The best advice my dad gave me: Alla Novochenok-Serhan, www.superyamandfriends.com

Alla Novochenok-Serhan shares her father’s advice in our latest post on The best advice my dad gave me…

“Dad always said to us when we were growing up ‘whatever you do, do it as best you can’. This motto has shaped my way of life and I hope to be able to pass it on to my kids too.”





Alla Novochenok-Serhan is an author and creator of Adventures of SuperYam™ – a children’s book series focusing on food education and wellbeing. Learn more about Alla and her books at www.superyamandfriends.com.

Handmade Father’s Day Gift: Mess-Free Baby Painting

This handmade Father’s Day gift idea is great for families with little ones who are a bit too young to draw or colour in an artwork for Father’s Day…

Image from www.candokiddo.com



Why we love it:

  • It’s simple and inexpensive – you just need a tray, a couple of golf balls and some paint
  • This is a great (mess-free) activity for babies and young children, who will love seeing the colours and patterns they create. The activity helps promote co-ordination, especially using two hands. 
  • You could cut this artwork out into any shape, write on it and frame it, or turn it into a personalised Father’s Day card
  • This is a great way for kids to create art for birthdays, anniversaries, or Mother’s Day. 
Have you done any art activities with your children? 
What did you make? 

Father’s Day Recipe: Chocolate Ice Cream Mud Pie

You want to melt your Dad’s heart this Father’s Day? Here is the perfect surprise dessert to touch his soul. Lots of chocolate, plenty of ice cream, and rich nutty taste, what’s not to like? Also, the recipe is a simplified chocolate mud pie, which has only a few ingredients, and is quick and easy to make. It is quite “kid-friendly” for preparation too. So children of all ages can take part in Dad’s surprise.

Ingredients:

• Chocolate crumb crust (you may use a store-bought one, or make it from scratch following a standard recipe)
• 3 table spoons soft brown sugar
• 150 ml heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup nuts of your choice, chopped (walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds work well)
• 2 litre container of coffee-flavoured ice cream

This Chocolate Ice Cream Mud Pie will melt dad’s heart this Father’s Day



Method:

1. Heat half of the whipping cream in a saucepan on medium heat. Wait until the cream is just before its boiling point (or until bubbles appear at the edges). Turn the heat off. Add the chocolate chips and stir gently until they melt and the mixture is chocolaty-smooth. Put the saucepan aside and let it cool completely.
2. In a mixing bowl, add the rest of the whipping cream and whip it until it thickens, add the sugar and continue beating the mixture.
3. Spread the softened ice cream on the crumb crust, and smooth the top. Sprinkle half of the nuts on top. Drizzle the cooled chocolate mixture over the ice cream.
4. Spread the whipped cream in the centre of the pie. Top it all with a sprinkle of the remaining nuts.
5. Freeze the pie for a couple of hours, or if it suits your time frame – overnight (just keep it hidden from Dad).

TIP: The pie is best enjoyed with a cup of hot strong coffee. To slice it, use a knife with a heated blade (just dip it in hot water for a few seconds).

This recipe was kindly shared with us by Margaret Swanton, a marketing specialist at Fantastic Cleaners Melbourne housekeeping agency, and a chocoholic, who explores her passion for desserts. 

Check out our other recipes here…

Ten gifts to help him look his best: Father’s Day grooming and accessory gifts

Men's grooming and accessory gifts
Left to their own devices, the grooming regime for many men would consist of a bar of soap, a toothbrush, and some deodorant (well, hopefully!). Whilst grooming routines don’t need to be complicated, a few carefully-selected products will make him feel like a king. Here are some of our favourites…

We’re also offering FREE DELIVERY on all orders from now until Father’s Day (midnight Saturday 5/9/15).  

Use Discount Code DAD in the Discount Code field when you place your order.  

