Mmmm, tradition tastes good!

It occurs to me that there are two types of people in this world.  Those that love tradition and those that like trying something new.  Neither is right or wrong.  I think the issue comes in when you try to be what you are not.  I, for one, am a tradition girl.  I like things to follow what has come before because the repetition adds meaning to me–especially on holidays.  Every once in a while I flirt with trying something new, but in the end, it never really leaves me feeling as happy as the traditional approach.  And by tradition, I don’t mean down to every detail being the same, but I mean having a giant taco open house this past year for Christmas with a bit too far for the girl who grew up with prime rib and Yorkshire pudding.  That one was solely my idea and it was a total blast.  I just realized that for me, I missed the specific Christmas feeling that went with our family usual.

So what does all this Christmas talk have to do with Father’s day?  A lot actually.  Last year I decided I needed to inject a little tradition into my father’s day gifting to give it some structure added meaning.  My own father is not the tie type, and getting him grilling equipment is redundant.  The man has a giant pull behind bbq trailer, so cute veggie grillers or his monogram brand for steaks isn’t what he is into when he is BBQing for 200.  Likewise, my husband and his father are a bit of a trick to buy for too.  There are is only so much father’s day stuff I can gift them.  And besides, I know that my father, father in law and husband do not really want stuff anyway.  You see, they are acts of service types of people.  I know this because my father’s love language is making food for people (yes, it may be genetic).  Specifically, my dad loves people through meat.  Smoked turkeys, canned fish, homemade bacon, and sausage.  He nearly kills himself every year preparing Christmas packages for his friends and family.  Likewise, my father in law has a famous recipe for Christmas bread that he carefully preps for family and friends braiding loaf after loaf during the holiday season.  And my husband?  Well, what can you say about a man that several times a year decides he should smoke a full brisket for 12-13 hours tending to it every 15 minutes and inviting family and friends over.  He clearly loves a food project and he is always up for me making him something in the kitchen.

So, as I debated what to make for the dads in my life, I came across a recipe for sticky buns.  Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns.  I knew this was perfect dad celebration food.  It hits all the right notes for the dads I know with the added bonus that I can prep the day before and let the buns do a final overnight rise and then bake in the am.   2 out of 3 of the dads got them last year (that will teach my father in law to be gone on a trip!), and it was hugely successful if I do say so myself.   This year, father’s day is spilling over a couple of weeks for us, as we are on a family vacation for the actual day.  We celebrated my dad this week, and he is my official giveaway this week.  But my husband will get his on Sunday and my dear pecan loving Father in law has his coming next week (I promise and double pinky swear Bill!).

As it is our sophomore year with sticky buns, I say we are moving in to tradition territory for sure.  I cannot recommend these buns enough for your weekend plans.  I would love for you to join the tradition and start a sticky bun revolution!  #stickybunsfordads