What Dad REALLY Wants for Father's Day: Part II--Budget-Friendly Father's Day Ideas

Beer.

Dads really, really want beer.

You may think I'm kidding, but one of the best gifts I ever bought for my husband was a membership to the Beer of the Month Club. I didn't do it for the whole year, due to budget constraints, but the Club has 3, 6 or 12 months memberships, and you can choose from domestic or imported microbreweries, or a combination of both (I opted for the latter).

So well do men value the Beer connection that one man has even written a book entirely about cooking with beer. John Schlimm, a sixth-generation brewer, has written the Ultimate Beer Lover's Cookbook, an ideal guide for guys who like to grill and guzzle (heh). Here's a sample of one of the great recipes in the book (which you could pick up in a local bookstore at this late date, or order with express shipping using the Amazon link):

Blazing Hot Wings Sauce (page 98)

Yields 2 1/4 Cups

Ingredients:

1 packet Good Seasons Italian Dressing (powder)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2 cups Frank’s Red Hot Cayenne Pepper Sauce
6 tablespoons beer

If preparing with chicken wings:

1 to 2 dozen chicken wings

Directions:

In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients, mixing well. The sauce is ready to serve, either over chicken wings or as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders.

To prepare the sauce with chicken wings:

In a pot, boil the 1 to 2 dozen chicken wings until they float. Place the chicken wings into a baking dish. Pour the Blazing Hot Wing Sauce over the wings. Bake the wings at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until desired crispiness.