Father's Day always sneaks up on me. School is winding down with finals and field trips, soccer is coming to a close and pool parties abound. And then it's here without a whisper of warning.
Well, for those in the same busy boat, consider this your notice; Father's Day is on Sunday, and it should be a perfect day for grilling a feast for that man in your life. And for the little helping hands in the house, here are a few recipes where everyone can contribute.
Kabob fixings come in all shapes and sizes. We usually choose beef because it tends to stay moist and tender, however, chicken, kielbasa and pork tenderloin are tasty alternatives. When choosing a recipe, I always look to see what the reviewers say. And although I wasn't too sure about soda in a marinade, I was convinced by the more than 250 cooks who recommended these Sensational Sirloin Kabobs.
Beef that's already cubed for kabobs is more expensive than a steak, so I bought sirloin steaks that were on sale and cubed them myself. I also trimmed the meat and made the cubes small so it was easier for the kids to eat. The meat needs to marinate for at least 8 hours, so plan on doing this the night before or the morning of your cookout. To give the marinade some extra flavor, use fresh garlic instead of powdered. Also, make sure if you are using bamboo skewers that you soak them in water for a few hours so they don't immediately go up in flames.
For the kabobs, I like to skewer the meat and vegetables separately so they cook evenly. The veggies will take a few minutes longer, so place them on the grill first for about 5 minutes, then add the meat skewers. Use the ingredients you and your family enjoy. We opted not to use the tomatoes or mushrooms, and instead chose red and green peppers and purple onion. Don't miss out on the pineapple. The fruity juices caramelize on the grill, sealing in the delicious flavor. If fresh is not available, canned pineapple should work just as well.
Couscous is a quick and easy side that won't have you overheating when the weather gets hot. This version uses pistachios and scallions to add some crunch and flavor to this adaptable dish. You can also add any kind of minced veggies or toss in parsley with diced tomatoes and some lemon for a tabouli flavor.
Strawberries are in season, and this Strawberry Cream Cake can be made the night before, then assembled the day of your celebration. The dense yellow cake has a buttery taste similar to pound cake and is strong enough to hold up to the weight of the berries and cream. The gelatin in the whipped cream makes this dessert able to hold up and keep its fluffy form until serving. It also stores well in the refrigerator.
Taking the time as a family to prepare this summery spread will make the fathers and grandfathers in your life feel appreciated. And don't forget to enlist the kids in helping. Little hands can do many chores to help with these recipes, such as:
- clean the seeds from the peppers.
- skewer the kabobs.
- shell the pistachios.
- measure ingredients.
- wash and prep (little ones can use a plastic knife and fork) the strawberries.
- use mixer to whip the cream.
- spread the whipped cream and arrange the strawberries.
