Traditionally perceived as the start of the outdoor cooking season, Memorial Day weekend is the time for family gatherings, picnics and sporting events. The weather is typically beautiful and everyone is in good spirits to rest, relax and of course, eat! What better way to kick off the unofficial start of summer than with fresh stone fruits, peppers and much more? Summer fruits and vegetables are starting to arrive in farmer markets and local supermarkets, which means it’s time to grab your essentials and take advantage of all the fresh and wonderful flavors the season has to offer. In fact, this makes it all the more tempting to break out the grill and take the party outside. Whether you’re headed out to a picnic or firing up the grill outdoors, our collection of healthy and tasty recipes is here to help make your Memorial Day weekend an unforgettable experience.
Burgers and grilling go together like chips and guacamole. Delicious and easy to prepare, burgers at a Memorial Day weekend gathering are always a crowd-pleaser. If you’re looking to add some heat to the menu, the Bleu Cheese Stuffed Hatch Chile Burgers is your best bet to letting those taste buds sweat. The sharp intensity of the blue cheese melds beautifully with the complex flavors of the Hatch chili. For those who prefer their burgers meatless, our Grilled Portobello Cheeseburgers might even taste better than the real thing when combined with melted Swiss cheese.
Of course, Memorial Day weekend isn’t only about throwing big hunks of meat onto the grill. Skewers are a great way to entertain outdoors because they’re easy to divide amongst your party and the combinations are endless. Rosemary Bacon Wrapped Shrimp with Heirloom Tomato Skewers are always a party favorite and disappear quickly. Wrapping bacon around the shrimp gives it extra flavor and keeps it from drying out.
Where there’s a picnic or outdoor party, there’s potato salad. Chunky, sweet and savory, potatoes make the perfect accompaniment to meaty dishes. Dutch yellow potatoes have a creamy, fluffy texture, coupled with a light, buttery flavor. And if you’ve a lot of mouths to feed on Memorial Day weekend, their small size and thin skins makes them ideal for preparing crowd-friendly dishes. Our Baby Dutch Yellow Potato Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette infuses crisp French green beans and a tangy dressing to create a smorgasbord of flavors. Or you can kick up the heat factor a notch with our Spicy Roasted Baby Dutch Yellow Potatoes.
With summer fruits arriving fresh at the local markets everyday, why not throw them in a salad and serve on the side? Tis’ the season for juicy stone fruits, which add sweetness to any salad. Our Saturn Peach, Arugula and Plumcot Salad makes wonderful use of them and tastes amazing with raspberry vinegar dressing. You can also toss in other favorite fruits such as mangoes and apricots to give the salad more color and flavor.
Don’t forget, Memorial Day weekend is not just for eating. It’s a time of celebration and sharing good vibes with loved ones. A Passion Fruit Cocktail is an impeccable excuse to break out a bottle of your favorite sparkling wine. Made with fresh passion fruit juice and a splash of Grand Mariner, this cocktail is all about kicking back and enjoying the sunshine with great company. For the youngsters attending your gathering, our Peach A Rine Smoothie is a fun and healthy way to get them to have their dose of fruit. If you’ve never had peach a rines before, now’s the perfect time!
How will you be planning to celebrate Memorial Day weekend? Let us know what you think of these recipes and share what you’ll be serving!