Father's Day Menu

We had a fun filled day of spoiling the Dad at our house. I let my three-year-old plan the menu. The night before we talked about what to make Dad for breakfast in bed - popcorn, of course. When I asked what we should make for dinner he said, "I don't know." I suggested that we make something that he really likes, because I bet Daddy would like it, too. "Pizza!" he exclaimed.

And, since I am sure that everyone is wondering about how to make their own wonderfully balanced menu with these foods, the recipes are below.

{Dad's Eggs Benedict}
This one is a little different from your traditional Eggs Benedict. But, you can find my instructions here. The last time I made this, my husband said, "Whoever thought to make eggs benedict on bran muffins is a genius."

{Chocolate Frosting}
Recipe from Sheila Campbell
3 sticks of unsalted butter (room temp)
3/4 c cocoa
1 t. vanilla
4 c powdered sugar
4-5 T whipping/heavy cream

Cream the butter. Add the vanilla. Beat in the cocoa. Then add the sugar a little at a time, alternating with the whipping cream so it doesn't get too hard to work with. You might need more cream, depending on how soft your butter was when you started, etc. Anyway, I get to about 2 1/2 c of sugar and do the rest by taste. The nice thing about using cream instead of milk is it never gets too runny if you're a little heavy handed with the liquid, it'll just get more fluffy.

{Love PB&J}
This one isn't too hard, and technically you don't have to put quite as much "love" into yours. You see, the secret is in the homemade jam. (Pick the berries, wash the berries, make the jam - you get the picture, right?) Then, cut out the center with a mini heart-shaped cutter.

{Award-Winning Pizza}
Adapted from Giorgio Giove
1 pizza crust, uncooked
2 tablespoons heavy cream
3 ounces mozzarella knots, shredded
6 thin slices pancetta
1 (2-inch) piece zucchini, thinly sliced
2 ounces herbed cream cheese

Place a pizza stone on the floor or the lowest rack of your oven. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
Roll out your pizza crust. Spread on the heavy cream. Place the pancetta slices on so there is pancetta on each slice of pizza. Place the zucchini slices all around. Drop chunks of cream cheese evenly over the pizza. Finally topp with mozzarella. Slide the pizza onto the stone and bake for 8 minutes.

{Tri-Colore Orzo Salad}
Adapted from Giada De Laurentiis
Finally, my "secret" will be out! Here is exactly how I make this a salad.
1/4 C orzo pasta
1 bag fresh spincah (about 1/3 - 1/2 lb)
3/4 C crumbled feta cheese
1/2 C craisins
12 fresh basil leaves, chiffonade
1/4 C toasted pine nuts
1/8 C extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper, plus a pinch more

Cook pasta according to package's al dente instructions. Toast pine nuts, well, until the flavor truly comes out. Place spinach in a bowl top with cooked pasta, pine nuts, feta, craisins, and basil. Mix remaining ingredients together, and shake to combine. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Mmmm!