How are you going to celebrate Father’s Day? We are going to enjoy a relaxing day (I hope)! I am letting my husband sleep in and have no responsibility for the morning, while I entertain the kids and my daughter and I make chocolate chip pancakes for him, to be kept warm until he wakes up. Lunch will be sandwiches and fruit. Then we are going to the local farmer’s market, where I have pre-ordered some seafood to make a good old fashioned clam bake for dinner. If you are in the Wilmington, MA area, check out Seafood Express. They were running a special deal if you pre-order, so ask for it!
When making a meal for a special occasion be it Father’s Day or birthdays or anniversaries, keep it simple! Don’t go out of your comfort zone. Make something easy and delicious. If the person you are celebrating really loves Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches, make Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches. If they want steak and potatoes, cook steak and potatoes.
Last year on Father’s day I made steak, sweet potato salad and roasted corn on the cob. First marinade the steak (whatever cut you are using) in:
1-2 minced cloves of Garlic (depends on how much you like garlic)
pinch of Salt
couple grinds of Pepper
1/4 cupWorcestershire sauce
1/4 cup Vinegar (Balsamic, red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar – whatever you have on hand)
1/4 Soy sauce
Marinade for 30 minutes to 4-5 hours. Dry off with paper towel and cook however you usually cook it. Grill it, sear in a pan and then cook in the oven, however you want.
Serve with a sweet potato salad. Bake equal amounts of sweet potatoes and white or yellow potatoes, cube, mix with miracle whip, mustard, salt and pepper) and roasted corn on the cob.
You could also use your slow cooker to make a delicious meal. That way you can spend the day with your family and not have to slave over the stove. Here is a recent post from Stephanie over at A Year of Slow Cooking with some delicious looking rib recipes!
If its in your budget, go out! Enjoy a nice meal outside the house so that there are no dishes for anyone to clean 🙂 Just have fun with food and get your kids involved! If you don’t have a favorite family restaurant (and you are in the Boston area) check out Hidden Boston, if you haven’t before. Great resource! I’m really excited to try a new (old) restaurant soon. My family didn’t go out to eat much when I was growing up, but one restaurant we went to for special occasions or when we had visitors, was The European in the North End. Sadly, when I moved back, I found out it had closed. However, the owners have reopened up in North Chelmsford, MA. It is now called Aprile’s European Restaurant. Can’t wait to check it out!
My bro is BBQ-ing/ I need to figure out something to bring
Make a salad with black beans and feta. Toss with a honey lime vinaigrette. Or just mix up some black beans with corn, tomatoes and feta. Salt and pepper and you are good to go! Add some cilantro if you like.
Have fun!