The Inspiration Behind It All: To My Dad

So my dad’s favorite cake is Pineapple Upside Down cake. Plain and simple. I remember me, barely big enough to see over the kitchen table, watching him pull every ingredient from the cabinets for his famous cake. Cans of sliced and crushed pineapples, a pack of brown sugar, the small jar of maraschino cherries, a box of yellow cake mix and a few sticks of cold butter. The sound of the cast iron skillet hitting the top of the stove. This sweet smell of pineapple rings bubbling in that dark brown sugar and butter danced all around us while he whipped the rest of the mixture in a large yellow Blockbuster popcorn bowl. Sixty minutes flew by and at the center of our kitchen table was daddy’s masterpiece. 

He is a man called by many names. Mr. Anthony, Minister Williams, Uncle Anthony or Tony. My sisters and I call him Dad. Yet, only I can affectionately call him Pootie. We have an understanding. A unique kinship and bond that’s based in love, understanding and humor. A bond he made sure to share with both my older sisters as well. My dad does his best to make sure that we feel loved, supported and confident about who we are as women and children of God.  

As a military man, my dad is big on respect, discipline and fairness. This is why he raised all three of us on an even playing field . No favorites. If one of us got something, all of us got something. Whether it was a candy bar from the gas station, a new pair of shoes or a 2-hour sermon about our behavior. Everyone was fair game. Although he saw each of us as individuals, my dad held us all to the same equal standards. He knew all three of his girls were capable of whatever their hearts’ desired and he along with my mom layered each step so we could chase after our dreams.

In hindsight, the way Pootie raised my sisters and I is a reflection of the elements found in his favorite cake. With each ingredient, bold and flavorful in their own right, bound together and equally proportioned, a delicious expression of love is created. That’s what we hope you taste with every bite of our Pineapple Upside Down Cheesecake. To Pootie, Thank you.