Joy’s Dudes and Their Foods
June is the month we celebrate the special men in our lives—our dads, our husbands, our brothers, our uncles. We’re thankful for all the things they’ve taught us: how to throw a ball, how to grill up a juicy burger, how to tell the difference between a Phillips and regular screwdriver, and how to stand up for ourselves and others. No one can replace the men who’ve helped make us into who we are. I’m honoring the special men in my life by sharing their favorite recipes—the dishes they’ve inspired me to create or that they frequently request. Go ahead and add a few to your Father’s Day menu.
Joy’s Dudes and Their Foods
June is the month we celebrate the special men in our lives—our dads, our husbands, our brothers, our uncles. We’re thankful for all the things they’ve taught us: how to throw a ball, how to grill up a juicy burger, how to tell the difference between a Phillips and regular screwdriver, and how to stand up for ourselves and others. No one can replace the men who’ve helped make us into who we are. I’m honoring the special men in my life by sharing their favorite recipes—the dishes they’ve inspired me to create or that they frequently request. Go ahead and add a few to your Father’s Day menu.
Joy’s Dudes and Their Foods: Swedish Meatballs
It sounds cliché to say that my dad, Artie is my hero, but it is 100 percent true (he was the very first boy I loved). I’ve looked up to him since I was a kid and still do! He is super smart and his advice is always spot on—he can tell you how to fix a leaky faucet, diversify your portfolio and which vacation destination to add to your list. He has a great sense of humor and he’s ridiculously talented (he’s 84 years old and gives the grandkids a run for their money while shooting hoops on the basketball court). My creativity in the kitchen stemmed from him encouraging me at a young age to be fearless and adventurous.
He’s a huge fan of my savory Swedish Meatballs. He requests them regularly…and I always make extras so I can send him home with a batch.
Joy’s Dudes and Their Foods: Cheeseburger Meatballs
My father-in-law, Vic Bauer, has been equally as loving and supportive as my own father. I consider myself lucky to have him as my second dad. He is completely selfless—he is always there should anyone need a helping hand…or a date, especially if it involves a trip to Barney Greengrass on the upper west side or Peter Luger’s for a steak dinner.
He is a true meat-and-potatoes guy, but I’ve worked hard to introduce delicious and nutritious dishes, and every now and again, I hit gold. His recipe of choice, not surprisingly, features meatballs. This one is a fun spin, drawing from a beloved cheeseburger. It can be made with either lean ground beef or ground turkey and it’s oozing with cheese. They can be enjoyed as an appetizer or as a meal, depending on how you serve it. Either way, I highly recommend my special 2-ingredient dipping sauce!
Joy’s Dudes and Their Foods: Sausage, Peppers and Onions
Italian-style Sausage, Peppers and Onions + Limoncello LaCroix
Ian, my husband, father of my three kids (and fourth fur-baby), is my everything. He is indeed my better half, the brains behind my business, and the calm to my storm. He frequently knows what I need before I need it, he is the yin to my yang. I like to cook and make a mess in the kitchen—he likes to sample all my creations and is more than happy to help clean after a long day of experimenting with recipes. I have no idea what I’d do without him. I wish everyone had an Ian Bauer in their life.
Ian requests my recipe for Sausage, Peppers and Onions all the time, and the rest of my family (me included) is thrilled when he does because we love it, too. He likes to enjoy it on a crusty hero roll, paired with an ice-cold Limoncello LaCroix—that’s Ian’s happy place!
Joy’s Dudes and Their Foods: Slow Cooker BBQ Brisket
While he’s not a dad, I still celebrate Cole because he’s one of my favorite men on the planet. My only son is an old soul—a talented musician, a thoughtful and caring brother, and a super crafty chef in his own right. I’m so proud that he’s become a culinary master and is following in my foodie footsteps. BEST. FEELING. EVER.
His chosen dish is my BBQ Brisket. What’s so great about this version is it’s done in a slow cooker, so it simmers for hours in scrumptious seasoning and sauce, and results in a tender and flavorful cut of meat. It takes minutes to prep yet looks (and tastes) like it took hours of effort. Meal magic!
