Then get the team together for  the most important part– a delicious, healthy, family dinner right there in your place.  That’s what vacation is all about.

PS.  See the smile in that pic?  Direct result Let’s Dish! Decadent Molten Chocolate Cakes in the oven behind!

Rick’s Signature

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