Father's Day .... a day to celebrate the Dad in your life; whether it's your Dad or the Dad in your family it's time to do something special to make the day stand out. Of course I'm going to tell you that cooking is one of the best ways to do that. What better way to show your appreciation and love but to give them something made from your heart in your own kitchen?
Spoil the Dad in your life this Sunday by doing something fun the whole family can enjoy. Even if it's a picnic in the park playing catch or flag football or getting him that gadget he's been dying for, this weekend it's all about him. I wanted to give you some ways to surprise Dad ... one of those is with a quick and easy breakfast to start the day.
Breakfast Pizza
Take refrigerated pizza dough and roll out either into a circle or a large rectangle. Let the dough rest and prepare your toppings. This is where you can get super creative and just think of the things Dad loves the most. Remember, it doesn't have to be traditional; it can be whatever he likes! Cook and crumble sausage, (breakfast, Italian or spicy sausage), cook and crumble bacon, scramble some eggs, saute some fresh veggies, (mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, etc.) simply build your pizza according to what he loves most. For the sauce you can take a short cut here by buying a jar of country gravy, (or for those who are more ambitious - make your own) and spread evenly over the pizza crust. Top with your toppings and cover with cheese, (for this breakfast pizza I like to use a white, melty cheese like mozzarella, but feel free to use whatever you like). Bake at 400 degrees for approximately ten minutes or until your cheese is melted. Pizza is something the whole family can enjoy, so why not bring it to the breakfast table?
For dinner I wanted to share with you one of my new favorites. This may be something that is a little more complex, so just a heads up, if you want a nice short cut, (if you are going out for the day but still want to do a nice dinner) you can use your crock pot as a huge helper! This is my recipe for shredded beef lasagna rolls.
Remember, you can use your crock pot here as a time saver or if you are going to be home for the day you can do it in a large pot/dutch oven. Start with about 2 pounds of beef short ribs and season with salt and pepper. You want to start by getting a good sear on your meat, (this improves flavor) so get your pan scorching hot and cook on all sides for about 10 minutes total, turning about every 3-4 minutes. Remove those and put in one chopped white onion and about 4 chopped garlic cloves. Saute with some salt and pepper then add in 2 cups of red wine. As always, cook with a wine that you like the taste of -- you are extracting the flavor, if you don't like to drink it you won't want to eat it. Once the wine is added deglaze your pan and allow to reduce for about 5 minutes. Add in a can of reduced sodium beef broth and put your ribs back in. *At this point you will want to add everything to your crock pot if you are using that method and set on high for 4 hours* Put the lid on your pot and reduce the heat to med low to do a nice simmer. You want to allow this to simmer for about 3 hours -- you are looking for your beef to simply fall off the bone.
While this is cooking you can also prepare your lasagna noodles during this time, (or before you head out for the day). Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt and lasagna noodles. Cook them until they are the consistency you like. Set aside.
Once you have cooked your beef you want to pull out the ribs and put them in a large bowl and allow them to cool slightly. You want to be able to take two forks and shred your beef and pull off the bone. Throw your bones away along with the liquid you cooked them in. Set your shredded beef aside and now we can work on the rest of the filling. We want a nice, creamy, cheesy mixture so we are going to make a cheese sauce. Take a sauce pan and add 3/4 cup of milk and 1/2 cup of heavy cream and bring it to a simmer. Add in one bag of shredded mozzarella cheese and stir until it's all combined. Remove your cheese sauce from the heat and add in 1 package of frozen spinach that has been thawed and drained of the excess liquid. Chop 2 cloves of garlic and add the garlic and spinach to your cheese sauce. Mix all together. Add your shredded beef. Combine. Taste. If you need to add some salt or pepper do so.
Here's another short cut. Buy some jarred Alfredo sauce. Again, if you have time or simply want to, make your own. I will usually buy the jar of sauce and then add in some fresh oregano, basil and garlic powder to flavor it up a little.
Take a large 9 x 13 baking dish and spray in some cooking spray. Spread some of your Alfredo sauce along the bottom, just as you would for regular lasagna. Lay out your lasagna noodles and put a heaping spoonful of your cheese/beef mixture on one end of a noodle. Simply roll up and place into the baking dish. Keep doing this, (place the rolls seam side down to keep them from opening up) until you have filled your dish and/or used your noodles/mixture. Spread Alfredo sauce over the top of the rolls and sprinkle with some more of your shredded mozzarella cheese and some Parmesan for some extra flavor. Bake your rolls at 400 degrees for about 20 - 25 minutes or until your cheese is nice and brown/bubbly on top.
This is such a fun way to change up your normal lasagna and make Dad feel like he is really being treated! With the short cuts of the sauce and the crock pot you can even do this meal if you guys have plans during the day. Or, if you want to save even MORE time, do it all on the day before, making your rolls and wrap with plastic wrap and place in the fridge. On the day of, simply add your Alfredo sauce on top of the rolls, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese and bake.
