If most dads are like my husband, they want to have a fun, family day...outdoors...with the Red Sox game playing softly on the radio in the background, perhaps a golf game muted on TV...but the day is about relaxing, laughing and playing! From bocce to playing cards or watching Hunt For Red October, the day is all about making dad happy...and so tired that a good night's sleep is the day's last best gift!
To kick off the day, I make Bill's favorite breakfast sandwich while he pours over the sports page of the Boston Globe...
Bill's Egg Sandwich on a Grilled English
Ingredients
2 large farm fresh eggs
Raft of woven bacon slices...check out the YouTube how to video
2 slices of provolone cheese (or your favorite!!)
1 Bay's English Muffin
Sliced Avocado
Sliced Tomato
Butter
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
*****Reserve the bacon fat in a sealed container, refrigerated, to use in other dishes
Method
Heat 1-2 Tbsp. good quality olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high.
When oil is very hot and starting to shimmer, crack your eggs into the skillet and season with salt and a hefty pinch of pepper.
Oil should be bubbling around up around the edges of the egg whites; with a spoon CAREFULLY baste the egg with hot oil to crisp them up.
Fry until whites are golden brown and crisp at the edges and firm around the yolk about 2 minutes. If you like runny yolks, remove from heat now; if you want a slightly firmer yolk for use in an egg sandwich, cook for another 20 -30 seconds.
Remove from the pan to a paper towel to absorb excess oil before making sandwich.
With folded paper towels, carefully wipe out the warm pan and add a teaspoon of butter and a teaspoon of olive oil.
Return to burner over medium high heat.
Place fork split English Muffin, cut side down in the hot fat and place a weight, like a bacon press or small flat bottomed pot on the muffins.
Griddle the muffins until dark gold brown and then flip them over and toast the other side for about 30 seconds.
Remove the English muffin to a warm plate and begin assembly.
Assemble the sandwich as follows:
On one half of the English muffins, place the slices of cheese, then top with the hot eggs.
Next place the bacon raft on the eggs and add a couple of very thin slices of avocado on the bacon.
To the top of the tower, place a slice of tomato, seasoned with a sprinkling of salt and pepper.
Cap it of with the remaining muffin half and gently squish it or pierce it with a long skewer or food pick... be careful not to break the egg yolk!
Serve with additional seasoned, sliced avocado and tomatoes on the side.
Beverage Recommendation: Nice cuppa hot Joe!
For a healthy picnic in the park or back yard, we pack up a variety of veggie and herb toppings to go on our Chinese Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
Filling:
1 1/2 lbs. ground chicken or white meat turkey
2 tbsp. coconut oil
1 tbsp. Chinese Five Spice Blend (combine and process in a spice grinder: 2 tbsp. cinnamon, 2 tsp. star anise, 2 tsp. fennel seeds, 1 1/2 tsp. black peppercorn, 1/2 tsp. ground cloves or ginger)
Low sodium soy sauce (to taste)
Wraps: butter, bibb or iceberg lettuce leaves, washed and dried
Method
Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
Melt coconut oil.
Saute the ground chicken until no longer pink.
Add the spices, a pinch of salt and pepper and incorporate thoroughly.
Cook until browned .
Drain any excess oil and place cooked chicken in packable container.
Sauce:
2 tsp. sesame tahini or peanut butter
1 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1 tsp. sesame seeds for garnish
Method
Combine the first three ingredients in a mixing bowl.
If the sauce is too thick, it may be thinned to desired consistency by adding warm water or chicken broth.
Transfer to a pack-able sealed container and sprinkle with sesame seeds before closing container.
Suggested Toppings:
Shredded carrot
Chopped celery
Cilantro
Diced cucumber
Shredded red and/or savoy cabbage
Strips of jalapeno or cubanelle peppers
Garnishes: Sesame seeds, chopped peanuts, mint, lime wedges
To assemble:
Place a scoop of seasoned meat in the center of a lettuce cup.
Drizzle a small amount of sauce over the meat...a little goes along way.
Add your favorite toppings and garnishes and roll the lettuce wrap like a burrito and enjoy!
***When packing up for your picnic, make sure to keep food properly sealed in unbreakable containers and chilled to 38-42 degrees. Frozen water bottles or juice boxes serve double duty in your picnic basket!
Recommended beverages:
Sparkling water infused with lime and mint
If alcoholic beverages are allowed try this Mai Tai :
2 ounces golden rum
1/2 ounce orange flavored liquor like Curacao
1/2 ounce Orgeat
1/4 ounce simple syrup
2 ounces fresh lime juice
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled 1/3 with crushed ice.
Shake very vigorously and strain into a chilled old fashioned glass, with 1/2 cup crushed ice.
Garnish with lemon, lime and orange slices and a sprig of mint.
What is Fathers' Day without a cookout? Rounding out our day is this variation on a summer classic...the hamburger...check out Spicy Blue Bison Burgers.
Ingredients for 4 burgers
1 jalapeno pepper
1 lb. ground bison
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tbsp. bacon fat.
1/4 lb. blue cheese, crumbled
1/2 tsp. each sea salt and pepper
Method
Preheat grill to 400 degrees; clean and oil the grill at this time.
Split jalapeno in half (remove seeds and white ribs if your prefer a less spicy burger)
Place pepper on hot grill and cook until grill marks appear.
Allow pepper to cool and remove the charred skin.
Dice the pepper and place into a mixing bowl.
Combine the bison, pepper, bacon fat, seasonings and blue cheese until well mixed, but be careful to not make the meat mixture mushy.
Form the mixture into 4 four ounce patties. Place a dimple in the center of each burger , to allow for even cooking and prevent mounding of the center of the burger.
Grill the burgers 4 minutes each side for medium...add an additional minute per side for medium well.
Serve on toasted sour dough bread or potato rolls!
Recommended beverage: Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin Ale or Sam Adams Summer!
Bon Appetit and Happy Fathers' Day!
