Daddy’s Caesar

That a recipe could be attributed to my father, and circulated for decades among relatives and friends, is something that astounds me.  I found it this summer in a cookbook belonging to my Aunt Ann.

To be fair, I do remember my father making it–once–for the neighborhood block party, celebrating the end of summer, 1975.

We had just moved into the duplex on Connor Road where most of the Captains and new Majors were housed at West Point on the Hudson.  It was the summer my mother left to live with family at the shore.  For a couple months, my physician father was forced to be both provider and parent–the latter a role he had never fully filled.

I remember him filling the bowl full with lettuce.   I remember him grounding the garlic into it first.  I remember the croutons and the Parmesan.  (I don’t remember the anchovies.)

I still have that big brown wooden bowl which is usually filled with popcorn in my home, as it often was when I was a child.

The bowl belonged to my Nana Lila–who was a well known cook–and perhaps it was from her that my father  inherited this renown  family recipe for Caesar Salad.

Kelly Salasin

Dr. Salasin’s Caesar Salad

1 clove garlic

4 anchovies

juice of one lemon

mix in dash Worcestershire

dash dry mustard

2T olive oil

15 leaves lettuce romaine

1T parmesean

croutons

salt and pepper

Advertisement

Auntie Fran’s Chicken Wings

When I was at the shore for my sister’s bridal shower, my Aunt Ann shared some of her favorite Salasin family recipes.  Among them, was one from my grandmother Lila’s best friend whom we all called, “Auntie Fran.”

Fran was tall, vivacious and spunky, and although I was only fourteen when she and my grandmother lost their lives, the playful quality of their mid-life friendship colors my life to this day.

Among the joys Lila and Fran shared was a delight of good food and cooking.  They worked as caterers together.  Their passion lives on as generations of loved ones share their favorite recipes.

Auntie Fran crabbing at the River House

Fran Corcoran’s Chicken Wings

This recipe is for something as simple and fun-loving as Auntie Fran.  It’s one that gets requested each time it’s served.

pack of chicken wings

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 lemon

(garlic)

Marinate overnight.

225 degrees in oven until done (approximately 2 hours.)