What To Make for My Labor Day BBQ

Ok. I typed that exact phrase into a google search engine and then realized 'Wait a minute, What am I doing!? I know what to make, why am I asking google?'

It happens a lot. I just type things into google and wonder about what will pop up - in that 1.9 seconds it takes.

Well, I know what I'm making! Lets get at it!

Salad:   Summer Salad.

Ingredients for summer salad:

• Fresh Mozzarella
• Cilantro
• Italian Dressing ( I prefer Zesty Italian or Olive Garden's Italian)
• Onion
• Tomatoes

Directions:

• Mix all ingredients together. Amount is up to you. I prefer a lot of cilantro and lite onion.
• Chill 

Dinner and all of its accoutrements:
Sides:  Roasted Potatoes with Cilantro Dipping Sauce (thanks to Meg):

Ingredients for the Roasted Potatoes:

• 6 potatoes (made approx. 36 wedges)- I used red potatoes
  
• 1/4 cup of Olive Oil
  
• 1 tspn Cumin
• 1 tspn Oregano

Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees
• Cut potatoes in  half and then in thirds (Did that make sense?)
• Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and toss it well, so the potatoes are covered in oil well
• Lay on cooking sheet for 30-40 minutes, depending on how crisp you like your potatoes

Ingredients for Cilantro Dipping Sauce:

• 1/2 cup of light mayo
• 1/2 cup of light sour cream (you can sneak in the light because the boys will never notice!)
• dash of lime zest
• dash of lime juice 
• 1/2 cup cut cilantro (Can you tell, I am a cilantro lover?)

Directions:

• Mix the mayo, sour cream and cilantro in a food processor until blended
• Add to a bowl and add lime zest and lime juice to taste and mix with a spoon

Ingredients for Balsamic Onion Marmalade (Burger Topping):
(I changed up the recipe I found on stickygooeycreamychewy.com and made it less onion-y)

• 1 tbspn Vegetable Oil
• 1/2 onion (thinly sliced)
• 1/3 cup of sugar
• 2/3 cup of balsamic vinegar
• salt and pepper

Directions:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat until it slides easily across the pan. Add the onion, stirring occassionally, for about 20 minutes
• Add the sugar and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, and keep stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes
• Add the vinegar and reduce the heat to low. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally for about 30 minutes, until the onions are soft and dry
• Keep on the skillet at a low temp until you glaze the burgers with them
  

Main Course:  BURGERS! ( I mean this is a labor day bbq after all!)

Ingredients:

• Lipton Onion Soup Mix - 1/2 packet
• Ground Meat - 1 lb. makes about 6 good size burgers
• Lots of Cheese: Blue Cheese, Cheddar and Camembert are the faves over here

Directions:

• Mix ground meat and onion mix packet in a separate bowl.
• Make patties with hand (careful not to pat too tightly)
• Put patties on skillet over medium heat
• Turn every few minutes until cooked
• Add a dribble of Balsamic Glaze over it
  

Burgers are easy but adding that mix is like heaven! Everyone thinks you worked your magic! Also, We have been eating ours like a lettuce wrap, so to do that, you take a big piece of lettuce and wrap your burger in it. It provides a cold, crisp taste to the burger and is awesome! I mean save the carbs for the potatoes, right? BTW- my very anti-"rabbit-food eating" boyfriend LOVES the lettuce wrap!

Drink of Choice:     Frozen Margaritas

Ingredients:

• 3 parts of tequila
• 2 parts of orange flavored liqueur
• 1 part of fresh lime juice
• Lime wedge 
• Ice cubes 

 Directions:

• Put all wet ingredients into a powerful blender and mix
• Garnish with Lime Wedge
• To save calories, keep it simple, don't add syrups and the salt on the rim-then you can afford yourself more!

Desserts:   Yummy Strawberry Yogurt Pie

Ingredients:

• 2-8 oz. containers of strawberry flavored yogurt
• 1-8 oz. tub Cool Whip 
• 1 graham cracker pie crust
  

Directions:

• Stir yogurt into Cool Whip until well blended.
• Spoon into pie crust - I am going to try to make a granola pie crust next time
• Freeze overnight then put into refrigerator until pie can be cut

This dessert is easy and so yummy! My tia Rina and mom make it and it is good!

EXTRA!!! Corn on the Cob Cupcakes!!!
A dessert from the Martha

Ingredients:

• Vanilla Frosting
• Yellow liquid food coloring
• 24 Vanilla Cupcakes, baked in white paper liners
• 3 1/2 cups small yellow, cream, or white jelly beans, such as Jelly Belly
• 4 pieces yellow fruit chews, such as Laffy Taffys or Starbursts
• 1 tablespoon black decorating sugar
• 1 tablespoon white decorating sugar
• 8 sets of corn holders (optional)

Directions:

• Color the frosting pale yellow with food coloring.
• Working with 3 cupcakes at a time, frost cupcakes with yellow frosting. Arrange 5 rows of jelly beans, close together, on each cupcake. Place the 3 cupcakes side by side on a corn dish or serving platter to resemble an ear of corn. Repeat process with remaining cupcakes, frosting, and jelly beans.
• Cut the fruit chews into eight 1-inch squares. Soften the edges slightly by hand so that they look like melted butter. Place 1 square on top of each ear of corn. Sprinkle with sugars. Insert a corn holder in the end of each ear of corn, if using. Serve.

I mean how cute are those!!


Alright, well you have my Labor Day BBQ  meal plan for this great long weekend!


Eat, Drink and pour a little bit of our 40's you keep on hand to say 'thanks' to you and all the hard working people in the labor force!


Enjoy your day!


...till next time, xx






p.s.
we ate this so fast, I took no pictures of the food, so these are 'borrowed' from the WWW. If they are your images, let me know and I'll pay respect where respect is due.