Father’s Day is just around the corner. It is time to start shopping and do we have some fantastic finds to share with you!

Grilling Gifts

When do the men, who typically can only be found in the kitchen when dinner is finished cooking, have an uncontrollable desire to cook? When it involves a great deal of fire and smoke, of course! What man is not the master of his own grill? Show him you appreciate his grilling skills with the following gifts:

Aprons

Your grill master will need an apron so try one of these fun aprons on for size:

• From Sweet Bohemian Life a fun apron that is 100% cotton with the following on the apron “My House My Rules” and a picture of a “retro guy”. The apron is adjustable around the neck and has a double pocket in the front.
• For a simple statement that gets the point across try this apron from Cool Aprons . It is black poly/cotton twill with a gold embroidered crown and the words “King of the Grill” embroidered beneath the crown.
• Is your grill master in the armed forces? If so then check out this “Grill Sergeant” apron from the Lily Pad Shop. It’s an apron he’ll be proud to wear.
• Customize an apron for Dad at Customized Girl. Choose what you’d like on the apron and make it special for the one you love.

Spices

Every Dad has his special grilling secrets. Give him the gift that will make him a grill star!

• You can’t go wrong with this set of dry rub spices from Williams-Sonoma. Four 1.5 ounce air-tight canisters are filled with chili-lime rub, potlatch seasoning, spicy chipotle and smokehouse rubs.
• Looking for a less expensive, but still amazing spice kit to give Dad? Try the Gourmet Rub Set from Purpose Design. Dad will receive 6 tins filled with the following rubs: Memphis BBQ, Java Love, Southwest Chipotle, Ancho Chili, African Berbere, Café Pasilla.

Grilling Tools and Accessories

Dad can’t grill without them so personalize them just for him.

• Art Follies will etch your preference of sayings, names or initials into a grill flipper or a grilling set that includes an 18 inch knife, flipper and fork.
• Red Envelope will engrave a lovely solid maple cutting board just for Dad. This cutting board is ideal for Dad to show off his perfectly grilled London broil as well as his carving skills

Beer Related Gifts

Most men enjoy an ice cold beer while grilling. Some men just enjoy that cold beer while others are beer aficionados. These gifts will please all beer drinkers.

• Sample a variety of beers as this finely made brew sampler and coaster set holds his favorite craft beers. Handmade of curly maple and black walnut (black and tan…like the beer) this set is appealing to the eye. Find this at the shop of Taunton Green and make sure to look for some of the fabulous cutting boards they make as well.
• Dads are tough. Hammeronsteel creates churchkeys that begin as a “single bar of steel”. The churchkeys are made using “traditional hot-forging techniques”. The bottle opener can be personalized as well.
• Want to personalize Dad’s beer pint, pilsner or tankard? Check out Things Remembered where you will find a variety of styles from which to choose and reasonable prices, even with the engraving.
• Has he always wanted to make his own beer? If so give him a deluxe starter kit sold at Urban Brewery. The kit includes (but isn’t limited to) a 1 gallon glass jug fermenter with liquid crystal thermometer strip, 6” funnel, bi-metal thermometer and siphon hose with shut off valve. There are too many items to list here so take a look at Urban Brewery’s shop.

Avoid the same old stale Father’s Day gifts. Does Dad really need another tie, more socks or a new bottle of Old Spice? Maybe, but those gifts are akin to Moms receiving a vacuum. Check out our suggestions or just go to Etsy.com and search for Father’s Day gifts. You will find unique products that are handmade and will tell Dad that you cared enough to go the extra mile.

Father’s Day. It is when we pause to say “Thanks Dad.” We may all have different ways and different reasons to say “thank you”. Some may be more traditional than others, but no matter how you say it, for most fathers it is a day when they replenish their sock supply, stock up on after shave or add, yet another, tie to their wardrobe. These are easy gifts for young children to pick out and purchase. But, if you have a little bit of time, you can add a special touch to your Father’s Day celebration.

When you take the time out of your day to bake something it shows that you truly appreciate the many hours that Dad devotes to his family. Baking with your children is both fun and an eye opener for they are creative in ways that only children can be. The keys to a successful baking project with your children is to (a) give up all hope of it being a neat project (b) use a simple recipe (c) let imaginations sore.

The following cheesecake recipe is both easy and looks magnificent whether or not you make smaller versions as in the photos or a full sized cheesecake. Since cheesecakes are a blank canvas you can have your child decorate it in any manner. You can also use whatever type of crust Dad likes best.

Blender Cheesecake:Batter Ingredients

200ml (1 cup) heavy cream 80g sugar (5 ½ tablespoons) 30ml cornstarch (2 tablespoons ) 200g cream cheese (This is a little less than 8oz. I used one block of cream cheese which is 8oz) vanilla (original recipe said “vanilla”. I added 1 teaspoon)

For the Crust 2 cups cookie crumbs of choice 2 tablespoons melted butter
For Decoration M&M’s or Dad’s favorite candy

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 170C or (approx.) 340F.
2. Prepare crust. Mash, into crumbs, your choice of cookies.

Children love to do this. While it is easier to use a food processor, children love to mash the cookies by placing them in a sturdy ziplock bag, and hitting them with a rolling pin. Make sure all air is out of the bag when it is zipped closed.) Once the cookies are crumbs, place into a bowl and mix in melted butter.

3. Using your fingertips, firmly press the crumbs into the bottom of a spring form pan. Any extra crumbs can be saved and used for decoration. Place the pan in the refrigerator to chill while preparing the batter.

4. Place all batter ingredients into a blender and pulse until smooth.

5. Pour into prepared spring form pan.

6. Bake for 30-35 minutes (If using several small pans, adjust baking time accordingly as they will cook faster.)

7. Remove cake from oven and cool completely.

8. Release from pan and decorate.

We would love to hear your favorite memories of Dad or your best Father’s day story!

Message to my Father: Thank you for reading me the same bed time story over and over and over and over even after a 16 hour work day and for enduring my squeaky voice as I did my best impression of the witch: “Nibble, nibble like a mouse. Who’s that nibbling on my house?” –From Hansel and Gretel.

For Fathers day  I wanted to do something that was fun, and family orientated.  My niece,  who can barely reach the table wanted to bake a cake, I  could anticipate the fun already. Being the on-hands person that I am, I tried to guide her, but she stood proudly, mixing, measuring, and for a moment I thought we had a mini-pastry chef  in the kitchen.

Living so far away from my father can be an intimidating task trying to properly honor dad. I have such fond memories growing up, and fathers day was no exception. On father’s day, we’d have three generations gather at our family cookouts with foods that I love, steamed crabs, corn on the cob, and various salads and dips, which are reminiscent of everything-summer.

As I pondered what to get my father for this special day, honoring him, I came to the grand-daddy of ideas. My niece and I decided to send him a virtual cake (pictured above).   Even though we are thousands of miles away, he’ won’t be able to taste it, he can still feel how much we love him.

Happy Father’s Day.