Memorial Day is the official start of the summer cooking season in the United States. Take advantage of this long weekend and cook some wonderful meals for your friends and family.
If you haven't dusted off your grill yet, this is the weekend to do it! All over America, the scent of grilling meats and vegetables will be wafting all over cities and neighborhoods. The menus in this article include three meals cooked on the grill, to get everyone in the mood for summer and to make cooking and cleanup as easy as possible.
Summer salads are on my menus almost every day now. The recipes I have chosen will keep 3-4 days in your refrigerator - if they last that long! I think that these make ahead salads are an elegant way to solve the solution of perpetually hungry teenagers as well as families who are on different schedules.
So fly the flag, spend time with friends and family, have a picnic in the park or at the beach, and enjoy this long holiday weekend.
Saturday Breakfast
- Crockpot Apple Oatmeal
Start this wonderful breakfast on Friday night, and you'll wake up to wonderful, mouth-watering aromas. - orange juice and coffee
- crisp bacon
Saturday Lunch
- beverages
- Mediterranean Pita Sandwiches
I love pita sandwiches for picnics. They are neater to eat, and the bread stays nice and firm all the way to the end of the meal. - fresh fruit
- Caramel Cashew Bars
Saturday Dinner
- beverages
- Fruited Fish Kabobs
These delicious kabobs are very easy to make and very beautiful. Make sure your grill is well cleaned and oiled so the fish doesn't stick as it cooks. - simple green salad
- dinner rolls
- Grilled Angel Food with Fruit Salsa
You can serve this wonderful dessert with lightly sweetened whipped cream or some softened ice cream for a special treat.
Sunday Breakfast
- orange juice and coffee
- Stuffed French Toast Bake
On Sunday, it's such a luxury to pull a dish out of the fridge, put it in the oven, and sit down to an elegant meal with almost no effort. - Apple Glazed Sausage and Bacon
Sunday lunch
- Cabbage Tortellini Salad
This is a great salad to make and just keep in the refrigerator for a hungry family. The crunchy cabbage and salty feta buttermilk dressing are a fabulous combination. - Cheese Focaccia
Refrigerated pizza dough forms the base of this wonderfully chewy, savory bread. - cookies from the bakery
Sunday Dinner
- Sour Cream Pesto Dip served with crudites
- Flank Steak with Nectarines
Flank steak has such a great meaty taste. Slice it thinly across the grain for the best results and most tender texture. - Grilled Cheese Bread
Oh, I love this bread! You can assemble the loaf ahead of time and store it in the fridge until it's ready to pop on the grill. - Microwave Chocolate Crisp Bars
These bars taste like a wonderfully chewy, crunchy candy bar.
Monday Breakfast
- orange juice and coffee
- Apricot Waffles
Frozen waffles make this yummy breakfast entree so easy.
Monday Lunch
- Grilled Chicken and Apple Sandwiches
No, these sandwiches aren't cooked on an outside grill - they are a sophisticated twist on grilled cheese sandwiches. - fresh fruit left over from Saturday lunch
- beverages
Monday Dinner
- Watermelon Hors d'Ouevres
- Vegetable Packets
- Fruit and Cheese Salad
Fresh basil adds a great spicy note to juicy, succulent fruits in this easy salad. - Steak and Pepper Kabobs
- Grilled Burgers
Take a look at the many different types of grilled burgers you can choose for your holiday barbecue! - My Mom's Potato Salad
This salad is traditional at every cookout. I get requests for the recipe whenever I serve it. - Brownie Fudge
It's necessary to have brownies on Memorial Day and Labor Day in my family. Join us and make this a tradition in your own home.
