World Tour: Memorial Day Weekend

[ 0 ] May 27, 2011 | Archele

Picture via Moses T's

For me, Memorial Day weekend signals the official welcoming of summer. Some people cash in those American Airlines points and hit up sunny places like Miami Beach, while others convene in parks and in backyards to enjoy the weather and a smorgasbord of grilled food. In the south, cookouts are the go-to activity for sunny days and long weekends. Barbecue ribs, steaks, pulled pork, hot dogs, burgers, potato salad, corn on the cob and salad are just a few of the dishes that often make regular appearances on cookout menus. If you’re not headed out on a flight to lounge on the beach, you should definitely make your way to a cookout with good food and good company. If you were invited to a cookout, and you’re not quite sure what to take, here are a couple of EASY ideas.

Pasta Salad – Rotini noodles, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, Italian dressing & Parmesan cheese. This is quick, cheap, easy to make in bulk and goes great along side grilled food.

Baked Mac & Cheese – Mixed boiled and drained macaroni noodles, 1 egg, a generous dollop of sour cream, milk (just enough to moisten throughout), salt, butter, and a generous amount of shredded mild cheddar cheese all together. Place half in a 13×9 in pan and cover layer with sliced sharp cheddar cheese. Add other half and cover with a generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese and a little mozzarella. Sprinkle pepper over the pan and bake at 350 degrees until the top is a nice golden brown. – This is fairly simple and good mac & cheese is always a crowd-pleaser.

As you enjoy your long weekend, take a moment to acknowledge and recognize the men and women who have passed while serving this country, for it is in their honor that Memorial Day weekend exists at all.

Have a great weekend everyone!