Tasty Treats for Dad

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-562 -- More Projects »
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Start Father's Day off right by fixing dad some huevos rancheros for breakfast. The recipe is provided below.
Culinary expert Colleen Miner provides tips for making special Father's Day treats.

Huevos Rancheros

Ingredients:

2 flour tortillas
3/4 cup black beans
1/2 cup sauteed vegetables (onions and red peppers work well)
1/4 cup salsa
1 fried egg (sunny-side up)
shredded cheese
sour cream
chopped scallions

Preparation

Place a flour tortilla in an ovenproof bowl and top with 1/2 cup of the beans. Place the other tortilla on top and add the remaining beans.

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Figure A
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Figure B
Add 1/2 cup of sauteed vegetables (such as onions and red peppers) and about 1/4 cup of salsa on top of the beans (figure A). Form a small pocket in the center and place a fried egg on top (figure B).

Sprinkle shredded cheese liberally over the dish and bake in a 375-degree oven for about five minutes or until all the cheese is melted. Top with sour cream and scallions.

White-Chocolate Golf Balls

They're not going to go very far on the driving range, but some white-chocolate golf balls make a great sweet treat for dad.

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Figure C
Pour melted white chocolate into a golf ball candy mold (figure C). Place in the refrigerator until the chocolate hardens, then pop out the golf ball halves. "Glue" two halves together with melted chocolate and allow to cool.

Candy molds are available in other novelty shapes, including little tools such as hammers and screwdrivers. Fill these molds with dark chocolate and insert candy sticks to make dad a set of neat little chocolate lollipop tools.

Decorative Cakes

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Figure D
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Figure E
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Figure F
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Figure G
If dad just can't get enough golf, make him a golf cake (figure D). Bake a chocolate round cake and mix a little green food coloring into white cake frosting. Frost the cake with the green frosting.

Place some coconut in a glass jar with some green food coloring. Cap the jar and shake until the coconut is a uniform color of green. Sprinkle onto the cake to make a golf green (figure E).

Cut a hole in the cake with a very small round biscuit or cookie cutter (figure F). Place a white-chocolate golf ball in the hole and garnish with a flag.

Another cake idea is to make dad a special shirt cake. Bake a rectangular sheet cake, frost the cake and place it in a shirt gift box that is lined with tissue paper. Decorate the cake to look like a folded shirt, and use small chocolate candies to decorate the tie (figure G).

Lunch and Other Treats

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Figure H
  • Make dad a hero sandwich for lunch. Take a loaf of French bread and cut it lengthwise. Top with dad's favorite meats and cheeses, then add a full round of trimmings such as onions, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes and olives (figure H). Spread with dad's favorite condiments such as mayonnaise, mustard or oil and vinegar. For a special touch, spell out "I Love You Dad" with mustard and serve with a side of chips.

  • Create a decorative centerpiece by placing a small vase in an old boot, then filling the vase with a decorative flower arrangement.
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    Figure I
  • Make dad a gift basket of sorts by filling a cooler with some ice, a fresh fish and a selection of dry rubs and marinades. He can cook up his own dinner on the grill later, then reuse the cooler (figure I).

  • Make a floral centerpiece by filling a clean, empty paint can with a floral arrangement.
    • Also in this Episode
    TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-562
    •Tasty Treats for Dad
    •Homemade Gifts for Dad
    •Father's Day Dinner Table
    •Tip of the Day