Labor Day Weekend Round-up

Labor Day weekend means food, BBQs, swimming, music and fun!

It also means the end of summer. Maybe not the end of the heat but definitely the end of long days, swimming, and relaxed schedules. Growing up, it was the last weekend of swimming and BBQs before we went back to school. It also meant packing up all my white accessories – purses, shoes, etc. The weather starts to cool down. It's time to get back in a routine. Of course, it’s a little different now – my kids went back to school weeks ago, I don’t own a white purse, and I’m not sure if El Paso has gotten the “it’s time to cool down” memo yet – but Labor Day still symbolizes the end of summer. I plan to enjoy the last days of summer this weekend and indulge in all things summer.

If you’re headed to a BBQ or if you’re having one at home, here are some great recipes you might want to consider….

No BBQ is complete without hamburgers and hot dogs. If you’re looking to take your burger up a notch, I highly recommend this In-N-Out inspired hamburger recipe from Rachael Ray. I loooooove this hamburger recipe!

I’m in-charge of dessert (as usual) for the cookout we have planned with friends on Labor Day. I’m planning to bring this Lemon Freeze Pie. I doubled the recipe and made a tweek to the ice cream/lemonade concentrate ratio. I used one carton of vanilla ice cream mixed with one container of concentrated lemonade for two pies.

And I’ll be enjoying my favorite summertime drink for the last time (maybe) until next summer.

“Drunken Pink Lemonade” (Is what I call it!)

8 oz Lemonade (I use Simply Lemonade)

1 oz of vodka

1 oz of Chambord

Combine and stir the above in a glass over ice. So refreshing and delicious! But, be warned, these go down a little too easy…so be careful! 

And, of course, music! This weather makes me want to go on a long drive, roll down my windows and blast some tunes. Unfortunately, that won’t fly with my kids. Instead, I’ve been listening to happy and “breezy” music. I’ve been hooked to Regina Spektor lately. I like her music and voice anytime but there is something about it that really agrees with these last long evenings of summer. Here’s one of my favorite songs. For some odd reason, it just makes me feel summer. 

Hope you have a great and safe holiday weekend!