Father’s Day Tips from Food Network’s Melissa d’Arabian

Happy Father’s Day! I hope everyone has an incredible day and all you dad’s out there get a chance to relax and eat some great food.

Speaking of food, I had the opportunity to email interview the Food Network’s Melissa d’Arabian about her Father’s Day tips. I was so excited about this opportunity because I love The Next Food Network Star and was thrilled when Melissa won last year. I love her show Ten Dollar Dinners and have picked up a number of budget saving cooking tips from her.

Aside from hosting a fabulous Food Network cooking show, Melissa is a wife and stay-at-home mom to her 4 preschool-aged daughters. She enjoys cooking for her family and on her show, Ten Dollar Dinners, she shares her wonderful recipes and her $10 promise: 4 people, $10 bucks, unlimited possibilities.

Tired Mom Tésa:   What is your favorite Father’s Day recipe for those on a budget?

Melissa: I love to take my girls to the farmer’s market and allow each one to pick out any vegetable she wants. I then take these  vegetables home to make a fun recipe. For Father’s Day, why not make my Sausage and Roasted Vegetable pasta, using the grill instead of the oven to roast up those vegetables? Each child will have a vegetable represented in the pasta – kind of an edible charm bracelet.

If Dad is a steaklover, then try my French Cut Steak recipe with my potato cake –  guaranteed to please a meat-eater while leaving your wallet intact!

Tired Mom Tésa:  What do you consider a must-have for grilling out on Father’s Day?

Melissa: My must-have gadget for grilling is an instant read digital thermometer – it takes the guess work out of grilling. I’ve been grilling for years, and I still wouldn’t dream of going to the grill without my thermometer. For five or ten bucks, this gadget will make you a much better grill cook! You can cook with confidence knowing EXACTLY how well-done your meat is without having to cut it open (letting all the juices  out…yikes!). And don’t forget, take your meat off 5 degrees early and let it rest five minutes before you even dream of slicing it. Resting is critical to having great grilled meat that is juice and tender.

Tired Mom Tésa:  Do you have any recommendations for a fabulous Father’s Day dessert?

Melissa: We make crepes all the time as a family. How about my Lemon Blueberry crepes from Ten Dollar Dinners? For a more adult flavor profile, my husband just loves my inexpensive take on affogado that I did in Season 2 of Ten Dollar Dinners.

Tired Mom Tésa: How is your family celebrating Father’s Day?

Melissa: Father’s Day means two things for my husband: sleeping in late and breakfast in bed! And lots of kisses and giggly girls waking him up, glittery, gluey cards in hand. Nothing like a  gaggle of little daughters to make a man feel manly; I think it’s the protective caveman instinct.

Thank you to the Food Network and Melissa d’Arabian for the interview.

Happy Father’s Day, Tired Dad Dave! Kora, Logan, and I hope you have a wonderful day and know how much we all love you!