delish

forks & spoons

Great Sides for Your Backyard Cookout

By halEy PonnocK

No homework, pool days, summer camp…school is out for the summer. What better way to celebrate summer vacation than with a good ol’ cookout? Everyone has personal favorites when it comes to cookout side dishes, but here are a few recipes from our friends and family that we wanted to share with you. Enjoy!

{ Great way to introduce kids to new flavors! }

Ambrosia Fruit Salad By Kim Scianna | Serves 4-6 ingredients: • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened or whipped • ¼ cup sour cream • ½ cup crushed pineapple, drained well • ½ cup fruit cocktail, drained well • 1 cup canned diced peaches, drained well • 1 small can mandarin oranges, drained well • 1 cup mini marshmallows • ½ cup shredded coconut • 1 small tub whipped cream

pIn a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream and crushed pineapple. Mix in the remaining ingredients, then pour into a serving dish. "Frost" the top of the fruit salad with the whipped cream, and garnish with shredded coconut. You can also add additional toppings (sprinkles, candies, etc.) as you wish. Southwestern Coleslaw By Kim Scianna | Serves 4-6 ingredients: • 1 package pre-made shredded coleslaw cabbage • ½ package fresh shredded carrots • Marzetti Slaw Dressing (You can find this by the mayonnaise in the grocery store) • 1 fresh jalapeno pepper, diced very small (remove the seeds and ribs) • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped • ½ teaspoon dried cumin (more if you like it)

pPut the shredded cabbage and shredded carrots in a mixing bowl. Add enough of the Marzetti Slaw Dressing to coat (you do NOT want to overdress as it will get wetter as it sits.) Start with ¼-½ cup. Add the diced jalapeno pepper, chopped cilantro and cumin. Mix thoroughly. Garnish with some thinly sliced fresh jalapeno rings and cilantro leaves. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Kickin' Macaroni Salad By Nicole Keeley | Serves 4-5 ingredients: • 1 box elbow macaroni • 2 ½ cups mayonnaise • 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese • 1 lemon • Black or green olives • ½ cup feta cheese • Hot sauce • Salt and pepper • 3 boiled eggs, chopped (optional) • 1 can of Ro*tel diced tomatoes and green chilies

pBoil macaroni until tender. Strain water. Place macaroni in a large mixing bowl. Mix in mayonnaise until spread evenly through bowl. Add cheddar cheese, olives, diced tomatoes and chopped boiled eggs. Cut lemon slices and squeeze into bowl; mix. Sprinkle feta cheese on top and add hot sauce and salt and pepper for extra flavor. Serve hot or cold.

Meet our Hottie Dads 2014 winner, John Evangelista!

In tHE worDs of HIs wIfE, AsHLEY : "JOHN IS HARD-wORkING, PATIeNT, THOuGHTFul AND TRulY DevOTeD TO HIS FAMIlY. He IS AlwAYS wIllING TO leND A HAND. He eveN HelPeD SHAve MY leGS wHeN I wAS NINe MONTHS PReGNANT AND BARelY ABle TO TOuCH MY TOeS. He ISN'T AFRAID OF BeING SIllY AND DANCING AROuND THe lIvING ROOM wITH THe kIDS, AND lIkeS TO HAve THeM INvOlveD IN wHATeveR He IS DOING. He IS DeFINITelY THe COMPleTe PACkAGe AND THeN SOMe. we lOve HIM FOR wHO He IS AND All He DOeS!"

2014

Photos by Patricia Bishop Photography | Photographed on location at satchel's Pizza

JOhN eVaNGeliSTa

Gabriella, 2, and Landen, 6 months

What is the best part about being a dad? Rediscovering and enjoying things that were once yours through the eyes of your children.

What is the hardest part about being a dad? trying to be that “perfect dad.” there are so many techniques and guides on how to parent your children. you never receive “how to be a good dad” instructions when you become a first-time parent.

Do you have any special “daddy” routines? I really enjoy spending time in the kitchen; especially when it involves whipping up savory sweets for my family. I like to wake up early on Saturdays to make Mickey Mouse hotcakes for my daughter.

