Fathers Day - Secret Fathers Day Gift No Dad Can Live Without? Honest

Have you decided what to get dad this father's day and realized you can't afford what it is you have your eye on. You mustn't get despondent because you have plenty of options to choose from for spoiling dad this father's day. I don't doubt for one minute that dad wouldn't love a new aftershave, a pair of slippers, dressing gown or pipe, but if you take into consideration what he can't live without will make your gift, a gift of importance making it extra special, so gift him food. Dads have to eat, "fact," and most of them are only ever happy when stuffing themselves. Have you never heard "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach?"So why not this father's day treat dad by filling his belly.

Below are some father's day recipes you can follow and cook for dad. If you want to keep the idea of cooking him a meal on Father's day a secret then you need an accomplice for the secrecy plot to work, and who else better than mum. If anyone can keep dad occupied doing other things while you cook, it is the woman of the house who wears the trousers. And they do, coz ain't all dads scared of mum because mine was. If you decide not to surprise dad and mom's unleashed from being sworn to secrecy, still keep her on board to help with food preparation in the kitchen. Moms are great aren't they at times like this.

Find out what is daddy's, dad, father, pops or whatever pet name you call him by his favourite meal and take it from there. This is dad we are dealing with so you can keep the whole shindig basic (food and surroundings.) Most dads don't expect much so whatever you have in surprise for him will surely delight and get his taste buds going.

If you have arranged for mom to dine with dad then decorate the table accordingly to set the mood for them both. Not only will he enjoy his meal, he gets the best of both worlds' being with the woman he loves in a romantic setting created by you. Doing this you kill two birds with one stone by treating the two most important people that you love in this life.

It's time to raid the piggy bank, put your apron on and get flour all over the place. If you're at an age that needs supervision then make sure an adult is at your side. Be careful with your choice of foods if dad is watching his weight. If this be the case go online and select the more fitting food to feed him with.

Tasty Father's Day Recipe

Pork Chops with Sage and Apple Sauce

This dish is simple and quick to prepare and cook

2-3 cooking apples

grated zest of 1/4 lemon

2 tsp sugar

3 tbsp apple juice

4 lean pork chops

salt and freshly ground black pepper for seasoning

4 sage leaves, finely chopped

Peel and core apples then dice into cube shapes. Place in a medium pot along with the lemon zest, sugar and apple juice. Cover and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally until soft.

Now heat the grill, season the chops and grill for about 5 minutes each side until done.

Mix the chopped sage into the apple sauce and serve with the pork chops.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

If dad is vegetarian then you need a recipe that will have him licking his lips and wanting more. A popular dish is

Vegetable & Cheddar Crumble Pie Filling:

3 medium sized organic carrots, skinned and cubed into 2cm chunks

2 parsnips, skinned and cubed into 2cm chunks

1 butternut squash skinned and cubed into 2cm chunks

750g baby new potatoes,

1 aubergine, cubed into 2cm portions

2 courgettes, cut into 2cm portions

5 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp dried oregano

3 cloves garlic, finely minced

salt and black pepper

1 chopped red onion

2 leeks, trimmed and cut into 2cm slices

2 stalks celery, thickly sliced

400ml vegetable stock

Crumble Mix:

225g plain flour

2 tsp baking powder

75g cold butter, cut into chunks

100g grated Cheddar cheese

150ml soured cream or Greek yogurt

3 tbsp minced fresh parsley

salt and ground black pepper for seasoning

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/gas mark while you prepare the vegetables. Once there peeled and skinned then rinse and dry. Layer the carrots, parsnips, butternut squash, potatoes, aubergine and courgettes into a large roasting dish and drizzle 3 tbsp of olive oil over the top. Add the thyme, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper and toss. Roast in the oven for 30-40 minutes or until the vegetables are soft, stirring occasionally.

2. While the veg is cooking, heat the rest of the oil in a wok or frying pan. Over a medium high heat, stir-fry the red onion, leeks and celery until tender and showing color. Add vegetable stock and bring to the boil then simmer.

3. Remove the roasted vegetables from the stove, and place in a large pie or baking dish and pour over the onion and stock juice. Then leave for awhile.

4. Sieve the flour and baking powder into a mixing basin and add butter rubbing it in with your fingers until the mix looks like coarse breadcrumbs. Add Cheddar cheese, soured cream/yogurt, and parsley, salt and pepper seasoning and mix. Heap the crumble over the pie filling and place in the oven for a further 25 minutes. Then serve.

To sweeten up dad then what better way than with a slice of fruit cake, so yummy assured to fill his rumbling tummy. You can never go wrong with desert because nearly every dad has a sweet tooth or in some cases maybe not the sweet tooth but sweet gums.

Fruit Cake

Ingredients

Oven temp: 150 C-300 F

Cup of Butter

6 Eggs

2 Cups refined flour

Cup of Sugar

125 gm Chopped Almonds

2 tsp Vanilla essence

?

2

An 8" round cake tin, lined with a double layer of grease-proof paper

Method

Blend the fruit and almonds with 2 tbsp of the maida and leave to stand. Cream together the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Fold in the flour and fruit mixture. Pour cake mix into cake tin and bake in a pre-heated oven for 50-60 minutes.

If weather permitting set up the barbecue, why waste a beautiful sunny day sitting inside when you can eat alfresco. I'm sure dad wouldn't say no to a juicy steak sizzling away over the hot charcoals, or to a leg of chicken, or big fat sausage, or meaty burger, or rasher of smoked bacon, or a seasoned pork steak or spicy mince meat fritters. Do you see where I am going with this, the list is endless of what you can cook dad this Father's day.