This icy Father's Day Cocktail is a riff off a classic cocktail- the Sazerac– a staple from one of America’s cultural hot beds, New Orleans. I'm adding extra chill because this father’s day, I'm playing it cool (like dad used to be).
I think of this as "The Urban Farmer's Salad" because it's what he makes for dinner when I'm still staring at my computer. It's one part "clean out the fridge" and one part homemade bleu cheese dressing. It's one part responsible and one part pure comfort.
Before firing up the burgers and dogs this weekend, drizzle pineapple, peaches and nectarines with coconut oil and grill to sweet, caramelized perfection. Pair the grilled fruit with the cake of your choice, garnish with sprigs of fresh mint, and serve with a dollop of your favorite organic ice cream.
Polenta with a little extra herbs and salty parmesan, a tomato sauce with lentils and sweet, soft garlic are the backbone of this dinner idea. These recipes are loose guides. Simply use what you have on hand for the sauce and follow your instincts, but add lentils for an easy, affordable meaty flavor. Then pair the leftover red sauce with another batch of garlic flatbreads, hummus, tahini sprinkled with za'atar, olives, raw fennel, radishes, or whatever crudités you have on hand, for a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern inspired Mezze.
Start with your favorite whole grain pancake mix, and use raw, local honey instead of sugar. Or, try my homemade Big Batch Pancake Mix. Double the eggs for an even spongier texture like the short stack pictured. The honey caramelized apples are easy and imprecise. Try swapping other fruits like peaches or plums when in season.
Crepe meets Omelette, get it? This savory, vegetarian pancake is perfect for small kitchen cooking, especially on weeknights, as it comes together quickly. Double the olive fennel salad, whip up some extra yogurt sauce, wilt some more greens, and throw it all on a lentil pasta the following night to stretch your weeknight meal planning.
The core of this recipe trio is honey. Supporting beekeeping is good for the bees, and honey is better for you than sugar. The Earl Grey flavor is subtle, so play with the tea quantities if you want a stronger bergamot flavor. These are all loose guides, so follow your palate and instincts. The Earl Grey Honey Simple Syrup really shines when paired with Prosecco or Champagne.
The coconut sugar gives this quick bread a dark color and almost molasses flavor. For breakfast, serve a slice with a spread of lavender infused butter. As a dessert, top a slice with a candied lemon and a dollop of ice cream. Garnish your cocktails with any leftover honey candied lemons, and one baking session will last a week!