Bob's Legacy: A Life Remembered

Today marks Memorial Day. My brother-in-law, Jim, and his partner Joo came to visit us this morning for breakfast.

After that, we went to the cemetery. While eating cinnamon rolls, Jerry and Jim shared a favorite story about their dad, Bob McDaniel. He once found himself caught in a sudden hailstorm.

Bob loved to fish.  He would go to the farm pond. It was in the middle of nowhere, far from any town. There were hardly any trees or shelter in sight.  

Southern Illinois has miles of flat open farmland.  One day when he was out at the farm pond, a storm blew in.  

Hail as big as softballs came pummeling down!  His truck was too far away to run to without getting beaten to death. He dumped out his fish bucket.

Then, he ran into the water. He crouched down in the water and put the steel bucket over his head.

Bam! Bam! Bam! It's really funny when Jerry and Jim say "Bam."

Bob at the farm pond

He came away completely unscathed, but couldn't hear nothin' for 3 days.  "WHAT?!!!"  Yep, the story always ends with "what?!"  I love it.  It's a short story, but it never fails to make us all chuckle.

Bob also served our country during World War II.

We think he took this photo just before deploying.

He served for a short time in General Patton's brigade.  And actually got to meet him.  Kind of.

The General was passing by and asked Bob, "Where's the mess hall?"  Bob, pointed in the direction, "That way, sir."  And that was the extent of that.

Bob (left) with his good friend Ralph Snerley.[/caption]

Bob said he learned a really important lesson in the army.  You don't volunteer for nothin'.  His commanding office asked their squad if any of them could drive a V8.  Knowing how to drive a truck and thinking spending the day behind the wheel of one was a pretty good gig, Bob raised his hand.

"Good," the officer said, "grab that wheel borrow and get running!" Sure enough, that wheel borrow had 8 spokes and a V shaped handle.  Lesson learned.

Bob (right) next to Ralph and his wife Helen.

I'm sure Bob was fishing for bass, not trout.  Even though I love to fish, I haven't done very much of it and when I do, it's catch and release.  I've never seen bass laid out on the ice or wrapped in plastic at the grocer.  So we're going to go with trout for our tribute recipe to Bob and his fishing adventure.

Bob past away 8 years before Jerry and I met.  I always think of him as a soft spoken big bear of a man with kind eyes and a easy smile.  

He might have had a temper as a young man, but Jerry swears he doesn't remember him ever raising his voice.  I wish I could have met him.  In so many ways, I feel like I do know him because of all the stories we tell over and over.  They never get old and they never will.

Dorothy and Bob were married over 50 years. This is how I always think of them.[/caption]

I wish I could've met you, Bob.  We love you.

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Oven Steamed Trout in Parchment

This easy recipe is fun to do because it makes a great presentation at the table.  It's like opening up a package just for you on your plate. How cool is that? | www.lakesidetable.com

Course Main Course

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Author Madalaine

Ingredients

• 4 6 oz trout filets
• ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
• 1 tablespoon garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon peel zested
• 1 tablespoon preserved lemon peel minced (optional)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Equipment

• cookie sheet
• mixing bowl
• parchment paper*
• zester knife and cutting board

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF.
2. In a bowl combine parsley, olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, preserved lemon, salt and pepper and set aside.
3. Fold a 12" x 15" piece of parchment in half and fold ends (about a ½ inch) under three times leaving the long side open.
4. Place 1 trout in each "bag" skin side down, equally divide the parsley mixture and sprinkle over the trout.
5. Crimp the opening closed and form a tight seal.
6. Place the parchment packages on the cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes until the fish is flaky.

Recipe Notes

*Brown paper lunch bags work well for this also.  Some fancy gourmand stores carry parchment bags too.

These packets can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 4 hours.

Nutrition Facts

Oven Steamed Trout in Parchment

Amount Per Serving

Calories 0

% Daily Value*

Monounsaturated Fat 0g

Potassium 0mg0%

Vitamin A 0IU0%

Vitamin C 0mg0%

Calcium 0mg0%

Iron 0mg0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Bob's stories and memories continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew him. His quiet strength, sense of humor, and willingness to serve are things we’ll always cherish and share. Though he's no longer with us, the legacy of his kindness, bravery, and laughter will never fade. Every time we gather to reminisce, we feel his presence, as if he’s still here, enjoying the stories as much as we do. Bob may have left this world, but his spirit and his stories will always be a part of us.

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