Memorial Day Food for Thought

Today is Memoriall Day and it's a day when we should remember our service people. For the ones we have with us there are so many gestures we can do to show our gratitude and appreciation,

For our veterans, cook them their favorite. foodsTake  them  food shopping. Share your garden with them. They'll appreciate all that fresh fruit and veggies. Celebrate their achievements with parties and barbecues. Birthdays should be big deals too. Invite them over for an afternoon of talk with the kids so they can  learn history first hand.

For our servicepeople. give them gift certificates for that special. dinner out. Babysit their kids for that much needed romantic meal with their spouses.Celebrate them with block parties or quiet coffee times where they can open up about their experiences over a cup and a slice of cake. 

America was born out of war 250 years ago. We need to celebrate and appreciate service people past and present who preserved our ideals and Constitution. Celebrate the present generation with a plate and glass of something good

Honoring The Troops Daily

 Memorial Day is all about kicking back and enjoying the best of barbecue. Yet it;s also a time to honor our troops. The problem is we should be honoring them all year long and not just on one day.

If you can do anything, then treat a vet , whether it's a family, friend or neighbor once a week or more to a lunch or dinner. It doesn't;t have to be fancy. It could be an invite to sit down for dinner in your house. Make their favorite meal and dessert. This means more to them thank any restaurant fare. Its' also a great way for the kids to learn about American and military history. Another is helping out at veteran's clubs and local VFW's.

For those service people  just coming home, a block party or backyard gathering would be welcomed. Organize a potluck where everyone brings something, from salads to dessert. Designate a main griller to handle cooking hamburgers and hot dogs. The service person and their families will appreciate the support as well as good homemade dishes. Another idea is giving the family a gift certificate to a restaurant. It would be a family friendly one or a fancy one for a much needed date night (also volunteer for baby sitting duties too). 

It shouldn't;be be that we honor our local service people for just one day.It should be a year round practice. Honor them with food and celebration.

Memorial Day All Year Round

 We honor our veterans today but we should be honoring them all year round. Make sure that the older veterans are cared for and having a good meal. Shop for them if they can't do their food shopping. Invite them over for a barbecue or holiday dinner. Let them tell their stories to this new generation.

As for the younger vets - again a dinner out or a party to celebrate their service is always appreciated. Offer to babysit the kids when they want a romantic dinner out. Present them with a gift certificate from their favorite restaurant.

Always remember to honor these brave men women not just in May but every month. They fought for us and this country . It's our turn now to thank them.

Your Barbecue Checklist

 It's Memorial Day and that means one thing = do you have enough for a good old fashioned barbecue.Ther'es nothing worse than being in the middle of a cookout and running out of stuff.Make sure you're ready for the big day ahead.

Luckily grocery stores are open tomorrow and MOnday so there's no panic if you have forgotten something. The most important, besides the food , are the paper plates and utensils. Do you have enough to accommodate your guests and family? What about plastic glasses for soda and lemonade? The next item you should have plenty of is aluminum foil. This is essential for tenting chicken ribs and even turkey legs  along with placing ears of corn in them.As for the food itself - do you have enough variety for meat eating and vegan friends? Figure it this way . Everyone usually eats about two burgers each.If you're cooking for ten then have around twenty. The same goes for hot dogs. After the second people are usually stuffed or want a change Wings are a little different. The average person can go through five ro six in one sitting. A group of fifteen could easily munch their way through sixty piece of chicken. Turkey legs are just easier. Most people are usually stuffed after one leg.

As for condiments - are there enough to satisfy a crowd. Remember some people prefer Dijon mustard over honey or any kind Have favorite brands if the guests request them. The same goes for ketchup too. (although mostly everyone is happy with Heintz) You may want to have some barbecue sauce too along with relish for those who like some variation. Also make sure there are plenty of sliced onions and tomatoes for those building their burgers (sliced tomatoes are also a good nibble while waiting for the food to cook up).Is there enough mayo? What about vegan mayo for the vegetarians? As far as the sides will there be enough three bean salad to feed a group?What about the potato salad? These are usually the sides that go first. Have backup ingredients in case you have to add to the bowls.Dessert is usually simple s'more's A bag of marshmallows is perfect for a crowd yet you may have to get extra chocolate bars along with graham crackers to satisfy people.