This offer can’t be used in conjunction with other offers, or redeemed for cash. But please feel free to share with family and friends:)

Gentlemen's Hardware Wash Bag
1. Gentlemen’s Hardware Wash Bag $39.95
Men’s wash bags don’t need to be boring. Made from durable grey felt with faux-leather trim, this wash bag is the perfect size for a weekend escape or a longer hiatus abroad. View the Gentlemen’s Hardware range… 
Go-comb hair comb
2. Go Comb $14.95
As the name suggests, this comb is small-but-mighty and an essential for every guy’s (and gal’s) wallet. 
Bailey's Shoe and Brush Polish Kit
3. Baileys Shoe Brush and Polish Kit $24.95
Polished shoes might not always be noticed, but scuffed, unpolished shoes stand out. Keep your shoes looking their best with this beautiful beeswax-based shoe polish. Available in neutral or black.  
Moustache Grooming Kit
4. Moustache Grooming Kit NOW $10 (was $12.95)
Every great moustache requires a little TLC. Consisting of a handy-sized pair of scissors and grooming comb, this kit will help keep his ‘tache looking its best. 
Beauty Mate Nude Nut Gift Set
5. Beauty Mate Nude Nut Gift Pack $34.95
This Gift Pack is all about his face. Beauty Mate’s face wash, moisturizer and shave gel will keep him looking sharp everyday, and maintain his street-cred without a hint of girly packaging anywhere! If he’s a hair man, he might like theBeauty Mate Good on You Gift Pack
 
i-clip wallet
6. I-Clip Wallet $37.95
This compact, light-weight wallet is designed to hold all your essentials without taking up precious space in your pocket. Made in Germany from high-quality calf leather and light weight resin. Available in black, navy, red and tan. 
Hanpu Koubou Overnight Bag
7. Hanpu Koubou Canvas Overnight Bag $59.95
The beauty of canvas bags is that they’re light-weight, which is great for keeping that baggage allowance weight down. Hanpu Koubou make high-quality, functional bags and this one’s a great example. It features lots of handy pockets as well as a spacious interior. View the range…
Wurkin Stiffs Knotz Cufflinks
8. Wurkin Stiffs Knotz Cufflinks $19.95
Stylish cufflinks don’t need to be expensive. Wurkin Stiff’s Knotz Cufflinks come in a variety of colours that will match most shirts and are made from a silky-smooth yarn designed to glide through shirt cuffs.View the range…
YMMN Leather Wallet
9. YMMN Leather Wallet $249.95
Every man deserves a wallet they’re proud to pull out of their pocket and this one will definitely tick all the boxes when it comes to style and quality. Check out the YMMN range here…
Sophisti-Case Globus Luxury Lacquered Box
10. Sophisti-Case Globus Luxury Lacquered Box $249.95
Look after your cufflinks and keep them organised by carefully storing them. The best thing about this beautiful chest is its interchangeable shelves, which allow it to be customised to accomodate a variety of accessories and trinkets. This box also works well for desk accessories. Here are some cufflinks to put in it…

The best advice my dad gave me: Jo Sweeney, Wheeliedesigns.com

Jo Sweeney shares her dad’s wise words in our latest installment of The best advice me dad gave me


The best thing my dad taught me was “If you can’t be good – be good at it”. My dad was a fun loving hard worker and ironically a garbo!


Jo Sweeney is the co-founder of Wheeliedesigns.com, an online retailer of street art, specialising in quirky wheelie bin stickers for the Dad that has everything. Whether he tells lame dad jokes, takes the environment seriously or is a bogan, Wheeliedesigns.com has a sticker to suit every Dad this Father’s Day. From $24.95 – sold in gift tubes and delivered Australia Wide. Buy online from www.wheeliedesigns.com 

Handmade Father’s Day gift: Beer Bottle Snacks

A six pack of empty beer bottles, as well as the six pack holder can be put to good use for dad this Father’s Day with these fun handmade snack bottles…

Why we love them:

