Does Father's Day bring to mind last-minute gifts of cologne, ties and wallets?
In my family, dad (as well as brother) is very hard to buy for. He's a man, meaning he tends to view purchasing in a very logical, practical light. If he needs something new for instance, whether for a hobby or work, he just goes out and buys it. None of this, "Well, Father's Day is coming up," or "My birthday is just around the corner, so I should probably wait."
All of which is fine and good, but it does tend to make gift-giving for him a trifle challenging.
There is always one standby, however. What's one gift that is near and dear to most men's hearts? Food, of course -- all their favorites, with no guilt-inducing lecture or knowing look accompanying it.
Instead throw caution to the wind and consider putting together the ultimate Couch Potato Basket.
Maybe the dad in your life is one who enjoys spending an evening parked in front of the tube taking in a John Wayne retrospective. Or perhaps he's an armchair sport enthusiast who doesn't think twice about spending a Sunday afternoon watching Tiger Woods doing his thing on the golf course. Maybe he's a diehard movie buff.
Or, taken from another tact, maybe your father is an active sort who rarely wiles away time watching television. In that case, a Couch Potato Basket will be a great gag gift - hey, anything for a smile from dear old Dad!
Visit your favorite farmer's market or supermarket produce section and ask for, beg or buy a vegetable crate to serve as your basket. Line it with burlap or shredded raffia for a rustic look.
Begin filling in with dad's favorite snacks - homemade or store-bought.
For the man who loves Westerns, wrap a bag of trail mix in a red bandana. Fill a plain paper bag with pretzels or corn chips, fold over and pin a sheriff's star on to close it. If there is a good bakery in your area (or if you have the time to do it yourself), enclose decorated horse- and cowboy boot-shaped cookies. Tuck in a copy of his all-time favorite movie or DVD to top off the gift.
If your dad enjoys movies and shows which are hard to match food to, such as The Godfather, The Untouchables and other classic mob movies, treat him to his favorites with a personalized touch. For instance, make photocopies of famous mob headlines at the library. Use the paper to wrap a small box filled with his favorite cookies. Many specialty chocolate shops have candies in the shape of classic cars from the 1930s; add a few of these to the basket. First line with plastic wrap and then fill a fedora with his favorite potato chips or snack mix.
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