Be ready for the grilling days ahead. Make sure your barbecue is red hot and ready. Have everything on hand and waiting to go

Good Deeds For Memorial Day

 Our US military forces should always be remembered. Today we do remember the sacrifices made from the Revolutionary War to the recent Afghan ones. However we should also remember out living vets as well.

For the older vets , a nice lunch out or even inviting them over for some sandwiches and iced tea would be appreciated. Spend the afternoon together chatting about all sorts of things. You could even treat him or her for a n ice cream in the park or a cold coffee , sipped at an outdoors cafe. Bring the kids along so they can hear the stories and appreciate what these service people have done to protect the country.

For newer, younger vets, offer to baby sit their kids so the couple can have a romantic date night out. Give them a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant and possibly tickets to a local concert or movie. Invite them over for a good meal and talk. Bake them a plate of cookies or a tray of cupcakes. Think nothing of making a few extra jars of homemade sauce. It's a small thank you for their sacrifices.

Our vets have given up and sacrificed so much for the good of the nation Let's remember them with big and small gestures not just for today , but for the entire year. It's time to honor their service.

A True Memorial Day

This is a different kind of Memorial Day . We can't have friends and family over for the usual burgers and dogs.We can't head to the beach or park of if we can  - not that quickly or that casually.

What we can do is remember those brave essential workers. We can still treat doctors and nurses to pizzas and coffees. We can still offer free gift certificates to those delivery people and grocery workers,as we help restaurants get back on their feet. We can also help out service families and veterans, whether by buying them food or delivering them groceries and hot meals.

This Memorial Day , it is all about remembrance. We need to remember those that have bravely died of the Corona virus and those who have died in our previous wars. We need to remember those essential workers too.



Run free , little Bitty into fields filled with catnip,, chicken, ham and roast beef

Memorial Day -Remembering Our Warriors

As always we remember the young men and women who have died in battle for this country. Yes, that is proper.however we need to remember those still with us. What can we do?

Help out at VFW halls along with inviting both old and young vets over for a meal. If there is a newly discharged service person in your neighborhood. treat him and his family to a home cooked meal or even gift certificates to his or her favorite restaurant. Offer to babysit the kids so that a soldier or sailor can enjoy a romantic evening out with their spouse. Get the neighborhood involved in throwing a celebratory block party for these brave women and men. For older vets, who re alone,invite them over for a evening of their favorite foods and stories for the kids. They are living history and have seen it unfold first up in the theaters of war. Take them food shopping or go shopping for them.


They have given so much for us.Give something back - a meal - even a cup of coffee to them.

A Good Memorial Day

A good Memorial Day to all my readers. Enjoy the dogs and burgers, wings and salads, ribs and slaw.

Celebrating Our Service People

Today is Memorial Day, the day when we remember those who gave their lives for America. It's also important that we remember our living servicemen and women too.If they're in line with you at your favorite coffee shop or fast food joint, treat them to a free coffee or a free meal. Show them your appreciation for what they do.Deployment is not easy, They have to leave their spouses and children and go off into a hostile unknown, all to protect lives damaged and savaged by wars. The least we can do is treat them to a cup of joe or a hamburger.

Our elderly veterans also would appreciate from a dinner or an afternoon of coffee and war stories. They have so much to give us historically as they enlighten  and inspire our millennials with their experiences. Bake a cake or a pie, whip up a batch of brownies or cookies and bring them over to them.Organize a cookout to celebrate their victories. You may not  only have a fun time but gain a few new friends as well.

Never let our veterans be forgotten. Cherish them. Feed them not only with food and drink, but with reverence and gratitude, respect and love.

Buy A Serviceperson A Meal

Today is Memorial Day and while we remember the ones who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, we should also remember the living soldiers, sailors,Marines and Air Force. There are so many ways to do this, and one of the nicest ways is through a meal.it doesn't have to be something elaborate (although that would be nice). A hamburger at their favorite burger joint would work, or a lobster roll at the town lobster and crab shack is  just a very small way of saying thank you. If they have kids, then get them a coupon book from Wendy's or McDonald's. Treat the older veterans to coffee and a breakfast at the local diner. Volunteer cooking skills and baking skills at your local VFW.

Treat those brave men and women to something - just a very small token of gratitude for their dedication to protecting this country.A  cup of coffee or a burger from a favorite eatery is just a way of saying thanks.