  • These bottles are a great size to fill up with a variety of snacks and treats for dad – nuts, Smarties, seeds, rice crackers – basically anything small enough to fit through the neck of the bottles!
  • Don’t worry if you throw out the bottle top – you can easily seal the bottle with a piece of fabric placed over the opening and secure it with an elastic band and ribbon. Alternatively, you could even use a piece of wide, clear tape. 
  • You can have fun with the labels on these bottles. Use the dimensions of the original label for size and create your own personalised labels on the computer or get the kids to draw a picture. You could feature a picture, a quote, write something you love about dad on each one, or even just used colourful wrapping paper to cover up the old label. 
  • You could also use swing tags, ribbon or twine to further embellish your bottles. 
  • This is an inexpensive gift you and the kids can have fun creating together. 
  • If dad doesn’t drink beer you could use any glass jar or container in the same way – keep an eye out for any interesting jars or containers to use before you recycle them. 

What sort of snack/treat would you like to receive in one of these bottles? We’d love your thoughts – please comment below…

Father’s Day Recipe: Pete’s baked eggs with Cleaver’s Paleo beef sausages and chermoula dressing

I can’t think of many dads who wouldn’t be happy starting Father’s Day with a cooked breakfast of baked eggs and beef sausage. This recipe is Paleo friendly, PLUS it’s hearty and packed with flavours dad will love. 

Baked Eggs
Ingredients:

Serves four

  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 6 Cleaver’s Organic Beef Paleo
  • Sausages, sliced ½ inch thick
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small bunch kale leaves,
  • coarsely chopped
  • 2 x 400 g whole peeled
  • tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika,
  • plus extra for garnishing
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon harissa, to taste
  • 4 organic free-range eggs
  • 4 cherry tomatoes, halved

The way to dad’s heart this Father’s Day: Baked Eggs with Beef Sausages

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of coconut in frying pan over medium heat.
  3. Add the sausages, and cook until browned on all sides (3 – 4 minutes).
  4. Transfer the sausages to a plate lined with a paper towel, and discard the oil from the pan (do not rinse out the pan).
  5. Add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and the onion to the pan.
  6. Sauté the onion over medium heat for 2 minutes or until the onions start to soften, then add the garlic, paprika and cumin and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add kale and cook, stirring, until leaves brighten in colour and begin to wilt. 
  7. Return the sausages to the pan, then add the whole peeled tomatoes and harissa, and season with salt and pepper. 
  8. Allow the sauce to simmer over a medium-low heat for 15 minutes to slightly thicken the sauce and allow the flavours to develop.
  9. Spoon 2 large spoonful’s of the sausage mix into 4 shallow, ovenproof baking dishes (approx. 310 ml), then add 2 cherry tomato halves in each dish. Make a small well in the centre and break in an egg into the hole. 
  10. Bake for 5 – 8 minutes or until cooked to your liking. Remove from the oven. 
  11. Drizzle some chermoula over the baked eggs, then sprinkle with chopped coriander and smoked paprika. 
  12. Serve immediately with a tablespoon of fermented vegetable on the side for each serve.

Chermoula
Ingredients:

  • 1 large handful chopped coriander
  • 1 large handful chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 large handful chopped mint 
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 small red chilli, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 125 ml olive oil
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:

  1. Mix the herbs, garlic, spices, chilli and lemon juice in a food processor.
  2. Whilst the motor is running, drizzle in the oil and process until smooth.
  3. Season with salt and pepper. 

The chermoula will last for 3–4 days in the fridge.

Thanks to Cleavers Organic Meat for sharing this recipe with us. Cleaver’s source their meat from livestock that graze freely in pastures with constant access to clean fresh water. The meat is free of antibiotics, preservatives, pesticides and added hormones. Cleaver’s is certified in accordance with the strict requirements of ‘Australian Certified Organic’ (www.austorganic.com). Cleaver’s is all about creating delicious, organic beef and lamb – and their newly launched paleo sausage is made of organic beef, pepper, carrot, sautéed onion, garlic, salt (all organic) and water. It’s still tastes delicious, just without those pesky fillers! Learn more about Cleaver’s at www.cleaversorganic.com.au

Ten top Father’s Day gifts for dads who like to eat, drink and cook

Top ten Father's Day gifts for Foodie dads
If your dad knows his way around a kitchen, or simply enjoys eating and drinking, then here are some great gift ideas for him this Father’s Day… 

We’re also offering FREE DELIVERY on all orders from now until Father’s Day (midnight Saturday 5/9/15).  