Joy’s Dudes and Their Foods: Grilled Caesar Salad
Danny, my baby brother, is a consultant extraordinaire by day and a guitar rockstar by night. He works with numbers and grows profits on one hand… and on the other, he channels Eddie Van Halen and Pat Methany. I appreciate him not only for his insane and diverse talents, but also because he has a discerning palate and high bar. This makes him a valuable taste tester in my kitchen.
He loves my Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad because it’s got all the feels: salty, crunchy, creamy and totally satisfying. He likes that the grilled romaine leaves elevate the base of a standard salad and that he can be heavy-handed with the Avocado-Caesar Dressing, which is easy to make, heart-healthy and crazy delish. Finally, he loves to grill so this dish checks every box.
Joy’s Dudes and Their Foods: Spinach Turkey Burgers
Glenn is my baby, baby brother, otherwise known as the life of the party. He lights up the world with his positivity, kind heart, sweet nature and infectious personality. You can’t help but smile when he walks into a room. He’s also a brilliant musician (it runs in the family!) who built a successful career out of it.
While Glenn loves everything I make (which is soooo Glenn), he made an extra call out to my Spinach Turkey Burgers. It satisfies the cravings of a juicy beef burger while delivering a blast of antioxidants and a dose of fiber. And since backyard barbecues are synonymous with Father’s Day, this is a goodie for your group.
If you like fries with your burger (yes, please!), try my Oven Baked French Fries, Roasted Carrot Fries, or Sweet Potato Fries.
Joy’s Dudes and Their Foods: Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese
Steve is my brother-in-law and fellow health nut. He is a competitive biker who logs 100 miles per week and understands the importance of healthy eating to fuel his workouts. We’ve bonded over all things exercise and eating well. Not to mention, our jobs have us in similar circles—he’s in the entertainment industry. Oh, and he’s also an uber-talented musician on the side (not a requirement to join the family, but certainly appreciated)!
My Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese is his pick of the month—creamy, gooey and indulgent. It’s easy enough for a weeknight meal yet tasty enough for a family get-together or holiday. Note: If you have picky eaters, you can also mash the sweet potato so it’s less obvious.
Joy’s Dudes and Their Foods: Peach Melba
As you can see, there’s no shortage of brothers-in-law in my family…and lucky me, they’re all awesome. Jason is also in the food business, but let’s just say we’ve chosen different health paths, LOL. He’s the founder and CEO of Crumbs Bakeshop, well known for their iconic gourmet cupcakes. Admittedly, they’re amazingly delicious (if you’ve tried one, then you know!). He’s also a fruity dessert lover and so I’m quick to make him this grilled Peach Melba when he stops by!
Grilling peaches brings out their natural sweetness and makes them warm and gooey. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt, fresh raspberries and granola, and you have a treat that satisfies on every level.
Joy’s Dudes and Their Foods: Summer Shrimp Boil
Harley is my youngest—and hippest—brother-in-law. He’s adventurous, single, and lives in New York City. He travels a ton with friends and loves to hike or do anything outdoors. He regularly attends music festivals and appreciates all types of good food, frequently sampling new and different cuisines, excited to report back on must-try trends.
He’s hooked on this Summer Shrimp Boil, which is as cool as he is for so many reasons. For one, the recipe cooks up in one pot for easy prep and clean-up. That’s always a win in my book. Second, it gets some of its yummy flavor from beer (so fun and clever). And it’s a cinch to double up to serve a larger crowd. I’ll forgive him for choosing a recipe that Ian actually created!
Check out these clever coffee hacks.
Joy’s Dudes and Their Foods: Chocolate Peanut Butter Dates
Jason is the newest addition to the Bauer family—Jesse’s fiancé will officially become our son in January (and we are all counting down the days!). I can proudly and happily say he is the most perfect fit for Jesse and our boisterous gang. We love him so much and couldn’t have picked a better life partner for our girl. He has become an older brother and confidante to Cole and Ayden Jane. (He even recruited Ayden to help him secretly pick out the engagement ring when he proposed back in September). He’s an exercise buff and loves healthy food. He’s willing to try everything I make—and often acts as sous chef in the kitchen.
He has a fondness for my sweet treats, especially my DIY “Snickers,” which only confirms he has exquisite taste, haha. These gems are easy to make, incredibly indulgent and taste just like the real thing. You can whip one up for yourself whenever you’re craving something chocolatey and crunchy or make a whole big batch when you’re entertaining.
