Celebrating Parenthood and More!

May gives us Mother’s Day. June gives us Father’s Day. So it stands to reason that July would give us Parents Day. Parents play in important role in the lives of their children.

What is a parent? What is a family? Those are individual concepts and I’m not here to debate them. Some of us, like me, grew up in a house with two parents, siblings, uncles, aunts and plenty of cousins. I cannot imagine growing up without my parents. Mine was not a unique experience back then. Once upon a time, two-parent household and extended family connections were the norm. Today more and more households are single parents, or no parents at all. Studies tell us that the more positive influences we have in our lives, the better we will be as people. If you were lucky enough to have positive parents in your life, be grateful. And let your parents know just how much their tag-team support meant to you.

Just for the record, National Parents Day isn’t some made up holiday. In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed a Congressional Resolution introduced by Republican Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, that established a National Parents’ Day. The resolution was designed to recognize the important role parents played in the lives of their children. Gee, I wonder why the greeting card companies didn’t jump on that one. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Happy Parents Day Card, have you?

Today is also Drive Thru Day and Tequila Day. Now I have a twisted sense of humor, because I find the idea of Tequila Day and Drive Thru Day being the same day funny. No, I’m not saying driving under the influence is amusing. It’s not. I’m just saying this wasn’t well thought out. I will admit that during the pandemic, when all restaurants were “drive thru” of sorts in that curb side pick-up was the way to go, you could order Tacos from your favorite full-service Mexican Restaurant, and a margarita to go. Yeah, crazy, I know. I’m not sure how they got around the open container rule, since I don’t think the margarita came bottled and was carried in the trunk.

While today Drive-Thru equates to fast food and burgers to go, the first drive-thru businesses had nothing to do with food. The Drive Thru concept began with a bank in New York way back in 1928. You could make a deposit at the City Central Bank of Syracuse without ever leaving the comfort of your car. It would take restaurants a bit longer to catch on to the idea of a drive thru, although they did have drive in service back in 1921. You parked your car, the food came out to you and you ate it right in the comfort of your parked car. It would take another twenty years before the concept of Drive Thru take it with you dining caught on.

I have only one problem with Drive Thru Dining – and that’s one of control. By the time you drive thru, get home and unwrap your order it tends to be cold. And (God forbid) if they get it wrong, your stuck. Eat what you didn’t order, or take it back, wait for them to get it right, and eat a cold meal even later then originally planned. Yeah, fast-food drive thru is a great convenience when you are on the road and don’t have time to stop. But when it comes to an enjoyable experience, I’d must rather dine in or make it at home.

One of my favorite fast food burgers to recreate at home has to be Carl’s Jr’s Western Bacon Cheeseburger. Make it a double and it’s doubly delicious! Enjoy!

Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger
8 Onion Rings
4 slices Bacon
2 lbs Ground Chuck
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste
4 Sesame Seed Hamburger Buns
Spicy Barbecue Sauce as needed
8 sliced American Cheese

Option 1 – Baked Onion Rings: Heat oven according to Onion Ring package directions. Lightly spray baking sheet. Arrange onion rings, lightly spray rings, then bake according to directions.

Option 2 – Fried Onion Rings: Heat a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add enough oil to float onion rings. Once oil is hot, carefully place onion rings into the skillet. Fry about 2 minutes per side, turning as needed to prevent browning. Lift onion rings from the skillet using a fork, drain on paper towels.

Cut bacon strips in half to create 8 strips. Fry until crisp. Drain on paper towels and set aside until ready to use. Divide ground beef into 8 equal balls, 4 ounces each. Flatten to form Quarter-Pound burgers. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside..

Heat grill for burgers. Lightly season burgers with salt and pepper. Set aside until ready to grill.

Lightly butter buns, grill on a flat griddle until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Set aside until ready to build burger.

Grill hamburger patties over open flame, about 3 minutes per side.

Lightly grill hamburger buns. Spread barbecue sauce on inside of both top and bottom buns. Set aside.

Assemble Western Bacon Burgers: Bottom Bun, Onion Rings, Hamburger Patty, American Cheese, Hamburger Patty, American Cheese, Bacon Strips,, Top Bun.

Serve with French Fries and enjoy!