Memorial Day Favorites

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service as well as those who are currently serving.  I am so thankful for the soldiers who have served and are serving in the name of freedom.  Soldiers sacrifice their lives everyday for us.  I thank all soldiers, past and present for their bravery, courage, and sacrifice.  

People do a variety of things on this day.  They go to the cemetery, have a picnic, and most commonly have a barbecue.  Below are some really good recipes: beverage, appetizer, side item, main entree, and dessert.  I hope you enjoy them all.  And remember, if you see a soldier, please thank them for their service and commitment to our country.

Recipes (All courtesy of kraftrecipes.com, except the potato salad is all me)

Beverage: Watermelon Lemonade

Ingredients: 

1-1/2 pounds of sliced seedless watermelon

zest of 1 lemon

3/4 cups of fresh lemon juice

1/2 cups of mild honey

1 lemon, thinly sliced, for garnish

Directions:

1. In the bowl of a food processor, place watermelon and process until very smooth. Strain through a coarse sieve set over a bowl, stirring to push through any pulp. Pour juice into a large pitcher. Add lemon zest.
2. In a bowl, whisk lemon juice and honey until honey dissolves; stir into watermelon juice. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cold water; cover and refrigerate until very cold. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon slices.

Appetizer: Fresh Tomato Salsa

Ingredients:

3 tomatoes chopped

1/4 cup finely chopped red onions

1/4 cup of chopped fresh cilantro

1 jalapeno pepper finely chopped

1/4 cup of Kraft Italian dressing

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients.  Mix well and serve with tortilla chips

Main Entree: Sweet and Hot BBQ Chicken

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup of Kraft Original BBQ sauce

2 tbsp of honey

1-1/2 tsp of hot pepper sauce

1/4 tsp of garlic powder

1 broiler fryer chicken (3lbs) cut up or boneless chicken thighs

Directions:

1. Heat greased grill to medium heat.  Mix all ingredients except chicken

2. Grill chicken 35-40 minutes or until done turning occasionally and brushing with BBQ sauce mixture for the last 10 minutes. 

Side Item: Mama's Famous Potato Salad

Ingredients:

potatoes (I use about a half a bag)

4 large eggs

1/4 cup of relish

bacon bits

1 tsp of paprika

2-3 tablespoons of mustard

1/2 cup of mayo

salt, pepper, and garlic powder

1/4 cup of milk

Directions: My mother gave me this recipe and it is a hit everywhere we go.

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Peel potatoes and then cut them into chunks.  Wash them and then add to the boiling water until they are tender but still firm. When they are done cooking, drain the water.  Add potatoes to a large bowl.  Get a masher and mash the potatoes (almost like you are making potato salad).  

2. Place eggs in a small pot and boil them.  When eggs are done boiling, remove from heat, let them cool, and then peel your eggs.   

3. Add milk, mayo, mustard, relish, salt, pepper, and garlic to the bowl.  Mix well.  Place in a large pan.  Cut up eggs and place on top of the potato salad.  Then sprinkle potato salad with bacon bits and paprika.  You can serve this warm or you can refrigerate until you are ready to serve!

Dessert: S'mores

Ingredients:

4 Honey Maid Honey Grahams, broken in half (8 squares)

4 Jet-Puffed Marshmallows toasted

1 Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar quartered (1.55 oz)

Directions:

1. Fill graham squares with marshmallows and chocolate squares to make 4 s'mores.  

*If you are going to use the microwave:

1. Do not toast marshmallows.  Place 4 graham squares on microwaveable plate.  Top with chocolate and marshmallows.

2. Microwave on HIGH for 15-20 sec or until marshmallows puff.  Cover with remaining graham squares.  Press together to secure and then serve!

Alternate Dessert: Patriotic Poke Cake

Ingredients:

2 baked 9 inch round white cake layers, cooled

2 cups of boiling water divided

1 pkg. (3oz) of JELL-O Strawberry flavor Gelatin

1 pkg. (3oz) of JELL-O Berry Blue flavor Gelatin

1 tub of COOL WHIP whipped topping, thawed

Directions:

1. Place cakes, top-sides up, in clean 9-inch round pans; pierce with large fork at 1/2-inch intervals.

2. Add  1 cup boiling water to each flavor dry gelatin mix in separate small bowls; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Pour red gelatin over 1 cake and blue gelatin over remaining cake. Refrigerate 3 hours.

3. Dip bottoms of cake pans in warm water 10 sec.; unfold. Fill and frost cake layers with COOL WHIP. Refrigerate 1 hour.