In case you hadn’t noticed, Father’s Day is just around the corner. On Sunday, June 16 families everywhere will celebrate dads, and many of them will do it with some form of feasting on manly foods. Dude food, if you will. Chicken, ribs, tenderloin, hearty soups, barbecue and such tend to figure prominently. And if you were looking for a new twist in the preparation, we’ve gathered a few recipes that sound tempting.
Honey chipotle lime-grilled chicken kabobs exude flavor. They’re great for a summer cookout. Or how about sweet and spicy appetizers of chicken breasts wrapped in smoky bacon and seasoned with spicy chili powder and brown sugar? Or, on Sunday morning, get those Bulldog fan dads up on the right side of the bed with a breakfast sandwich topped with a cheesy “baseball.” (Hopefully, those dads will be celebrating a Bulldog win in Saturday’s College World Series game.)
Make it local
When it comes to Father’s Day presents, forego the ties and socks. Try a gift of local food products instead. A trip to the Hitching Lot Farmer’s Market, Starkville Community Market or West Point Farmers’ Market this week should yield honey from local bee-keepers, or salsas, sauces and jellies from vendors like Mayhew Tomato Farm.
Columbian Ed Phillips’ Catalpa Plantation seasonings and products can be found at Mossy Oak in West Point and other locations. Stop in the MAFES Sales Store on Mississippi State’s campus weekdays for cheeses and other Bulldog-branded food items. Former Columbians Alice and Johnny Wooten’s Ala Carte Alice line of mixes, sauces and dips can be found at shops like Party and Paper in downtown Columbus. Keep looking, and you’ll find more locally flavored ideas Dad will appreciate.
The best gift of all, of course, is time together. For those, like me, whose fathers are no longer here to sit at the table, savor the memories. My daddy loved summer suppers on the patio, with candlelight and Latin music in the background, and everyone gathered around. I didn’t know then how indelible some of those easy evenings would be to me, so many years later.
Enjoy your own personal remembrances and create even more while making this Father’s Day mouth-watering and memorable.
HONEY CHIPOTLE LIME GRILLED CHICKEN KABOBS
Makes 4-6 servings
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts in 1-inch chunks
2 chipotle peppers, minced
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons good-quality honey
4 cloves garlic, crushed
Salt and pepper to taste
24 (10- to 12-inch) wooden skewers
2 limes, wedged
2 lemons, wedged
(Source: sheknows.com)
SWEET AND SPICY BACON-WRAPPED CHICKEN
Makes 4 servings
8 boneless skinless chicken breast tenders
8 thick slices smoked bacon
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons chipotle chili powder
(Source: sheknows.com)
BREAKFAST SANDWICH TOPPED WITH BASEBALL CHEESE
Makes 1 sandwich
1 slice white cheese (Provolone, Gouda, Monterey Jack)
1 large egg
1 teaspoon whipping cream or whole milk
Pinch of salt and pepper
Non-stick cooking spray
1 English muffin
1 slice Canadian bacon or ham
Optional, tomato slices and lettuce
3″ round cookie cutter
Food coloring markers
(Source: HungryHappenings.com)
GRILLED 5-SPICE POWDER PORK TENDERLOINS
Makes 8 servings
2 (1-pound each) whole pork tenderloins
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder
Ginger Peach Salsa
(Source: sheknows.com)
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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