Memorial Day BBQ

MuppetFan

What are you doing on Monday?
More importantly, what superior recipe ideas do you like for Memorial Day Foods? I appreciate inspiration.

ohmrs2014

Probably BBQing.  Not sure what I'll be cooking yet, but I make a great pasta salad LOL.

erinlin25

I am just excited that is the first Memorial Day holiday I actually will have had in the last 10 years!  I was always at a staff training so always missed out on the BBQ fun!

The only "recipe" I have is we will be making some Jungle Juice! (rum,vodka, gin and an assortment of schnapps with an assortment of juice). I don't have specifics though. My FI just does it.

AddieCake

Not doing anything. And I'm a failure at foods to take to get-togethers. I usually just take pasta salad. I really need to expand my skills. 

MuppetFan

We invited everyone we knew around us over, thinking in the end, we'd get 2 couples worth of people. Right now, we're at over 20 people....so, cool. Someone asked if they can bring fireworks. Should be fun. 

ETA: it's amazing how the winter changes things. We invite people over all winter and no one comes... my nye party included us and FMIL.  Ditch the snow, people flock.

AddieCake

Yeah, people are ready to be out of the house and do things. 

BostonGIrl4732

I'M DO NOTHING AND I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT IT!!!

Actually, I'll probably make myself a white russian.  Because I can.  Winning! (is that still a thing?)

ZeroOrchestra

We have the kiddo's birthday party. My bizarre schedule is the reason why it has to be Memorial Day. But! I'm about to get a promotion so I will no longer have to work weekends or holidays. Yay!

We are doing burgers, hot dogs, and brisket. H has an amazing sangria blanco recipe that includes Cava, vodka (I think), fresh fruit and frozen grapes for ice cubes. 

lyndausvi

Good question.  I just found out DH is off Sunday and Monday (he normally only gets Sunday day off).   I heard we *may* get tickets to the Indy 500 from work. So that might be our plans on Sunday.  Monday I think I will work for a little while, then plan it by ear.

BBQ -  We do not have a standard cookout meal.   We just go to the store and just get what inspires us.   I do have a pork roast in the freezer, so maybe that?

krizzo17

It's our first anniversary, so we're clearing out that huge space in the freezer that our cake has taken up all year!

OjitosVerdes

It's already too hot to be outside here. So we're spending it in a friend's shaded pool. 

As far as food, an appetizer I take that's always a hit is cheese stuffed, bacon wrapped jalapeños. 

I remove the insides and seeds with an apple corer, stuff with a finger-sized piece of sharp cheddar, wrap in bacon (lengthwise so the cheese doesn't ooze out), and grill until the jalapeños are slightly charred and the bacon is cooked. 

HisGirlFriday13

I don't know that we have plans yet, but when I'm invited to any kind of summer picnic, I bring one of three staples: pasta salad, potato salad, or spinach-artichoke dip. I know the first two sound really standard and boring, but AW moment, there's something about the recipes I have that make people go nuts for them. I can't take the credit -- they're my mom's recipes -- but after I bring them to a party once, it's all anyone ever asks me to bring in the future.

FizzySips

BBQ'ing watermelon! Yes, it sounds funny, but sprinkle some cayenne on it and you're in for a treat! You only need to leave it on there long enough to warm it up and infuse some of the smoky flavor.

buddysmom80

We're having a party this weekend (it was going to be a cookout/pool party but we have a forecast of rain all weekend). We're going to do hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, sangrias and I'm making a four bean salad as well as a greek pasta salad. I think BF will be making spinach artichoke dip as well.

The last party we threw, was for Superbowl Sunday and there was so much food. We're going to try to not do that this time, but I'm so tempted to make pulled pork in the crockpot as well in case it rains so bad that BF can't even grill. Fingers crossed it won't be that bad.

libby2483

Well, we currently have plans to visit friends for the weekend, but I am actually home sick from work today, so I hope I'm feeling better and we don't have to cancel.  

Whenever I have to bring something to a BBQ/potluck type event, I always make pasta salad.  It's not very creative, but I always get compliments on how good it is, and I've never had leftovers.  The recipe is: 1 box tri-colored rotini, one bottle Italian dressing, diced ham (I buy the pre-diced), diced cheddar cheese, and grape tomatoes (cut in half if they are larger).  Obviously you can modify based on what you like.  The key is to prepare it the night before so the noodles can soak up the dressing.   

