Have no fear, FBBTDD is here!!! As the sultry summer days of June start to pass, each day we find ourselves closer and closer to dear ole dad's day of appreciation; Father's Day. You have one week as of today to purchase the perfect card, send that special gift or prepare your yearly Father's Day phone call. The question is what can you give the man who wiped away all your tears, bandaged all those skinned knees, gave you away at your wedding- the man who was there for you when no other man was? I always say stick with what you know and let cliche's be your guide, "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach!" No matter pop's interest here are a few budget-friendly gastronomic gift ideas sure to please all palettes!
"Around the World in 80 Beers"- Grab an inexpensive galvanized or plastic drink tub (they can usually be found in the garden department or amongst the seasonal items at Wal-mart) and fill it with multi-colored tissue paper, streamers, confetti or even the newspaper funnies for a whimsical touch. Hit up the adult libation section (a.k.a. the beer cooler) and just start going down the line. Purchase any or all of the following: Mexican Beer ( ex. Dos Equis, Sol, Pacifico, etc.), Irish Beer (ex. Guisness, Harp, Smithwicks, etc.), German Beer (ex. Becks, St. Pauli Girl, Spaten, etc.), Canadian Beer (ex. Labatt Blue, Molson Canadian, Moosehead, etc.), Japanese Beer (ex. Sapporo, Kirin, etc.), and by now I am sure you get the idea. If you are lucky enough to have a "World Market" in your neighborhood, this store actually specializes in international food and beverage so be sure to check out their selection. Pack them all up in you festive beer tub and if you have time, perhaps enclose a description of each beer along with it's origin. Dad will appreciate the thought, but maybe not the hangover that is sure to ensue!
"Food for the Fairway"- Is dad an avid golfer, is he just ga-ga for the greens? Pack him a "Food for the Fairway" cooler for his next round and you are sure to secure your spot as the favorite child! Start with an inexpensive cooler and once again fill it with your multi-colored tissue paper or newspaper funnies. For a grassy effect, try using all green tissue paper and shredding a few pieces on the top. Do you have any green Easter Grass leftover- now would be the perfect time to use it! Start packing your cooler with bottled waters, mixed nuts, pretzels, cheese crackers, protein bars, beef jerky and the rest of your pops' favorite snacks. For added kitsch, throw in a jug of Snapple Brand "Arnold Palmer" Sweet Tea and Lemonade mix. Not only is it a thirst quencher on a hot day, but dad will appreciate you "comparing him" to the planet's greatest golfer. If your budget allows, throw in a pack of golf balls, golf tees, a golf towel, sunscreen, bug repellent and maybe a divot tool if available. This gift is sure to score a "hole in one!"
"Lake Break" - If dad's always gone fishing, this gift will surely lure him back in! Start with a Plano or other brand of tackle box and stuff it with a few "Field and Stream" magazines, sports drinks, bottled waters, sunscreen, wet wipes, pocket knife, coffee thermos with a bag of dad's favorite coffee, beef jerky, peanuts and a bag of Goldfish Crackers of course. A few other fishy additions could be a gift card to Bass Pro Shops, a baseball cap, a pair of polarized sunglasses (helps them see out on the water), hooks, bobbers, fishing line and maybe a few lures if you can squeeze out of your dad some of his favorites. Apparently they are very particular about these...With the "Lake Break", dad is ready to "kick some bass" and tell a few fish tales of his own!
"License to Grill" - No cheesy "King of the Grill" aprons here! Start by purchasing a large platter, whether it be ceramic, glass, steel, etc.- just not plastic as it will melt when red hot meat plops onto it off the grill. This platter will be the foundation for your gifts and will also hopefully turn into his favorite meat carrier! Pile up the platter with grilling accessories such as a meat thermometer, grill lighter (one with a long tip), basting brush, meat fork, seasoning salt, unique BBQ sauces and marinades (Lawrys Hawaiian Marinade is a family favorite now), tongs, grill brush, metal spatula, corn holders, kabob skewers, spray bottle (dad can use this for water, olive oil, or even melted butter when he grills) and a hand-written recipe for a meat rub. (On a side note, I found most of these items at my local dollar store, yippee!) Be sure to see if your dad is cooking with gas or charcoal as lighter fluid and charcoal briquettes would be a great addition to a charcoal grill chef. If you have the time and the means, personalized branding irons can be ordered off the Internet or at specialty cooking stores like Williams-Sonoma. After you present this gift, it will be a thrill for daddy-o to grill!
I hope you enjoy making these gifts as much as you enjoy giving them this Father's Day. Be sure to stayed tuned, dahlin's!
No comments:
Post a Comment