With Labor Day 2016 fast approaching – you know, the last long weekend of the summer, really – you may be wondering what healthy recipes you can conjure up. Maybe you’re specifically looking for red, white, and blue recipes or just Labor Day food, in general. Well don’t worry because you’ve reached the right story!
So whether you’re having a large party or an intimate gathering, look no further than these great appetizer, salad, main course, and dessert recipes for Labor Day.
Appetizer Recipe for Labor Day 2016
So your guests are just arriving, and you want to put out something small to get them munching on. Here are some easy appetizer recipes that are sure to be a hit at any gathering.
Lemon and Thyme Ricotta Toasts
Who doesn’t love a recipe they can dip into? Why not start off your party with this simple (and healthy) lemon and thyme ricotta toast, which we found from The Muse. Here you will find what you need and how to put it together.
Ingredients:
- 32 oz Ricotta cheese
- 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- Lemon zest from 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of pepper
- 1 baguette
- 2 or 3 cloves of garlic
- Olive oil
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and mix together the ricotta, thyme, lemon, salt and pepper. Cut the baguette into thin slices and bake for eight to 10 minutes until golden brown. When the baguette slices are done, rub the garlic clove onto each slice and drizzle it with the olive oil. Put the ricotta mix into a bowl and surround it with the baguette slices on a tray. Feel free to drizzle a bit more olive oil on your ricotta mixture along with some salt, pepper, and any additional thyme leaves.
Labor Day Weekend Salad
Want to make your Labor Day party a little patriotic? Well look no further than this red, white, and blue salad that everyone will love. We found this easy recipe over at FoodieCrush.
Red, White, and Blue Salad
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of cubed watermelon
- 1 cup of blueberries
- 1 cup of peeled and cubed jicama
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 2 tablespoons of lime juice
- Chili powder (just a pinch)
- ½ teaspoon of Salt
- ¼ cup of chopped mint
- ¼ cup of crumbled feta cheese
Instructions:
In a large bowl, mix together the watermelon, blueberries, and jicama. In a smaller bowel mix the honey, lime juice, pinch of chili powder, and salt. Pour the liquid mixture over the fruit and add mint, feta cheese, and additional salt for taste. For the best flavor allow the salad to chills at least 30 minutes prior to serving.
Labor Day Main Course Recipe
Okay, so now it’s time for the main event – what will it be? How about you stick to a summertime classic and serve the juiciest burger ever! This crowd-pleaser recipe comes from KitchMe, and it’s super easy to make!
The Juiciest Burgers Ever
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds of ground beef
- ¾ cup of dry bread crumbs
- 1 beaten egg
- 3 tablespoons of evaporated milk
- 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
Instructions:
Preheat the grill to high heat and using your hands, combine the beef, egg, bread crumbs, evaporated milk, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, and garlic in a large mixing bowl. Form the meat into patties – the recipe yields 8, so adjust accordingly for your number of guests. Grill the patties until desired wellness and continue by adding whatever toppings you enjoy.
Labor Day Long Weekend Dessert Recipe
Now it’s time for the grand finale, the part that everyone has been waiting for – dessert! Why not try this twist on a classic – instead of a normal banana split, turn it into lasagna, just like they did on Delish.
Banana Split Lasagna
Ingredients
Crust:
- 2 cups of crushed graham crackers
- 1 stick of melted, unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- Kosher salt
Cream filling:
- 12 ounces of cream cheese
- ¼ cup of sugar
- 8 ounces of cool whip
Fruit layer:
- 3 thinly sliced bananas
- 1 can of crushed pineapple
- 1 pound of finely chopped strawberries
Toppings:
- 8 ounces of whipped cream
- ½ cup of chopped walnuts
- Chocolate syrup
- Rainbow sprinkles
- Maraschino cherries
Instructions:
Grease a 9 x 13-inch pan. In a mixing bowl, combine graham crackers, butter, salt, and sugar. Once combined, press into the baking dish and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.
Next beat the cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Fold in the whipped cream and spread the mixture onto the crust. Place the thinly sliced banana, strawberries and pineapple evenly on top of the cream, and then cover the fruit with another layer of cream. The last layer will be sprinkled with the walnuts.
The dish should be refrigerated for at least four hours.
When it’s time to serve, allow guests to put whatever toppings they desire on their banana split lasagna including the sprinkles, chocolate sauce and cherries.
As you can see, you have plenty of options when it comes to putting together recipes for your Labor Day 2016 party. There are endless Labor Day food options to choose from, whether you want to a patriotic theme (red, white and blue salad) or something more simple (ricotta and thyme dip). Whatever you choose, always remember to stick to as many healthy choices you can – you don’t want to throw your diet out the window at the end of summer.
Sources:
Handler, R., “Banana split lasagna,” Delish, June 13, 2016. http://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a47617/banana-split-lasagna-recipe/, last accessed August 29, 2016.
“Juiciest hamburgers ever,” Kitchme, http://www.kitchme.com/recipes/juiciest-hamburgers-ever, last accessed August 29, 2016.
