Splurging on dad this Father’s Day

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Happy Father’s Day!

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And, tough times aside, it looks like people have budgeted big for this special day.

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Mother’s Day tends to get all the glory with flowers, brunches and breakfast-in-bed ideas, but these last few years have seen a surge in Father’s Day popularity — especially in the spending department, giving the Canadian economy a badly needed shot in the arm.

Annual Father’s Day spending has “increased significantly over the past decade, with recent years’ figures nearly double that of 2012,” states oberlo.com, a company that specializes in helping people set up their own online businesses, noting that Father’s Day spending has surged to a record-high of $20.1 billion continent-wide.

The National Retail Federation (nrf.com) recently reported that “consumers expect to spend a record $196.23 on average, up from $171.79 last year and exceeding the previous record of $174.10 in 2021,” as reported on a survey the company conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.

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The NRF revealed on the company’s website that half of those celebrating the holiday plan to buy for a father or stepfather, followed by a husband, son, brother, friend and grandfather.

Having a dad is impacting the younger generation, with, according to the theshelf.com, 90% of adults between the ages of 18 and 24 planning to celebrate Father’s Day this year.

“This year, Millennials and a handful of the youngest Gen Xers (35-44 years old) are the largest demographic celebrating Father’s Day, with 89% of them planning to make dad’s day special,” notes the site.

“Father’s Day remains a momentous occasion for North Americans to honour the important men in their lives,” NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay said on the site. “Consumers plan to celebrate the holiday in a big way this year, and retailers are ready to help make it special.”

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(It should be noted that Father’s Day is celebrated worldwide, but on different dates.)

What are people splurging on for dad?

Greeting cards continue to be the favourite Father’s Day gesture, followed by clothing, electronics, personal care and special outings are the top choices.

Interesting to note, nearly one-third of those celebrating this special day say they’re planning “to give a gift of experience” — such as tickets to a concert, play or sports event, notes the site.

Other experiences include gifting Dad the chance to trace a family tree, or even participate in a scavenger hunt.

Who was the first dad celebrated?

Depending on who you ask, as there are several stories — one dating back to 1909 and a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd who came up with the idea of taking a day to honour her own father, William Smart.
He was a veteran of the Civil War, and, according to Artofmanliness. com, quite the man — left a widower when his wife died while giving birth to his sixth child, he raised them all by himself on their small Washington farm.

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Another story again goes back to the early 1900s, when a Grace Golden Clayton suggested to the local Methodist minister that they hold services to celebrate fathers killed in a deadly mine explosion.

Of course, an old-fashioned dad-centric barbecue meal comes to mind on this special day.
And odds on, it’s your pop doing the grilling — various stats and studies show men still dominate the fire.

An Ipsos-Reid poll (ipsos.com/en-ca) conducted on behalf of Food Network Canada states that “seven in 10 Canadians with a barbecue (69%) say it is the men in their household who do the barbecuing, and two thirds (67%) think that in general men are better barbecuers.”

And an annual Weber Canadian Grill-Watch Survey of a few years back notes that men are the primary grillers in Canadian households — and that Father’s Day is the third most popular time to BBQ!

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Give your dad the gift of good health with healthy recipes!

Turkey is a healthy and delicious protein that is also easy to work with. This recipe is particularly flavourful thanks to the satay sauce. If time allows, prep the meat the night before to allow the marinade to fully infuse the turkey. You can even freeze the meat in the marinade if you want to double up and make ahead.

Turkey Satay with Peanut Sauce

Recipe courtesy Chef Maria Garza for Farm Boy (farmboy.ca)

600g boneless skinless turkey breast, cut into 1/4” thick strips

2 shallots, minced (about 1/2 cup)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 Tbsp minced ginger

Zest and juice of 1 lime

2 Tbsp soy sauce or fish sauce

1/4 cup organic coconut milk

24 x 7” bamboo skewers, soaked in cold water for 30 minutes

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Peanut Sauce:

3/4 cup all-natural creamy peanut butter

3 Tbsp. soy sauce

Juice of 1 lime

1 Tbsp. Pure honey or brown sugar

1-2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp minced ginger

Chili Flakes, sriracha or sambal oelek, to taste

1/3-1/2 cup organic coconut milk

Chopped toasted peanuts for garnish

If necessary, flatten turkey strips so they are all about the same thickness. Place in a bowl and add shallots, garlic, ginger, lime zest and juice, soy sauce and coconut milk. Stir to coat well and cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or up to overnight.

When ready to grill, thread turkey strips onto soaked bamboo skewers, discarding any marinade.

Preheat grill, clean and grease grates and cook skewers over medium high heat for 2-3 minutes per side, until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Serve with peanut sauce.

SAUCE: In medium bowl, combine peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, honey, garlic, ginger and chili flakes. Whisk or use an immersion blender to combine. Add just enough coconut milk to reach your desired consistency. Place in a bowl and garnish with chopped peanuts.

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