If I am bringing a dessert, I usually make Oreo truffles.  Combine one package of Oreos and one 8 oz. package of softened cream cheese in a blender.  Form into balls and place in the freezer for 5 minutes.  Meanwhile, melt white chocolate chips/baking bars.  Dip balls in melted chocolate, and place of a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.  Place in fridge to harden.

kmmssg

We are going to the Memorial Day Parade in the teeny tiny town where my son's Boy Scout Troop is located.  It doesn't even have a grocery store!  There are currently 43 boys in the troop.

They march thru the downtown (3 blocks) then make the turn and march another 2-3 blocks to the cemetery for the ceremony.  This year his Eagle Scout Project will be on display.  It is a display listing of all the Veterans buried there and a gridded map so you can find your Veteran's grave.  Yeah, I will be the Veteran mom with the puffy chest feathers.

gmcr78

libby2483 said:

Well, we currently have plans to visit friends for the weekend, but I am actually home sick from work today, so I hope I'm feeling better and we don't have to cancel.  

Whenever I have to bring something to a BBQ/potluck type event, I always make pasta salad.  It's not very creative, but I always get compliments on how good it is, and I've never had leftovers.  The recipe is: 1 box tri-colored rotini, one bottle Italian dressing, diced ham (I buy the pre-diced), diced cheddar cheese, and grape tomatoes (cut in half if they are larger).  Obviously you can modify based on what you like.  The key is to prepare it the night before so the noodles can soak up the dressing.   

If I am bringing a dessert, I usually make Oreo truffles.  Combine one package of Oreos and one 8 oz. package of softened cream cheese in a blender.  Form into balls and place in the freezer for 5 minutes.  Meanwhile, melt white chocolate chips/baking bars.  Dip balls in melted chocolate, and place of a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.  Place in fridge to harden.

Libby, I just copied/pasted that Oreo Truffle recipe and emailed it to myself at home.  That will definitely make an appearance at my next get-together. 

MuppetFan

@rachelellenon really? I wonder if anyone will be up for BBQ watermelon. How did you learn about that one? How long do you leave it on? Is it in slices?

@ojitosverdes actually, my family would love those jalapenos. good one

@zeroorchestra Good idea on the frozen grapes. We do frozen fruit juice a lot. My mom makes this fruit punch that people go nuts over and she takes that ring jello mold and fills it with pineapple juice and a little crushed pineapple to it freezes it, and over the afternoon the juice melts into it and doesn't dilute it. Mine is just like hers only, I add a bottle of coconut rum to it.

@libby2483 FI Voted for the pasta salad. I had all these and a pinterest board of ideas... sometimes the least creative things are the killer hits. I'm always surprised when I do something  like PB &J on crackers for kids and I have to make more because all the adults took them.

I do that oreo truffle one all the time. Never fails.

libby2483

@MuppetFan, it is definitely the simple things that go over surprisingly well sometimes.  I pretty much have five standard things that I rotate through whenever I have to bring a dish to pass: pasta salad, deviled eggs, taco dip, seasoned pretzels, and Oreo truffles.  All of these go over well, and they are super simple and cheap to make.

lyndsay782

I'm the only girl brave enough to enter the Rib BBQ Competition on Monday so a good portion of my weekend will be dedicated to prepping the ribs and giving my bbq a good deep clean.  Because my ribs taste better on a super clean grill.  

Other than that, its all about relaxing. And some sleeping in...  

Edited: Forgot to share a recipe...  

My BBQ beans:

3 Cans of Ranch Beans (Black Can), drain 2

2 bottle of bbq sauce (your pick, i like sweet baby rays
6 strips of bacon

1/2 small package of real bacon "bacon bits"

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup yellow mustard

1/4 cup of catsup

1 tsp cajun seasoning

Combine all but the bacon strips in a large baking dish.

Lay Bacon strips on top of the bean mixture

Cook in oven (or on grill) at 375 degrees for 1 hours or until the bacon is crisped on top.  

Turns out great every time. Seriously. One tip,  I try to make it in a foil tray as it gets really stuck to dishes...  

FizzySips

@muppetfan - yes, slice it up (we typically do 3/4 to 1" thick, lay it on the bbq, sprinkle cayenne and let it warm up on the grill (a few minutes will usually do ya). Start with a couple, and if people aren't into it, you still have the rest of the un-bbq'ed melon to eat.

My brother is a chef and recommended it to me years ago. I love the sweet/spicy combo. Most people will at least try it...