What is your most memorable “dad” moment? Earlier in the year, I had to fly out of town for a business trip for two weeks. I really disliked making the trip due to the fact my son was just recently born and I knew my wife could use my help around the house and with our 2-year-old daughter. I deeply missed them while I was away. Upon my arrival to the airport gates, I saw my precious daughter standing in the distance holding a sign that said, “Welcome Home Daddy.” That was a moment I will always remember.

What part of parenting scares you the most? Being so unsure about how my parenting now will affect my children later in life. Just like any other parent I want the best for my children. At times I ask myself if how I am parenting is most beneficial and what’s best for my children.

What is the best advice you have received from another dad? Enjoy every little moment and try not to miss anything. You can never get that time back. Children grow up fast. Once they are grown, it is too late.

Who was/is your biggest influence on your parenting style? My father-in-law is my biggest influence. I love him to death. He is “old school” when it comes to his values and parenting style. For instance, he has always been a very involved parent and that is something I admire.

Which TV or movie dad is the most like you? Phil Dunphy of “Modern Family.”

Michael GallaGher

Luke and Noah, 2

What is the best part about being a dad? The best part about being a dad is watching them learn and grow. I love it when they copy whatever I am doing. Also, the wrestling!

What is the hardest part about being a dad? Tantrums are hard. Especially when you’re in the middle of a public place with everyone watching. It’s difficult at times to calm them down and they tend to feed off of each other’s behavior.

Do you have any special “daddy” routines? Every night at bedtime we all do kisses as a family. Once Mommy leaves I stay and do our nightly game of “Get to bed!”

What is your most memorable “dad” moment? When I walked into the NICU after Luke and Noah were first born and thought, “Wow, these are my boys.”

What part of parenting scares you the most? You never know when you will be thrown up on.

What is the best advice you have received from another dad? Make sure you hold them a lot when they’re little because as they grow they won’t want to be held.

Who was/is your biggest influence on your parenting style? My father.

Which TV or movie dad is the most like you? An intelligent Phil Dunphy from Modern Family.

In tHE worDs of HIs PArtnEr, tArA : "MICHAel IS AN AMAzING HANDS-ON DADDY TO OuR 2-YeAR-OlD TwIN BOYS. He GeTS IN THe PlAYHOuSe AND kIDDIe POOl wITH THeM, TeACHeS leTTeRS AND NuMBeRS DuRING BATH TIMe AND eveN TeACHeS THeM HOw TO MAke FuNNY IMPeRSONATIONS. He HAS NeveR COMPlAINeD ABOuT lOSING SleeP, CHANGING DIAPeRS OR lISTeNING TO TwO BABIeS CRY FOR COuNTleSS HOuRS. He'S AlwAYS BeeN MY SuPPORT SYSTeM AND MY ROCk."

carTer MeYerS

Lexi, 15, Abby, 11, Jake, 8, and Colt, 4 months

What is the best part about being a dad? I enjoy spending time with my kids and playing with them, as well as watching them grow up.

What is the hardest part about being a dad? Balancing my time between each of them.

What is your most memorable “dad” moment? I have had many memorable moments as a dad that range from watching the birth of my youngest to teaching my eldest how to drive. With each day, I look forward to many more.

What part of parenting scares you the most? Knowing that one day my children will grow up and live far away from me.

Who was/is your biggest influence on your parenting style? The biggest influence on my parenting style has been my mother and father. They have raised me to be the father and husband I am today, and I am very thankful for what they have taught me.

