The Organized Life, Memorial Day Menu
For family holiday weekends at the beach we love to COOK
With young grandchildren and crowded restaurants, dining out is not fun or relaxing
HHjr is head chef and we collaborated last week on the menu
It looks complicated, but with advance planning, and some short cut recipes, plus my son does most of the cooking it’s a breeze
We make a meal plan for the entire weekend so we can shop early and be all set
Each meal chosen is not only delicious, but easy to prepare and can adapt to all tastes and preferences with a little tweaking or deconstruction
Fridays leftover Brisket can also be included as an option for Saturdays Gyros
Sunday’s Chicken Pizza can be made from Saturday’s leftovers with either naan or pizza crust
You can go low carb and skip the crust or bread from the lunches, and have the toppings as a salad
The kiddos will have plain versions of the meals and vegetables, or standby kid favorites, PBJs, grilled cheese, scrambled eggs
Almost every recipe is a family favorite, with a few new things thrown in for excitement
Here are some photos to whet your appetite
Asian Salad Stack with Sesame Peanut Dressing is great because the dressing can be made days in advance, and the vegetables can be prepped 1-2 days in advance and even the dressed salad holds up well for leftovers
The cheese biscuits will be made from a mix we got at a local BBQ restaurant, Jim & Nick’s, substitute buttermilk for milk in these commercial mixes for a homemade flavor
I’m working on a knock-off of this decadent cheesecake cone, from the deli, to share with you soon
Breakfast will be simple with fresh fruits, cereal, yogurt and a new crescent roll creation coming up soon, Red White & Blueberry Rolls, adapted from Blueberry Cheesecake Danish
Chicken Gyros with Shortcut Tzatziki Sauce
Low Country Shrimp Boil is full of shrimp, Conecuh sausage, red potatoes and corn…we actually call ours LA Shrimp Boil, you know, lower Alabama 🤣
I am going to make a bundt cake version of Beach Bum Butter Rum cupcakes, with a brown sugar glaze
Making a glazed cake is faster than dozens of individually iced cupcakes
BBQ Chicken & Corn Pizza with Spinach Salad Topping is truly summer on a pizza and can easily be deconstructed into chicken, corn and cheese pizza for the kiddos
We will be having standard baby back ribs with a smokey BBQ sauce, but another favorite is Asian Glazed Ribs if you want to try something a little different
Dixie Mac & Cheese Poppers are made in mini sweet pepper instead of jalapenos if preferred, and filled with already prepared Stouffer’s macaroni & cheese
Stouffer’s Mac & Cheese is a favorite for all ages in my house, all you do is pop it in the oven or microwave, and you can add breadcrumbs for a crunchy topping to make it feel homemade
Another great one is Marie Calender’s Vermont White Cheddar Mac & Cheese, look for it at a store near you here
Zucchini Ribbons with Lemon and Roasted Garlic look fancy but are made in minutes
They are a light and fresh compliment to ribs and poppers
Traveling Omelet Rolls wrapped in foil will stay warm for an hour or two to send off with travelers as they depart
I can’t wait to try the Fireball Pineapple Slices from my Traveling Tote friend Patti, you can see her recipe here The pineapple is marinated in Fireball cinnamon whiskey then brushed with brown sugar and baked or grilled 😋
Do you have special plans to honor our troops and kick off summer this weekend?
Be sure to join me tomorrow when I post my Broadway tablescape, South Pacific!
it is going to be full of summer entertaining ideas too~
🍍 🥒 🇺🇸 🍤 😎 🏖 🇺🇸
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Rustic and Refined, Between Naps on the Porch, Celebrate and Decorate,
Coastal Charm, Cooking and Crafting with J&J, The Scoop, A Stroll Thru Life
Lori’s Culinary Creations, Moonlight and Mason Jars
Full Plate Thursday Foodie Friday & Everything Else
Share it One More Time Delicious Dishes Recipe Party Foodie Friends Friday
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Oh Jenna, this all looks delicious! Our Memorial weekend seems odd — invited to friends who want to do the lion’s share of the cooking or dine out. It will be nice, just different!
On another note, your wonderful notebook from the drawing arrived yesterday. I’m so delighted. I’ll be taking it with me on our Memorial sojourn! Thank you — you do such lovely work and it was a real treat!
Thank you Jeanie! You weekend sounds fun and relaxing to me, but I know what you mean, if I’m not cooking or helping with the food, I feel a little lost… Just enjoy and use the time to fill your sketch book~ >
Sounds so wonderful!!!
What a delicious spread! All looks so tantalizing. Have a wonderful Holiday weekend.
Thanks Lynn, you too! >
Looks like it’s going to be a delicious weekend for you and your family Jenna. Have a wonderful Memorial Day!
Thank you Chris, luckily my son loves to take over, I’m just the grocery shopper and dessert maker 🙂 I’m sure your weekend will be delicious too!
>
You are so organized with your meal planning – might be worth the drive from NY just to have a taste of everything!! Enjoy the holiday weekend and let me know how the pineapple turns out – we loved it! (leftovers, refrigerated were also tasty!)
Chow on down, my sister!!! 😋
What a delicious and amazing menu lineup! I’ll be copying and trying a few of these myself. Thanks and enjoy your weekend.
oh good!! I hope you enjoy! >
Wow…Jenna! What time do you want me and my extended family to arrive! Love how organized you are and the food looks positively delish! Hope you have a wonderful week.
haha, my family likes to eat, but luckily they also like to cook and clean up! Have a great weekend Katie!
Sounds so tasty Jenna and how awesome that you have a son that likes to grill and help meal plan… less work for you and more time to celebrate the Red, White & Blueberry! Hope your weekend forecast and outlook is sunny and bright after all the torrential rain 🙂
Jenna, are you accepting guests for the weekend? The food looks incredible! How nice that your son loves to cook! I love my pouch that I received in the mail…it is my new traveling make-up bag! Thanks so much, Jenna! Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
I’m glad to hear you got your pouch, I have one that I use all the time for a mini purse and I love it! My son loves to cook so much that even if nothing is going on or it’s just him, he will throw a pork butt or something on the grill just to have something in the fridge for lunch or quick dinner later in the week! He keeps grills going all day long! >
What a nice menu Jenna! I’ve been wanting to try Pattt’s pineapple. Have a wonderful Memorial Day! We will be opening our camp for the season, and there will be some good eatin’ too.
Thanks Deb, I can’t wait for the pineapple! Have a fabulous weekend! >
Happy to report that I made the Fireball Pineapple slices and the Beach Bum Butter Rum cupcakes. Both were delicious! I love it when recipes turn out great.
Oh wonderful!! I am thrilled to hear that! Be sure to check out the Pineapple Volcano Cake on the blog today, it’s a cake version of the cupcakes and my family has been wolfing it down all weekend. We’re having the pineapple tonight, can’t wait! >
It must have been fabulous, it looks delicious! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday! Hope you are having a great week and come back to see us real soon.
Miz Helen