Memorial Day Recipes

Below you will find some tried and true recipes to celebrate Memorial Day. Use this weekend to remember and celebrate those lives who are no longer with us.

Remembering Memorial Day. 

For some, it is just an extra day off of work but for my family, it is much more than that.  It is a day to remember and honor those whom we have lost.  Sadly, this year we have 3 more precious souls to remember, we will place flowers at their graves and stand and reminisce about them…the funny things they did and said.  We will share our favorite memory of each of them and we will listen to their favorite songs by Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Meatloaf and many others.  We will gather with loved ones and share a meal through laughter and tears while we recall what each of them would have loved about the food.  And when the sun goes down, we will write our prayers on Chinese Wish Lanterns and we will set them afloat into the night sky and watch as they make their way up into the heavens. 

Whatever you might be doing this Memorial Day weekend we wish you a safe and happy holiday.

I have chosen a few of our families favorite recipes that are quick and easy to make for this holiday weekend.  ENJOY!

CHOCOLATE LASAGNA

1pkg. Oreos (36 cookies, not double stuff) - Crushed

6T Butter - Melted

1-8oz Cream Cheese – Softened

2 T Cold Milk

½ C (scant) Powdered Sugar

1-12oz Cool Whip – Thawed

1- 3.9oz pkgs Instant Chocolate Pudding

3 ¼ C Cold Milk

Mini Chocolate Chips or Chocolate Shavings

·        Crush Oreos, add melted butter and blend well.

·        Press crumb mixture into a 9x13 pan and place in refrigerator.

·        Beat cream cheese until fluffy.  Add 2 T milk and powdered sugar, mix well.  Fold in 1 ¼ C Cool Whip.

·        Spread over crust and put back in refrigerator.

·        Whisk pudding mixes and 3 ¼ C milk until it starts to thicken.

·        Spread over cream cheese layer and let set up.

·        Spread remaining Cool Whip over pudding layer.

·        Sprinkle mini chocolate chips or shavings over top.

·        Refrigerate for 4 hours or freeze for 1 hour prior to serving.

Options: 

Substitute vanilla or mint Oreos for chocolate Oreos.

Substitute any flavor of pudding for the chocolate.

Substitute chocolate Cool Whip on the last layer

Substitute white chocolate or butterscotch chips or toasted coconut on top.

WAIKIKI COLESLAW

1 Lb Shredded Cabbage

4 – Green Onions – chopped

2/3 C Macadamia Nuts – Chopped*

¾ C Maries Poppy Seed Dressing **

¼ C Papaya, Mango or Pineapple Juice

½ C Fresh Pineapple – Finely Diced***

Mix all together and Refrigerate.

*  I loosely chop the nuts leaving some larger pieces

**  You will find this dressing in the refrigerated section of the produce department.

***  Optional

I double this recipe every time I make it but I don’t double the green onions.

COWBOY BAKED BEANS

In a large skillet brown:

1 lb ground beef

4 slices of bacon cut up (I always use more)

Chopped onion to taste

Add to beef mixture:

½ C ketchup

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vinegar

1 tsp dried mustard

1 tsp Worchesire Sauce

¾ C brown sugar

Heat well, place in a 2qt baking dish and add:

1 – 15oz pork & beans – partly drained

1 – 15oz kidney beans – drained

1 – 15oz garbanzo beans – drained

Cook at 350° for 45 minutes or put in Crockpot on low for 2-3 hours.

This recipe does not have to be exact, I rarely measure the ingredients instead just tossing them into the skillet.  I like to make this up the night before and refrigerate it so the flavors combine well before cooking it.