Which TV or movie dad is the most like you? A combination of Adam Sandler in “Just Go With It” and Steve Martin in “Cheaper By the Dozen.” Adam Sandler’s mix of outgoing, humorous personality and his love for the children are similar to mine. Steve Martin as a dad juggling work as a coach and taking care of his kids also reflects my dad lifestyle. In tHE worDs of HIs wIfE, YvonnE : "I BROuGHT THRee CHIlDReN TO OuR MARRIAGe AND we ADDeD A BeAuTIFul BABY BOY TO OuR CRew. CARTeR wORkS NIGHTS AND CAReS FOR OuR SON DuRING THe DAY. He IS A NATuRAl DAD, HelPING wITH HOMewORk, COACHING SPORTS, ATTeNDING FIelD TRIPS, DOING lAuNDRY...AND THe lIST GOeS ON. we ARe SO FORTuNATe THAT THIS HOTTIe DADDY ACCePTeD uS wITH HIS eNTIRe HeART AND SOul."

aleX TSiKOUriS

Panormitis, 23 months, and Nektarios, 2 ½ weeks

What is the best part about being a dad? The opportunity to develop a unique relationship with your child, starting with his complete dependence on you. That vulnerability is a challenge and a blessing.

What is the hardest part about being a dad? The fear that I will not live up to the example that my father was for me.

Do you have any special “daddy” routines? Bedtime bath and then prayers. When we say prayers, Panormitis has his own miniature censer, which is similar to the one I hold. He uses this to bless the house every night.

What is your most memorable “dad” moment? Finding out the gender of both of our sons at their births, as they were both “surprises” for nine months. I highly recommend this!

What part of parenting scares you the most? My children growing up in a world that is very different from the world I grew up in. I want them to experience life but fear the influences around them will make this challenging to lead a faithful Christian life.

HOTTIE DADS REVEALED

What is the best advice you have received from another dad? From infancy, go and kneel by their beds and tell God all the things you want to tell them and He will place it in their hearts.

In tHE worDs of HIs wIfE, AnnA : "Alex HAS AlwAYS wANTeD TO Be A FATHeR BeYOND ANYTHING elSe. AFTeR OuR FIRST SON wAS BORN, Alex weNT PART-TIMe AT wORk IN ORDeR TO SPeND MORe TIMe wITH HIM. He IS A STRONG, HuMBle, GeNeROuS MAN wHOSe GuIDING FORCe IN SHAPING HIS lIFe IS THe GReek ORTHODOx CHRISTIAN FAITH. THe BeST ADvICe I COulD eveR GIve MY CHIlDReN IS THAT THeY GROw uP TO Be lIke THeIR DAD."

DaViD MaSSiaS

Noah, 9, Mary, 6, and Hannah, 23 months

What is the best part about being a dad? Learning to laugh at myself every day in front of and with my kids.

Do you have any special “daddy” routines? i try to maintain and preserve some daily percent of a) outside/sports time, b) inside/ reading or movie time and c) prayer or devotion time.

What is your most memorable “dad” moment? when my 2-year-old, hannah, was 6 months old, i found myself in her room rocking her back to sleep at 3 a.m. and saying to myself, “there is nothing on this planet i’d rather be doing.”

What part of parenting scares you the most? enjoying my kids to the fullest each day, given the reality that life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect it will.

What is the best advice you have received from another dad? Enjoy and love on each child differently and as needed while you have them, because in 10 years half of your house will be in college.

Which TV or movie dad is the most like you? My kids would probably say Bill “Combustible Huxtable” Cosby. I’m pretty much a goofball who loves to make my kids laugh. We like to purchase the DVD seasons of sitcoms that Michelle and I grew up watching because they have more family values that we want our children to be exposed to, while still being fun and entertaining. In tHE worDs of HIs wIfE, MIcHELLE : "He SPIRITuAllY leADS OuR HOuSeHOlD AND SeekS TO Be A BeTTeR HuSBAND AND FATHeR eveRY DAY. eveN AFTeR A HARD DAY, THeRe IS NO HeSITATION wHeN THe kIDS wANT HIM TO COlOR OR THROw THe FOOTBAll wITH THeM. He HAS A SeRvANT'S HeART. wHeTHeR IT'S HIS FAMIlY, HIS FRIeNDS, HIS eMPlOYeeS OR SOMe RANDOM PeRSON He MeeTS ON A PlANe, He DeePlY CAReS ABOuT PeOPle. AND He IS NOT HARD ON THe eYeS...YuMMY INDeeD!"