Happy Father's Day!
Cheers!!
Spoil the Dad in your life this Sunday by doing something fun the whole family can enjoy. Even if it's a picnic in the park playing catch or flag football or getting him that gadget he's been dying for, this weekend it's all about him. I wanted to give you some ways to surprise Dad ... one of those is with a quick and easy breakfast to start the day.
Breakfast Pizza
Take refrigerated pizza dough and roll out either into a circle or a large rectangle. Let the dough rest and prepare your toppings. This is where you can get super creative and just think of the things Dad loves the most. Remember, it doesn't have to be traditional; it can be whatever he likes! Cook and crumble sausage, (breakfast, Italian or spicy sausage), cook and crumble bacon, scramble some eggs, saute some fresh veggies, (mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, etc.) simply build your pizza according to what he loves most. For the sauce you can take a short cut here by buying a jar of country gravy, (or for those who are more ambitious - make your own) and spread evenly over the pizza crust. Top with your toppings and cover with cheese, (for this breakfast pizza I like to use a white, melty cheese like mozzarella, but feel free to use whatever you like). Bake at 400 degrees for approximately ten minutes or until your cheese is melted. Pizza is something the whole family can enjoy, so why not bring it to the breakfast table?
For dinner I wanted to share with you one of my new favorites. This may be something that is a little more complex, so just a heads up, if you want a nice short cut, (if you are going out for the day but still want to do a nice dinner) you can use your crock pot as a huge helper! This is my recipe for shredded beef lasagna rolls.
Remember, you can use your crock pot here as a time saver or if you are going to be home for the day you can do it in a large pot/dutch oven. Start with about 2 pounds of beef short ribs and season with salt and pepper. You want to start by getting a good sear on your meat, (this improves flavor) so get your pan scorching hot and cook on all sides for about 10 minutes total, turning about every 3-4 minutes. Remove those and put in one chopped white onion and about 4 chopped garlic cloves. Saute with some salt and pepper then add in 2 cups of red wine. As always, cook with a wine that you like the taste of -- you are extracting the flavor, if you don't like to drink it you won't want to eat it. Once the wine is added deglaze your pan and allow to reduce for about 5 minutes. Add in a can of reduced sodium beef broth and put your ribs back in. *At this point you will want to add everything to your crock pot if you are using that method and set on high for 4 hours* Put the lid on your pot and reduce the heat to med low to do a nice simmer. You want to allow this to simmer for about 3 hours -- you are looking for your beef to simply fall off the bone.
While this is cooking you can also prepare your lasagna noodles during this time, (or before you head out for the day). Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add salt and lasagna noodles. Cook them until they are the consistency you like. Set aside.
Once you have cooked your beef you want to pull out the ribs and put them in a large bowl and allow them to cool slightly. You want to be able to take two forks and shred your beef and pull off the bone. Throw your bones away along with the liquid you cooked them in. Set your shredded beef aside and now we can work on the rest of the filling. We want a nice, creamy, cheesy mixture so we are going to make a cheese sauce. Take a sauce pan and add 3/4 cup of milk and 1/2 cup of heavy cream and bring it to a simmer. Add in one bag of shredded mozzarella cheese and stir until it's all combined. Remove your cheese sauce from the heat and add in 1 package of frozen spinach that has been thawed and drained of the excess liquid. Chop 2 cloves of garlic and add the garlic and spinach to your cheese sauce. Mix all together. Add your shredded beef. Combine. Taste. If you need to add some salt or pepper do so.
Here's another short cut. Buy some jarred Alfredo sauce. Again, if you have time or simply want to, make your own. I will usually buy the jar of sauce and then add in some fresh oregano, basil and garlic powder to flavor it up a little.
Take a large 9 x 13 baking dish and spray in some cooking spray. Spread some of your Alfredo sauce along the bottom, just as you would for regular lasagna. Lay out your lasagna noodles and put a heaping spoonful of your cheese/beef mixture on one end of a noodle. Simply roll up and place into the baking dish. Keep doing this, (place the rolls seam side down to keep them from opening up) until you have filled your dish and/or used your noodles/mixture. Spread Alfredo sauce over the top of the rolls and sprinkle with some more of your shredded mozzarella cheese and some Parmesan for some extra flavor. Bake your rolls at 400 degrees for about 20 - 25 minutes or until your cheese is nice and brown/bubbly on top.
This is such a fun way to change up your normal lasagna and make Dad feel like he is really being treated! With the short cuts of the sauce and the crock pot you can even do this meal if you guys have plans during the day. Or, if you want to save even MORE time, do it all on the day before, making your rolls and wrap with plastic wrap and place in the fridge. On the day of, simply add your Alfredo sauce on top of the rolls, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese and bake.
Happy Father's Day!
Cheers!!
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