As we head towards Father’s Day this coming weekend, I wanted to share a bit of the history behind the holiday along with some recipes dads are sure to enjoy. First, the history.

This holiday celebrates fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. It was started by Sonora Smart Dodd in Spokane, Washington in 1910 as a way to honor her father, Civil War veteran and widower who raised six children on his own. Dodd was trying to establish an official equivalent to Mother’s Day for male parents. But the holiday did not have much of a following for quite a while. Here’s the timeline:

• 1916: President Woodrow Wilson and his family personally observed the day.
• 1924: President Calvin Coolidge signed a resolution in favor of Father’s Day “to establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations.”
• 1929: The Great Depression derailed retailer’s push to make Father’s Day a gift giving holiday for men.
• 1941: The US enters World War II. Father’s Day was promoted as a way to honor American troops and support the war effort. By the end of the war, Father’s Day was a national institution, although not a federal holiday.
• 1966: President Lyndon Johnson signed an executive order designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.
• 1972: President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation making Father’s Day a federal holiday.

And now for the starter to the celebration. Shrimp Salsa is a great appetizer for Father’s Day gatherings!

Shrimp Salsa

Shrimp Salsa (adapted from allrecipes.com) Total Time Required: 1 hour and 20 minutes, Prep Time: 20 minutes, Chill Time: 1 hour, Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound salad shrimp
• 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1/4 cup minced cilantro
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• tortilla chips for serving

Prep all the ingredients first.

Directions:

In a large glass bowl, gently stir together the shrimp, diced tomatoes, onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, pepper, and garlic.

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl . . .

. . . and gently mix it all together well.

Cover the bowl and refrigerate until the flavors combine, at least 1 hour. Serve cold with tortilla chips.

Serv with tortilla chips.

Fathers hold a special place in our hearts!  ~Linda

Shrimp Salsa (adapted from allrecipes.com) Total Time Required: 1 hour and 20 minutes, Prep Time: 20 minutes, Chill Time: 1 hour, Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound salad shrimp
• 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, diced
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1/4 cup minced cilantro
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• tortilla chips for serving

Directions:

In a large glass bowl, gently stir together the shrimp, diced tomatoes, diced jalapeno,

onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, pepper, and garlic. Cover the bowl and refrigerate until the flavors combine, at least 1 hour. Serve cold with tortilla chips.