Father's Day & Chocolate!
It's that time of the year when we put on our superhero capes and celebrate the real-life superheroes in our lives—our dads! But have you ever wondered how Father's Day came to be? Well, grab a cup of coffee, cozy up, and get ready for a heartfelt journey through the history of this wonderful day! We’ll be sharing how Father’s Day came to be, plus a handful of delicious recipes you can whip up for him this year!
The History of Father’s Day
While attending a Mother's Day sermon at church in the early 1900s, a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd came to the realization that fathers deserved their own special day too. After all, they were our protectors, providers, and often, our best friends. Sonora was inspired by her own incredible dad and decided to champion the cause of honoring fathers. She tirelessly campaigned, charming everyone from local officials to community leaders, to make this dream a reality. Her persistence paid off big time and in 1910, the state of Washington officially recognized Father's Day as a holiday.
They chose the third Sunday of June to celebrate, which happened to be Sonora's dad's birth month. The news spread like wildfire, and soon enough, Father's Day celebrations started popping up across the United States and Canada. People were eager to honor their dads and show them just how much they meant to them. In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation declaring Father's Day a national holiday. That means the whole country got on board to celebrate our amazing dads in the best way possible!
The Importance of Father’s Day
Father’s Day is more than the snazzy tie or a fancy gadget that we gift one of the most important men in our lives. Father's Day is all about taking a moment to appreciate and honor the incredible impact our dads have had on our lives. It's about those late-night stories that sparked our imagination, the piggyback rides that made us feel invincible, and the gentle words of wisdom that guided us through life's ups and downs. Father's Day is our chance to say, "Hey Dad, thank you for being my rock and my biggest cheerleader!"
So, with all of that in mind, who wouldn’t want to celebrate their dad with the most thoughtful activities and gifts to show him what he truly means to us!
Gift Ideas for Dad
Create a Personalized Adventure: Plan a day filled with activities your dad loves. Whether it's a hike, a fishing trip, or a movie marathon of his favorite films, let him know that this day is all about his happiness.
Share Your Love in Words: Write a heartfelt letter or card expressing your love and appreciation. Share the specific moments and qualities that make your dad the absolute best. Trust me, those words will become treasured keepsakes.
Family Fun and Games: Gather the whole gang and have a blast playing games, reminiscing about old times, and creating new memories together. Let the laughter flow and the good times roll!
Cook Up a Storm: Whip out those pots and pans and prepare a scrumptious meal for your dad. Whether it's his favorite childhood dish or a new culinary experiment, the way to a man's heart is indeed through his stomach!
Father’s Day Recipes:
Here at Zazubean, we are enormous foodies at heart. We try to infuse chocolate into just about everything possible. So why would Father’s Day be any different?! We’ve gathered our favorite Zazubean chocolate-infused recipes together to help you craft the perfect Father’s Day menu this year. Dad will know how much you truly love him when he tastes these great creations!
One Blender Double Chocolate Flourless Banana Bread Muffins
Ingredients:
3/4 cup oats
1/2 cup cacao powder
2 medium-size ripe bananas
2 large eggs
1/4 cup almond butter
6 tbsp local honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 Zazubean Slinky Grass Fed Bar, chopped
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a muffin tin with paper liners.
In a high-speed blender, add the and blend on high until they are a flour like consistency. Add all the remaining ingredients except for the chocolate chunks and blend until the batter is smooth and creamy.
Stir in the chocolate chunks and pour the batter into the muffin cups.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Allow the muffins to cool before removing. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Mint Chocolate Squares
Ingredients:
1 cup whole cashews
3/4 cup chocolate protein powder (plant based or whey)
1 cup dates, pitted
3 tbsp raw cacao powder
½ tsp sea salt
2 tbsp local honey
1 tsp peppermint extract (or 4-6 drops edible peppermint essential oil)
1-3 tbsp water
1 Zazubean Lunatic Bar, chopped
½ Zazubean Bling Bar, chopped
Green food coloring
Instructions:
In a food processor, blend the cashews on low until a flour like consistency forms.
Add the protein powder, dates, cacao powder, sea salt, honey and peppermint extract and blend until combined. Gradually add the water a tablespoon at a time until the dough clumps together in the food processor.
Fold in the chopped Lunatic chunks and transfer to a piece of parchment paper on the counter. Fold the edges of the parchment paper over the ball, so it is entirely covered, press the dough down flat into a square and then use the counter to press the edges flat forming a square, repeating with all four sides.
Place dough in the fridge for 2-4 hours and then cut into 12 bars. 5. In a small saucepan, melt the Bling bar over low heat and tint with the green food coloring. Drizzle over the bars and store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Double Chocolate Ice Cream Cups - Slinky Grass Fed
Serves: 3
Ingredients:
2 cup chocolate ice cream
1 Zazubean Slinky Grass Fed Bar, chopped & divided
Pinch of sea salt
3 mini waffle cones
Directions:
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop 6 balls of ice cream onto the tray, press a ¼ of the chopped chocolate into the sides of the balls and freeze for 30 minutes.
Melt the remaining chocolate on low in a small saucepan.
Using a fork, dip the ice cream balls into the melted chocolate and return to the baking sheet. Freeze for 30 minutes.
When ready to serve, top the waffle cones with 2 scoops of ice cream and decorate with sprinkles.
There you have it! The history of Father’s Day - a story you can tell your dad this year with Double Chocolate Vegan Ice Cream Cups, One Blender Double Chocolate Flourless Banana Bread Muffins or Mint Chocolate Squares to share in hand!