I’m sure it will come as no surprise that my favorite Super Bowl commercial was the one created by Chrysler for Ram trucks, “So God Made a Farmer”. 

I’ve watched the commercial, narrated by Paul Harvey, on You Tube several times since the Super Bowl airing and still can’t get through it with dry eyes.  It reminds me of my father, who was a farmer and a teacher.  But honestly the teaching was mostly a way to support his farming habit. Dad use to say that if he had a million dollars he’d farm until it was gone.

“So God Made a Farmer” could have been written specifically for my father, and every other hard working farmer out there.  For me it was particularly heartwarming because it reminded me of my father’s hands.  They were the hands of a workman, a woodworker, a craftsman, a mechanic and a farmer.  They were strong with visible dings, nicks, and scars that served as reminders of long days filled with hard work.  Dad’s hands were his most reliable tool. 

As a young girl, I watched my Dad’s hands clean a plow, pull a calf, hammer numerous nails flawlessly and fix too many to count farm implements.  Dad’s hands were strong, but also gentle.  They could tighten the smallest nut on the screw that held the large front wheel of my tricycle together and pick up a newborn kitten and pet it until you could hear its contented purr clear across the room.   

I can still recall the feeling of safety that my father’s hand offered as he steadied me, then gave me a quick little push sending me off for my first spin on my blue Huffy bike after the training wheels were removed.  Dad’s hands taught me to catch and throw.  They
taught me how to drive a car, a wheat truck and a tractor without turning any of them into implements of destruction.  Dad’s hands were always there to help steady me and to offer me help in getting back up whenever I fell. 

Dad passed away in December 2002 and I’ve missed him every day since.  Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him, especially since I moved back to this farm.  He is in every nail in this house that he built, and every inch of soil and blade of grass that makes up this place.

That Ram truck commercial is a stirring tribute to all the men, and women, like my dad who work hard with rarely taking a day off, and who love and respect this land and the satisfaction of a job well done.  But the best part of watching that commercial is that it reminds me of how fortunate I am to be a Farmer’s Daughter.

Yes, God made a farmer, then he made a farmer my Dad! 

Here’s an idea for a great party snack for the Super Bowl, or anytime! This recipe combines two previous recipes I’ve given in recent blog entries. The first thing you’ll want to make is the Herb Bread dough. Make as the recipe calls for, but when it’s ready to bake, spread out as pizza dough on pizza pan or stone. This won’t take quite as long to bake as the bread, Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees. It may take less time depending on your oven. When it’s finished, let it cool. When I baked mine, my crust got really thick and I was afraid it wouldn’t hold all the toppings I wanted to put on, so I sliced the whole top of my crust off. This is a judgment call, so if you think yours is too thick, slice away! There would probably be enough dough to divide and make two pizzas if you wish. If you slice, just lay the top aside for now.

On top of the crust I spread an 8 ounce package of cream cheese that I beat with the mixer, adding a little of my own Italian dressing to make it creamy and easy to spread.  Next you will want to chop up your toppings. I used broccoli, onions, tomatoes and my own  Homemade Cheese .

  You could use any number of toppings with this, so get creative! Whatever you choose, just sprinkle your chopped toppings over the cream cheese. That’s it, ready to cut and eat! This was a very big hit with everyone that tried it!

Wait … what about that top I cut off? I buttered mine on both sides and pulled it apart into pieces. I seasoned them, and put under the broiler for 5 minutes, stirred them, then put them back under for another five minutes, and … homemade croutons! They didn’t last long either!