WOW! Where did the summer go!? It's almost Labor Day again???
Is it just us or is this super weird to be at the end of summer? How sad!
We still get those Back-to School pangs and odd nervousness around this time when we see those end of summer sales and our fav bikinis go back into the back of our undie drawers.
But there is a super shiny silver lining to the end of summer...waawaawaawaa...UGH...even saying that makes us cry!
OK, sorry...so the silver lining to the E.o.S. are all of the Labor Day parties!
How fun are those BBQs? The sun, the fun, the drinks, the fresh food, the friends, the amazing food, the pools, the super yummy BBQ food...did we mention how much we heart BBQs and food?
So we decided to help you out with your super cute L.D (Labor Day) BBQ by bringing you a fantasmic L.D. menu to make your planning a wee bit easier..you're welcome!
Let's get cracking! There is not much time!
First let us start with a super refreshing and satisfying salad...you may recognize this one from our Summer Salads post...but we only bring you what we heart and we def heart this salad.
The delish Tuscan Bread Salad.
Small box of cherry tomatoes- Quartered
Small container of Bocconcini (bite-size fresh mozzarella)- halved
4 Diced golden and green Heirloom tomatoes (the same size pieces as the cherry tomatoes)
1 avocado, diced
Roughly torn basil
Croûtons - Made from torn Sour Dough Bread toasted a bit in a 350* oven for 5-10 min.
Toss all of that with a little olive oil and Balsamic Vinegar.
Sea Salt and Pepper to taste
Put in your serving bowl, drizzle with a little balsamic vinegar and toss in some S & P... tada! Perf!
Now let's move on to the heart of the meal...the mains!
These 2 yummy sandwiches are sure to please. They are both uber easy to make but look really hard and extremely chic with out looking fussy...if that makes any sense ;)
When we came across this beauty on our new fav foodie blog we couldn't resist..even though we are mainly Vegetarians. But it passed our BF (Boy Friend) test...he was salivating...
The fish sandwich with scallion aoili...yumm!
Go here for the complete recipe and WOW your crowd!
For all of you veggies (and even your meat lurvers will rejoice) look at this TDF grilled eggplant sandwich...um..YUMMMM
- 1 large eggplant, (1 1/4-1 1/2 pounds), cut into 12 1/4-inch-thick rounds
- Canola or olive oil cooking spray
- 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
- 3 tablespoon(s) finely shredded Parmesan, or Asiago cheese
- 1/2 cup(s) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
- 4 focaccia, or rustic Italian bread
- 2 teaspoon(s) extra-virgin olive oil
- 5 ounce(s) baby spinach
- 1 cup(s) canned crushed tomatoes, preferably fire-roasted
- 3 tablespoon(s) chopped fresh basil, divided
Directions
- Preheat grill to medium-high.
- Place eggplant rounds on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. Coat both sides lightly with cooking spray. Combine Parmesan (or Asiago) and mozzarella in a small bowl. Brush both sides of focaccia (or bread) with oil.
- Place spinach in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and punch several holes in the wrap. Microwave on High until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Combine tomatoes and 2 tablespoons basil in a small microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave until bubbling, about 2 minutes.
- Place all your ingredients on the baking sheet with the eggplant and take it to the grill. Grill the eggplant slices until brown and soft on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Grill the bread until toasted, about 1 minute per side. Return the eggplant and bread to the baking sheet. Reduce grill heat to medium.
- Place 1 eggplant round on top of each slice of bread. Layer 1 tablespoon tomatoes, 1 tablespoon wilted spinach and 1 tablespoon cheese on each slice of eggplant. Repeat with the remaining eggplant, sauce, spinach and cheese. Sprinkle each stack with some of the remaining basil. Place the baking sheet on the grill, close the lid and grill until the sandwiches are hot and the cheese is melted, 5 to 7 minutes.
OK, now that your mains and starter are taken care of...we bring your our 2 most favoritest sides. Now most tend to do a potato salad..which BTW we super heart...but this is a special day so let's go all out and keep the shmance going.
Both are fresh grilled vegetables and both are amazing!
First we bring you our mouth watering, sweat inducing Indian Spicy grilled corn...you will crave this every summer!
Grill fresh corn until fully cooked and browned.
Mix sea salt and red chili powder in a small dish.
Rub lemon wedges all over corn to wet and then dip lemon wedge in the chili powder mixture and rub the spiced lemon wedge over the corn...YUM!
Don't forget the napkins to wipe your brow after biting into this spicy dish.
Now for a crowd pleaser...grilled asparagus with pink Himalayan Salt! Sounds fancy..but uber easy.
Coat fresh asparagus with Olive Oil and grill until cooked and a wee bit blackened. Sprinkle with Pink Salt and pepper.
Done and done and delish!
Done and done and delish!
Now for our fav part of any BBQ...DESSERT!!!!
Let's keep this shmancy chic feeling going with these next 2 dessert dishes..why not!??! You and your friends deserve it!
Please be careful not to drool on your computers while reading these recipes....
Grilled Peaches with Ice Cream...um...I'm sorry...what did you say?
Uh huh...Grilled Peaches.....with ICE CREAM!!!!
Go here for Bobby Flay's unbelievable recipe and blow your guests away with how super official you are.
OK, now you super know how crazy we are about ice cream and ice cream sandwiches...well we found a new ICS and it is TDF!
Our friend made these the other day and put us to shame! So now it's our/your turn...
Lemon Ice Cream Sandwich with a Blueberry Swirl...sounds hard? Not at all! Chic and easy breezy.
Plus you can make these a few days ahead so you don't have to stress out.
Plus you can make these a few days ahead so you don't have to stress out.
So checklist time...
Salad- √
Entrees- √
Sides- √
Desserts- √
hmmmm, what's missing??? Oh yes...the thing that brings everyone together...
Last but for sure never least...drinks!
Here are 2 amazing recipies we searched high and low for that are soooo good your guests might ask you to make these at their BBQs...sorry!
The Watermelon Insandiary and Watermelon Mojito. Both are crazy refreshing and crazy yummers.
Watermelon Insandiary- Sooooooo good and surprising
Ingredients
Chili Salt
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
- Cocktail
- 1 lime wedge
- Ice
- 2 ounces blanco tequila
- 2 ounces watermelon juice
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1/4 ounce Simple Syrup
Directions
- Make the Chili Salt: In a small bowl, mix the kosher salt, sugar and ancho chile powder.
- Mix the Cocktail: Moisten the outer rim of a highball glass with the lime wedge and coat lightly with chile salt. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all of the remaining ingredients and shake well. Fill the highball glass with ice and strain the drink into the glass.
These would be sooo cute if served in these vintage inspired glasses by CB2!
Super heart Mojitos but want to mix it up a bit? Try the Watermelon Mojito!
Go here for the delishus recipe.
Serve your Mojitos in this Chemistry inspired bev beaker...tres chic!
P.S. Don't forget all of the accessories! Napkins, Plates, Citronella Candles, Utensils, Sunscreen, Water, Ice....
P.P.S. Plllleeeeaaassseee wear white after labor day! It's sooo 2000 not to. (more on that later we bet)
xoxo t.w.h.