Use Discount Code DAD in the Discount Code field when you place your order.  

This offer can’t be used in conjunction with other offers, or redeemed for cash. But please feel free to share with family and friends:)

Slate Cheese Tray with Chalk Pen
1. Slate Cheese Tray with Chalk Pen $29.95
This slate cheese tray is a fun, rustic way of serving cheese. It also comes with a chalk pen, so you can write the name of the cheese next to it. Each board comes beautifully presented in its own hessian bag. 
BrewSmith Beer Making Kit
2. BrewSmith Beer Making Kit $69.95
Successfully brewing your own beer is extremely satisfying, especially when the brews taste this good! The hardest thing is deciding which of these four delicious flavours dad will like best…
MAN LAW Digital BBQ Meat Gauge
3. MAN LAW Digital BBQ Instant Read Meat Gauge $19.95
Now there’s no more excuses for under-cooked meat! This digital meat gauge has  7 Pre-set meat types: beef, veal, lamb, pork, poultry, turkey and burgers, as well as an alarm to let you know when your meat is cooked. Great for dads who have a reputation of turning steak into charcoal! 
Gentlemen's Hardware Cocktail Shaker
4. Gentlemen’s Hardware Cocktail Shaker $29.95
This cocktail shaker will make dad feel like James Bond when he uses it and is sure to impress your dinner guests. Check out the Gentlemen’s Hardware range here…
Cognac Gift Set
5. Cognac Gift Set $99.95
Ok, so not everyone likes cognac, but dads who do will really appreciate this unique cognac gift set, which includes 2 x traditional cognac glasses, 2 x coasters and a stainless steel flask and funnel. 
MAN BBQ Grill Light
6. MAN LAW BBQ Grill Light $34.95
Get dad geared up for BBQ season with this handy BBQ Grill Light. Designed to clamp on or attach to the BBQ with magnets, this bright 12 bulb LED light means no more juggling a torch whilst flipping meat. Check out the MAN LAW range here… 
 
Corona Glasses
7. Corona Glasses (pair) $19.95
One of our best-selling gifts. View the range…
Man Munchies Tin
8. Man Munchies Snack Tin $19.95 each or 2 for $30
Fill this tin with dad’s favourite treats for a Father’s Day gift that’s guaranteed to make him smile. Check out more Man Tins here…
MAN LAW Stainless Steel BBQ Tools Set
9. MAN LAW Stainless Steel BBQ Tools Set, 3 piece “V8” design $59.95
This smart BBQ tool set features 3 high quality stainless steel tools with a stylish diamond plate design.Check out the MAN LAW range here… 
The Great Meat Cookbook
10. The Great Meat Cookbook $39.95
The only cookbook that men who like meat will ever need.  

The best advice my dad gave me: Robyn Papworth, Move4Health

Robyn Papworth shares her dad’s wise words in our latest installment of The best advice my dad gave me


“My dad’s greatest piece of advice was how to change a flat tyre and restart my old Volkswagen Beetle.

This came in handy a few times when my poor little bug decided it didn’t have the energy to go up a large hill or keep up with the traffic on the freeway.

I still hear my dad’s voice in my head when I drive my old beetle out on a day trip.”



Robyn is an Exercise Physiologist, mother of twins, entrepreneur, and supportive wife. Robyn says, “I love being a mum, wife, and behavioral therapist for children with learning difficulties and I hope that my wisdom can help my kids keep out of trouble when they need to later in life.” Learn more about what Robyn does here: www.move4health.com.au