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	Father's Day food They say the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach, so show your dad a little bit of love by cooking him a hearty meal for Father's Day on Sunday 21 June.

In this article

Rachel's recipes Family-friendly meal

Something special Keeping it simple

Rachel's recipes

Irish-born celebrity cook Rachel Allen is a fan of modern homely cooking and, with a chef-husband and two sons, she knows what men like to eat!

Here's a selection of Rachel's recipes that are simple to prepare, full of flavour and certain to satisfy any father's appetite.

Family-friendly meal

This bacon and sausage stew is a satisfying all-in-one meal. It's easy enough for children to make (with a little adult assistance) and looks impressive taken to the table in its cooking pot. Serve it with a generous bowlful of creamy mashed potato or hunks of crusty bread and a fresh green salad.

For dessert, try Rachel's simple chocolate meringues. They can be made in advance, and even very young children can join in the mixing and assembling. Serve them with fresh berries, if you like.

• Bacon and sausage stew with beans
• Chocolate meringues with chocolate cream

Something special

For a more slightly more sophisticated meal, go for three impressive courses, rounded off with homemade petits fours.

Start with a light, fresh Vietnamese-style salad, followed by Rachel's Arabian spiced lamb. Tender racks of lamb, rubbed with homemade harissa and served on a bed of couscous flecked with fragrant herbs, should keep most men happy.

If your dad has a sweet-tooth, serve him a generous slice of Rachel's No-pastry pear and almond tart, with custard or good quality ice cream on the side. Substitute peaches or berries for the pears for an early taste of summer. If your dad's a savoury man, present him with a selection of two or three artisan cheeses, oat cakes, water biscuits and slices of fresh pear or quince paste, instead of the tart.

To round off your father's feast, sit him in his favourite chair and hand him a plate of Little mocha kisses and a strong dark espresso or big mug of tea.

• Vietnamese crab salad with rice noodles - this recipe serves 4 as a starter
• Arabian spiced rack of lamb with couscous
• No-pastry pear and almond tart
• Little mocha kisses

Keeping it simple

Maybe your dad's more of a meat and two veg kind of man. If that's the case, stick to what he likes. Rachel's homemade pork sausages combine some old-fashioned favourites and make a classic meal with some lightly steamed vegetables on the side.

• Homemade pork sausages with colcannon and apple sauce

Alternatively, stick to the British classics and cook him the perfect sirloin steak and chips, or serve a traditional roast with plenty of potatoes and gravy. Follow one of the video recipes below and print out the step-by-step images to make sure your meal turns out perfectly and makes your father's day.

• Sirloin steak with chunky chips - video recipe (a non-video version is available)
• Roast beef with Yorkshires - video recipe (a non-video version is available)
• Roast loin of pork with crackling and cider gravy - video recipe (a non-video version is available)
• Roast leg of lamb with garlic and rosemary - video recipe (a non-video version is available)
• Roast chicken - video recipe (a non-video version is available)
• Mashed potatoes - video recipe (a non-video version is available)