Memorial Day Remember Our Troops

With Memorial Day today we think about soldiers and wars past.Unfortunately there are still conflicts and still soldiers and their families who need a good meal along with a good ear for listening. We have to honor them now while we can, whether through small or large gestures. If you know a service man or woman, invite them over while they're on leave or just returned from a tour of duty. Cook and bake their favorites. They'll appreciate both the food and the company.Offer to take a newly returned vet 's children for the night so that the vet and spouse can have a romantic dinner alone.Gift them with gift cards to their favorite restaurants. Some communities do have place for veterans of all ages to hang out. Volunteer at them by either cooking or even holding classes on nutrition. You could also ask your local VA hospital if you could help out and treat the elderly servicemen to fresh produce either from your yard or the local farmer's market. Hopefully this will be the century that will not see any more conflict.Right now though we should be focusing on our newly returned vets.Repay them with good nutritious food and a good solid support.

Memorial Day Thanks

Today is a day of remembrance. Before or after your barbecue ,remember any fallen veteran with a bouquet of flowers or a flag. For the  ones just returned, think about a foodie thank you. Get together with your school or church to organize a thank you dinner or barbecue for the returning soldiers and their families. It doesn't have to be a grand gesture . Just the usual barbecue fare along with some salads, plus a whole helping of gratitude will do the trick. Also organizing bake sales for returning vets and their families to have a vacation together would be a nice idea too. Another is just giving out gift certificates to restaurants is another gesture that says "thank you"/.

Sadly there will always be some  kind of conflict. Bravely , there will be those who are willing to sacrifice their lives for us. Treat them with the utmost respect, If they are still in your life and your town, then treat them to something special. It's just a small token for a large contribution.

Happy Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day,a time of barbecues and beach picnics.Before you chow down, remember those who have given up their lives so you can have this holiday. Better yet, sit down with family and friends or with coworkers and classmates and think about organizing food drives for our troops overseas. Get involved with organizations who send care packages over to our brave forces. Remember they signed up voluntarily. They're fighting in some of the most God forsaken places because they want to - not because they have to. Thanks them anyway you can from sending home baked cookies to donating proceeds from lemonade stands .

Have a good holiday. Always think about what this day stands for - and all the freedoms that our soldiers fought for from 1776 to the present wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Remember Our Brave Ones This Memorial Day

Today is memorial Day here in the US. We should take time out from our barbecues , picnics, movies and beach days to thank those who have served this amazing nation. Think of their sacrifices, their lives lost so we and the rest of the world can enjoy all our freedoms and liberties.

Celebrate their selflessness and valor and be inspired by these traits.


Think of their importance to world history and freedom when you're serving your kids ice pops or helping mom make her special potato salad.

Have a good Memorial Day.

Liz

Chill Out Foods For A Long Weekend

It's the start of the Memorial Day weekend. Even though it should be and is considered a solemn holiday to remember our armed forces, it's also a time of just chilling out. After all it's the first official weekend of Summer 2009. You can relax with some hot weather favorites whether in the back yard or at the beach.

The one foodie indulgence must have is a cold drink. Soda is fine but it can put on the calories and doesn't thoroughly quench your thirst. Homemade lemonade or limeade would do the trick better. If you don't have the time (or the energy) to make it then buy a jug of it from your local supermarket. if you want to liven it up add a splash of vodka to it along with more ice. Iced tea is refreshing, especially if it's fresh brewed with just the right amount of lemon and ice.

What 's a good snack after a hard day of yard work or a fun time at the beach? Crispy tortilla chips with salsa. These are less fattening than potato chips and you can make your own guacamole or veggie salsa. Kabobs are good for you and fun to nosh on. You can vary the meats and add the veggies you like. This is also a great way of baptizing the grill for the summer ahead.
Finish off with some ice from your local Rita's or homemade granita.

This weekend chill out with fun foods . Enjoy the first rays of the summer sun with a drink or munchies . Relax and eat well.

A Good Memorial Day To All

To every one out there a good Memorial Day. Remember those who have sacrified their lives for our country and our freedom. Keep them in mind when you have your toasts today.

This is going to be the shortest entry to date on Foodie Pantry. For all my readers just enjoy your favorite barbecue and picnic foods!

See you tomorrow.... Don't over eat or over drink and most importantly DON'T drive home drunk!!!

Liz