Growing up, I remember waiting anxiously for the starting of the Memorial Day parade in our little neighborhood. It passed by a block away from my house. My sisters and brother, I and some friends would get there early adequate to get a seat on the curb. Then at the end of the parade, we would corollary it to the cemetery. We would walk straight through finding at all the flowers that had been located on the graves.
Memorial Day weekend marks the starting of the summer vacation season. The school year comes to an end, vacations are planned and picnics are prepared. My mom would get up early in the morning to start cooking our picnic meal. Fried chicken, potato salad and baked beans would be on the menu.
Memorial Day was first observed in May 30, 1868. Now it is a federal holiday that falls on the last Monday in May. Once known as adornment Day, it was enacted to honor fallen soldiers that served in the Union and Confederate Armies. After Wwi, Memorial Day was extended to honor American servicewomen and men who have died in all wars.
By the early 20th century, Memorial Day became a holiday to remember and honor all deceased relatives, whether they were veterans or not. It has come to be tradition for families to visit cemeteries and decorate graves by leaving flower arrangements and other mementos.
Marked as the starting of summer vacations and picnics, it's the exquisite time to plan your own celebration. whether you plan to have a picnic or possibly watch the big race on television, you will want to plan your Memorial Day weekend with good food in mind.
If watching the race is on your agenda, you will want to keep abundance of finger foods close at hand. Sit bowls of chips and pretzels, dips and other snacks around areas where habitancy will sit or stand, making it easy to reach and grab a handful. Make a snack mix with Cajun spices that have a appetizing and spicy flavor burst. No one will be able to resist a plate of hot wings served with homemade blue cheese and crisp celery. An easy bean dip made with refried beans and cream cheese is sure to be a hit.
If planning a picnic, you may want to have it in one of your favorite spots. In a national park or in your own backyard, your party will be a success when serving the exquisite food. Your choices may range from grilled burgers to barbecued ribs. For my Memorial Day, I like to make a homemade rub for my ribs and my blue cheese stuffed burgers are always a big hit. Open your imagination when grilling your burgers. While the fresh, grilled flavor of the customary burger is naturally delicious, adding dissimilar ingredients gives you an unlimited choice of flavors. Using such things as dissimilar cheeses, diced peppers or olives will add a new twist to your every day burger.
Perfect side dishes will add zest to your meal. Potato, macaroni and fresh green salads have been essentials for a exquisite picnic for years in my family. Baked beans and other picnic foods adorned the top of the picnic table. When it comes to side dishes for your Memorial Day picnic, potato salad is a standard. There are so many potato salad recipes that you will find the exquisite one for your celebration. From herbed potato salad, home-style or a dutch potato salad made with bacon, all these will be a appetizing increasing to your meal.
End your meal with a bang! Everyone's favorite, ice cream. Homemade ice cream, made in a hand-cranked freezer, was a favorite when I was growing up. Every person would take turns turning the crank until the ice cream was ready. Then we would line up for our share and smiles lit up the faces of all. If you want to keep it uncomplicated and light, fresh fruit served with a vanilla yogurt dip is an exquisite choice. Using strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries make an spellbinding dish and are sweet and juicy.
Memorial Day - A Time for Remembrance and Celebration