A Tribute to Baba and A Healthy Yogurt Dessert For Father's Day

I could get my late father a nice shirt, a warm vest, a fancy pipe with some tobacco or a cologne for father's day and he would have been happy but he also enjoyed a good meal followed by a sweet dessert, preferably ice cream, lots of it. Growing up, I remember him bringing home noon-ghandi (sweet bread), pashmak (cotton candy), ab-nabat (hard candy) to name a few. But ice cream had it's own special place and he could easily finish a gallon of vanilla ice cream in one sitting if he weren't trying to maintain a somewhat healthy diet due to his many health issues. However, on occasion his temptations and cravings for sweets got the best of him and he indulged in foods that weren't the best choice for him. He also liked a daily side dish of yogurt with grated cucumber and mint, yogurt with dill-weed or yogurt with dried fenugreek with his lunch. It was on one of his trips to New York that I had learned what an exceptional cook my father was. He came alone and without my mother and I got to see him in the kitchen with his sleeves rolled up, frying onions and cutting meat! An Iranian father of his generation making delicious khoresh ghaymeh. That was the culinary side of him that I don't think anybody knew about for as long as he lived. But I consider it a blessing that he stayed for several months while I was working and studying for long hours. Coming home to my father's delicious home-cooked meals was a bliss.

For Father's Day I'd suggest making دسرماست وعسل  mast-o-asal (honey and yogurt dessert. It's a healthy dessert made with yogurt, almonds and pistachios, a sprinkle of rose water and a generous drizzle of honey. I would have loved to offer this to Baba and say a heartfelt thank you for the many things he had done for us. I will forever remember his last words to me when he said, "work on your heart, a heart has to be polished and chiseled continuously to be able to reflect like a mirror."

Me and My Father

Mast o Asal - Yogurt and Honey

Ingredients:
Serves 2

2 cups of thick and strained yogurt (mast-e kiseh)*
1/2 cup almonds, slivered, chopped or flaked
1/2 cup unsalted pistachios, slivered or chopped
1/2 honey
1 tablespoon rosewater *optional

* Mast-Kiseh: Place a strainer that is lined with a cheese cloth over a deep bowl and pour the yogurt into the lined strainer. Gather the cloth on top and strain the yogurt over night or for at least 6 hours. Refrigerate.

Method:

1. In a bowl combine yogurt, almonds, pistachios and rose water, mix well. 
2. Scoop yogurt  into serving bowls, garnish with almonds and pistachios and drizzle some honey.
3. Serve with fresh and seasonal fruits.

Enjoy and Happy Father's Day!