Father's Day Recipes

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: 30 minutes

Bake: 18 minutes

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

4 cups trimmed packed fresh spinach

1 container (15 oz.) light ricotta cheese

1/2 cup shredded provolone cheese

1/4 cup shredded carrot

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 pound prepared pizza dough
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Make Filling: Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic

and cook 30 seconds. Add spinach and cook, stirring, until wilted and all

liquid is evaporated, 3 minutes. Cool. Combine remaining filling ingredients

in large bowl. Stir in spinach.

Makes 3 cups.

2. Heat oven to 425 degree F. Divide dough into quarters. Roll each quarter

into an 8-inch circle. Spoon one quarter of the filling onto one half of

each circle, leaving a 1-inch border. Moisten edge of circle; fold unfilled

half over filling and press edges of dough with tines of fork to seal. Place

on ungreased cookie sheet and bake 18 to 20 minutes or until tops are

golden. Makes 4 servings.

Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare and bake calzones. Cool. Wrap individually and

refrigerate up to 2 days. To reheat, unwrap and microwave on 50 percent

power (Medium) 3 to 4 minutes.

Peppered Pork Chops and Pilaf (Source: Better Homes and Gardens):

Makes 4 servings

Start to Finish: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

3-ounce boneless pork loin chops, cut ¾ inch thick

2 teaspoons seasoned pepper blend

1. tablespoon olive oil

3 cups vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, onions, and/or sweet peppers, cut into bite-size pieces

1 14-ounce can chicken broth

2 cups uncooked instant brown rice

¼ cup roasted red pepper strips

Fresh oregano (optional)

Directions:

Sprinkle both sides of chops with the seasoned pepper blend. In a large

skillet, cook chops in hot oil over medium heat for 5 minutes. Turn chops.

Cook for 3 to 7 minutes more or until slightly pink in the center and juices

run clear. (160°F). Remove chops from skillet; cover and keep warm.

Add vegetables, broth, and rice to skillet. Bring to boiling; reduce heat.

Cover and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes or until rice is tender and vegetables

are crisp-tender. Return pork chops to skillet; cover and heat through.

Garnish with roasted red pepper strips.

Meatball Shish Kabobs (Source: Quick Cooking/Reader's Digest):

Makes 2 servings

Ingredients:

1 package (16 ounces) frozen fully cooked meatballs, thawed (about 30 meatballs)

2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch slices

2 medium yellow summer squash, cut into 1/2-inch slices

12 cherry tomatoes

12 pearl onions

1 cup barbecue sauce

Hot cooked rice

Directions:
1. On metal or soaked bamboo skewers, alternate meatballs, zucchini, summer squash, tomatoes, and onions.

2. Grill, uncovered, over medium heat for 6 minutes, turning once. Baste with barbecue sauce.

3. Grill 8-10 minutes longer or until meatballs are heated through and vegetables are tender, turning and basting frequently. Serve over rice.

Pan-Seared Filet Mignon With Red-Wine Sauce (Source: Katie Lee Joel):

Serves 2

Ingredients:

2 filet mignons (about 1 1/2 inches thick each)

1/2 c. low-sodium beef broth

1/2 c. red wine

1 T shallots, minced

1 t. flour

1/2 t. Dijon mustard

1 T flat-leaf parsley, minced

1 T unsalted butter

Salt and pepper

Directions:

In a bowl, mix broth, red wine, shallots, flour, and mustard. Heat a heavy-

duty skillet over medium-high heat. Season steaks with salt and pepper, then

sear for 3 minutes on each side for medium-rare. Transfer to a plate, and

tent with foil. Pour wine mixture into hot pan, and bring to a boil for 1

minute. Stir in butter and parsley, and boil 1 to 2 minutes. Pour sauce over

steaks and serve.

Interesting information about Father's Day:

June 19, 1910 was the first Father's Day held in Spokane, Washington, according to popculturemadness.com.

Sonora Louise Smart Dodd started the first such holiday in honor of her dad, a Civil War veteran. (Source: Theholidayspot.com).

The Census Bureau counted 140,000 stay-at-home dads in 2008 caring for 234,000 children, states workingmoms.about.com.

Father Cats was a Dutch writer, reveals entertainment.ezineseeker.com.

Other American presidents joined in in making Father's Day the holiday it is today, says suite101.com.