Recipe Box, Summer Weekend Menus
I hope you’re having a great Memorial Day Weekend! You’re probably busy flag waving, grilling, parading and saluting our incredible service men, but keep these easy menu ideas in mind as summer rolls along and you’re feeding friends and family
I arrived on the coast early last week to plan, stock, cook, and make things festive for Memorial Day!
We started the weekend with serve yourself tacos with lots of toppings
This make-ahead Summer Saffron Rice Bake, is a great do ahead side dish for grilled meats, poultry or fish
Breakfasts
Usually breakfast is serve yourself cereal, yogurt, fruit, or a combo like Breakfast on a Stick. It’s a fun treat and everyone can make their own
If we are lingering through Monday, I like to serve a do ahead breakfast casserole on Sunday, like this Sausage Gravy Biscuit Bake
It’s served mid morning for brunch, and then we gather for serious appetizers like Prosciutto & Sausage Pepper Poppers later in the afternoon
Lunch
Sometimes the grill is going, sometimes we boat to lunch, and sometimes the guys are fishing so I keep things flexible with these ideas:
Build your own deli sandwich/ salad bar,
Set out a variety of breads cheeses, bacon, pickles, tomatoes, jalapenos, french fried onions, lettuce and an array of flavorful condiments and salad dressings
Or treat guests to Club Sandwich in a Roll, very quick to put together and bake
Or make a giant Muffaletta Pie which you can make ahead 1-2 days, and cut into slices to serve a crowd
Pirate Sandwiches for the kiddos, just peanut butter and jelly made exciting
Build your own nachos, taco salad or quesadillas. Set out all the trimmings and everyone can make their own
Use leftover taco meat from a previous night and leftover rice casserole to make some killer burritos or quesadillas
Throw some boneless chicken in the crockpot with a jar of salsa and cook on high for 3-4 hours during morning activites. It will be ready to shred for lunch.
Nachos and quesadillas can be baked, microwaved or grilled, like these BBQ Chicken Nachos, made with leftover chicken
or grill some chicken or steak and go fajita style, like Fab Fajitas
Make a Burger Buffet with burgers and hot dogs by laying out a spread of toppings: a variety of cheeses, bacon, onions, jalapenos, tomatoes, pickles, french fried onions, flavored mayos and mustards and lettuce
Make up a batch of Bama Burger Sauce, it’s great on sandwiches too
Dinner
We often keep things simple with grilled steak or fish. When there’s “no catch of the day,” this BBQ Salmon is a crowd pleaser
Roasted corn and potatoes make easy sides, like these Perfect Roasted Potatoes
Coconut Shrimp Tempura is great paired with
and Cheddar & Chive Hushpuppies
BBQ Ribs, are a menu MUST, HHjr cooks them low and slow on a charcoal grill, and then slathers with BBQ sauce near the end of cooking
Salsa Bread is another MUST around here, it’s so easy, anyone can help make it
A Watermelon Basket is always a show stopper, and a perfect compliment to the spicy ribs and bread
Tomorrow we will be enjoying Bourbon Burgers with Caramelized Onions
and homemade gumbo from a local seafood market
Dessert
Sweet Tea Lemonade Cupcakes
Red White and Blueberry Crostata
Here’s our actual menu: 
Happy Memorial Day!!
The recipes without links, Summer Saffron Rice Bake, Sweet Tea Lemonade Cupcakes and Red, White and Blueberry Crostata will be posting soon
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I will be sharing with the fabulous parties and blogs on my sidebar and
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A holiday at your beach house sounds like heaven on earth! I am saving this whole post for the great food links. Each one sounds better than the last. I have never tried the Gumbo at Blaylock’s but I have to tell you — we have loved the gumbo from Doc’s Seafood Restaurant.
Thanks Ellen, we always feast around here, but I have lots of help! Next time try Blaylocks, we think it’s even better than Doc’s and you can buy it frozen to take home or stash in your freezer. It’s crazy down here, I’ve never seen so many boats, but luckily we’re all stocked up and just enjoying the show! Happy Memorial Day to you and Ray~ >
oh gawd that looks super yummy!!!! Can I come over now???? Happy Memorial Day!!!!
ha! Sure, come on over!! >
Awesome stuff!!!!
Ok, we just had a big meal of grilled shish-ka-bobs but I think I still have room for some nachos:@) Happy Memorial Day Jenna-enjoy!
Oh my Jenna…your Memorial Day menu sounds delicious! Our Big Green Egg has been going nonstop since Thursday with my sister and her boys visiting for the holiday weekend.They leave this afternoon and then we’re to collapse from exhaustion and over-indulging 🙂 Hope you’ve enjoyed some beautiful Gulf coast weather and boat time. Happy Memorial Day!
Love your menu, Jenna. Every single recipe looks delicious. Hope you and your loved ones are having a Happy Memorial Day!
What a special treat it would be to be a guest at your beach house. I wanna visit (said with a little whine). Staying at your gorgeous beach house would be enough of a treat, but getting to enjoy your fabulous cooking would be the icing on the cake. I’m going back to click on some of these recipes. Thank you for sharing them.
Aren’t you sweet Laurie! Yeah, we have a ton of fun here~we are very blessed >
Wow! What a lineup! It all looks wonderful, and I know your family had a great time together. I’m off to check out that breakfast on a stick. That’s a great idea!
Thanks Kim, everything’s better on a stick right? >
How lucky are your guests! Hard to pick a favorite but I have my eye on the lemonade cupcakes, the grilled salmon, and the watermelon fruit salad. YUM! Lovely table settings and festive decor too?
Is that title painting one of yours? Lovely, Jenna.
Yes, thanks so much Johanne~
I love all of these! The breakfast on a Stick is adorable!
Thanks for sharing at Something to Talk About!
Pinning!
Karen
Looks wonderful.
thanks Jenny!
All of the food looks so yummy! My fav is the Coconut Shrimp! Hope we can celebrate Memorial Day all over again in two weeks!!
Definitely! Coconut Shrimp will be on the menu! >
Oh my goodness! This all looks so delicious! It sounds like you had a lovely weekend of celebrating with friends and family, and eating delicious food! Thank you so much for sharing your holiday menu with us at the Talented Tuesday Link Party!
Jenna,
What great ideas for fun in the sun recipes. Thanks so much for sharing this awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen