With so many delicious recipes to choose from Food Network’s Memorial Day and grilling roundups, where does one start? Trying to make your crazy and hectic weekends easier, the editors of FoodNetwork.com and CookingChannelTV.com have shared their favorite recipes and packaged them up into two menus — mix and match, substitute or just make one recipe. Whatever you do, enjoy them with family and friends and share your food photos with us on Food Network’s Facebook page.
Put a chillinto your grilling and chilling weekend this Memorial Day by mixing up a few simple and refreshing summer drinks. Our diverse ideas below will please the kids – and kids at heart – while offering some grown-ups-only favorites and unique twists on classic cocktails. Whether you’re simply barbecuing in the backyard with your family or hosting a neighborhood holiday cookout, these cool recipes are sure to quench everyone’s thirst.
Nothing says summer like a refreshing frozen marg and Bobby Flay feels the same way. His Frozen Pomegranate, Mango, Tangerine, Watermelon and Cactus Pear varieties boast cool flavors and the famed frosty consistency.
A traditional Spanish and Portuguese cocktail, sangria is most often made by mixing red or white wine with fresh fruit, sparkling soda water and various liqueurs. Food Network Magazine’sRed and White Sangria recipes are classic examples of this European summer sipper.
Like sangria, the mojito has evolved from its original Cuban mixture of white rum and mint into a transformable cocktail capable of pleasing everyone. Not a rum fan? Not a problem. Guy Fieri’s Double Apple Mojito is made with vodka and apple juice. Similarly, Tyler Florence’s Blueberry Ginger Mojito Pitchers combine vodka, soda and fresh ginger.
Potato and macaroni salads: two of most iconic summer dishes in America. Here, elbow macaroni is tossed with ripe tomatoes, crunchy celery and a creamy dressing. Make it more personal by adding additional veggies for like diced bell peppers and cucumber.
With summer right around the corner, there’s never a better time to brush up on grilling safety. Yes, you may be the master of your grill; however, you can never be too careful.
1. Gas grilling should be done outside the home at least 10 feet away from the house.
2. Check all connections for leaks by turning on the cylinder valve and spraying the connections with a solution made by mixing equal amounts of liquid dish soap and water. If bubbles appear, those connections need to be tightened or replaced.
3. Keep the grill away from heavy foot traffic. It’s also highly recommended to keep children, pets and outdoor games like football away from the grill.
4. Always place lighters and matches away from the grill and children.
5. Wear fitted clothing. While you may be warm, you’re safest when wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants and closed shoes.
Chances are you’ll be grilling burgers and dogs all summer long, so switch things up this Memorial Day by making fried chicken. Whether you’re making a small batch for your family or celebrating with a large crowd, you will become a fan fave with juicy chicken that’s crispy and golden all the way around.
Whether you’re having guests over or need to bring a dessert to a friend’s party this Memorial Day weekend, this trifle will be your showstopper, not to mention it’s extremely easy to put together. Light and fluffy angel food cake, along with fresh blueberries and strawberries are layered with luxurious homemade whipped cream — it’s patriotic perfection!
If you’ve been invited to a party this upcoming Memorial Day, chances are you’ve also offered to help cook or bake something. But what can you bring that can be made ahead, travels well and holds up to the weather (which is hopefully warm)?
Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:
1. There’s a good chance that your host’s refrigerator will be packed that day, so if your dish has to be kept cool until serving, bring along your own carrier with ice packs — the thought will go a long way.
2. Transport your cooler in the air-conditioned car, not in the trunk.
3. Come prepared with your own serving utensils just in case your host has run out.
Now browse through Food Network’s travel-friendly recipes:
Salads: When it comes to salads, try and stay away from recipes that include mayo. If your recipe calls for a dressing, wait until you are about to serve the dish to mix it in. Poppy-Seed Potato Salad (pictured above) Daikon-Carrot Salad Avocado Salad
And to our fans who report broken grills or thunderstorms in the forecast, we’re truly sorry! The weekend’s not lost though, you can still grill inside like Bobby.
We also shared Food Network Mag’s 50 bonus burger recipes on Facebook and you topped our ideas with dozens of your own — feta-stuffed burgers, seafood burgers, burgers topped with mango and jack cheese and turkey burgers with pesto. But major props go to Missi H. who made 5 of the 50 burgers so far. Let us know when you get to 50!
Twitter talk on Thursday was all about lemons, and it turns out you love lemon bars as much as we do. We shared our favorite tips, like rolling lemons on the counter before squeezing for more juice, and you offered a suggestion back: microwaving them for 5 seconds to soften them for even more juice.
Care to share more of your weekend food plans with us?
