Giving Original Father's Day Gifts - Creative Food Twists On Those Traditional Gifts

Father's Day is coming fast, -what gift to give Dad this year? I'm resisting the traditional Father's Day gifts. One more dress shirt and tie are not only not original, they are boring to give and to receive. They are also impractical because Dad already has all of the dress shirts he needs, and he rarely wears a tie anymore. Traditional gifts would only communicate my lack of creativity, not my affection. No, my Father's Day gift must show thoughtfulness and fun. Terrific. So now what to give?
Frustration naturally leads to thoughts of food. Challenged to stay focus, I focus on food gifts for Dad. Multi-tasking on the web, I'm cruising around and find a creative twist on the traditional shirt and tie: sugar cookies dressed up to look like shirts and ties. It's kind of a comic, tongue-in-cheek Father's Day gift. I like the humor; it's one possibility for Dad. The baker also makes sugar cookies that look like grilling implements. Grilling tools are another one of those traditional Father's Day gifts which most dads already have a full supply of. But the cookies look tasty enough that there's little chance they'll be stored in a cupboard until next Father's Day. The golf bag and ball cookies are a creative gift alternative, especially since offspring of avid golfers find it too expensive to buy dads golf clubs, and know that dads buy new golf balls whenever they need them. But they probably don't buy golfing cookies for themselves. Dad would like these and he could share them with his golfing buddies.
But what would he share with me? Or share at least with Mom? After all, without Mom he wouldn't be Dad. Mom likes pie and ice cream and so does Dad, and so do I. Cherry pie a la mode is definitely in the running as a Father's Day gift.
But after further thought, I realize that sugar does not excite Dad as much as meat does. Dad craves all those delicious meats like bacon, steaks, bratwursts, and ribs, - all those red meats which Mom worries are too high in fat and cholesterol. When Mom buys Dad bacon she gets turkey bacon. I mean, what's the point in that? Dad eats it of course, -the man's hungry.
Yes, now I'm recognizing a real need Dad has. My father is deprived. My father doesn't get enough of the meat he loves. If I send him a gift basket of bacon and sausages, Dad will love it and Mom won't complain too loudly because, after all, it's a Father's Day gift. The gift shows I love my father and I want to make him happy. He's my dad after all, and without him she knows, she wouldn't be my mom.
Want to know the life stages of Father's Day gifts and get more Father's Day gift ideas? Go to my other blog, Edible Antics.

Pet the Cows and Eat Breakfast on the Farm during Wisconsin's June Dairy Month

In Wisconsin, June is Dairy Month. On June 6, cows and dairy farmers arrive on the state capital square to entertain children and educate adults about the vital role dairy farms play in our state's economy. Free t-shirts and cheese samples, animals, kids' games, and music entice passer-bys to this annual Cows on the Concourse event. As children pet the sweet-tempered cows, "moo experts" from the University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin's dairy industry answer questions about cows, milk, cheese, and Wisconsin's dairy industry.
One of the goals of the event is to teach urban children about how their food originates on farms, and not in grocery stores. To make this point fun and remembered, dairy farms across Wisconsin host "Breakfast on the Farm" events throughout the month of June. Farmers invite the public to their dairy farms and serve up a farm-cooked breakfast of scrambled eggs, Wisconsin sausages, coffee cake, fresh cheeses, and strawberry sundaes. Most farms also offer hay rides for the children, games, musical entertainment, and tours of the dairy farm.
If you can't join the fun on the farm, enjoying a Wisconsin-farm breakfast at home is still a good time... and easy. Begin heating up some Wisconsin breakfast link sausages and you're on your way to a memorable meal. Skillet-cooked or microwaved slices of applewood-smoked, thick-sliced bacon are always crowd-pleasers. Throw in grated Wisconsin cheese as you scramble the eggs and the kids will eat every bite. Serve bakery-fresh coffee cake with hot coffee and fresh milk to complete the meal. Or maybe you'll choose pancakes instead of coffee cake. If so, remember a true-Wisconsin breakfast pancake is smothered in real butter and pure maple syrup. Accept no imitations, and everybody will come back for seconds.
Maybe you're home-cooked Wisconsin breakfast will be so good that you'll want to share it with your loved ones far away. Well, that's easy too. A few web clicks, a few days, and a Wisconsin gourmet's farm-fresh breakfast arrives. Amazing, yes. Will this "breakfast on the farm" gift confuse the kids? Will they now think that breakfast comes from UPS? Possibly, but send it to your dad for Father's Day and he'll be happy. Dad's understand that great breakfasts are made in Wisconsin.