Easy Labor Day Backyard BBQ

Labor Day marks the end of summer for many families. So why not celebrate by throwing a backyard BBQ? Here’s my easy Labor Day barbeque menu!

Labor Day is a day for celebrating workers and all that they do. It’s also a great excuse to throw a big barbecue and enjoy delicious food. Here is my easy Labor Day Barbeque menu!

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My Recommendations for An Easy Labor Day Barbeque Menu!

It really doesn’t get much easier than hamburgers & hot dogs! My favorite easy to prepare side dishes include baked beans, a delicious Jello salad, and grilled corn on the cob.

Red, White & Blue Layered Jello Salad

This layered jello salad is perfect for a backyard BBQ.  It is easy to prepare and oh so delicious!

Grilled Corn on the Cob with Honey Butter Sauce

This recipe is perfect for any summertime gathering. You can grill corn on the cob right before serving so it stays warm and juicy. After shucking the corn, simply place the ears of corn directly on the grill. Turn the ears every 2 minutes until the kernels soften and become lightly browned. Total grill times will be about 10 minutes.  If the corn starts to char before the kernels are soft, move the corn to the cooler side of the grill and close the lid to allow additional cooking.  Once the corn is done, remove the ears from the grill.  Then drizzle honey butter sauce over each ear of corn and serve immediately

A Watermelon Basket filled with Fresh Fruit

A simple fruit salad can be prepared with assorted fresh fruits including watermelon, strawberries, bananas and grapes.

If I have time, I like to turn the watermelon into a decorative basket and serve the fruit salad from the basket. Let me tell you how I make it!

All you need is a sharp knife, cutting board and a garnishing utensil that will make the V shaped cuts.

Things to Know-

1. Before cutting into the watermelon, wash the outer surface thoroughly with cool tap water to remove any dirt.  You don’t need to use any soap on it, simply scrub the outside with a clean produce brush.
2. Be sure to also wash all food-contact equipment including cutting boards, knives, and garnishing tools thoroughly with hot soapy water and rinse well.  Use a food safe , no rinse sanitizing spray and allow to air dry.  Be sure to read the directions on any sanitizing spray.

Let’s Make the Basket

1. In order for the watermelon to sit flat, use a sharp knife to cut a thin slice off of the bottom of the melon.
2. Draw a horizontal line around the center of the melon using the point of the knife.  To make the handle, draw two vertical lines approximately three inches apart over the top of the melon.  The handle should be centered over the top of the melon.  To help mark your cutting lines, you can use masking tape or painters tape.
3.  Now you are ready to start cutting using the V Shaped cutter.  Place the V shaped cutter where the horizontal line touches the line for the handle.  Push the cutter into the melon. Make a second cut next to the first cut.  You want to be sure your cuts are connecting.  Work your way around the melon, away from the “handle” continuing to make cuts.  Be sure to push into the melon so that you are cutting through the rind.
4. Continue around the melon until you reach the marking for the handle in the back of the melon.  Take the cutter and make cuts up and along the edge of the handle.  Repeat this process until you have worked your way all the way around the melon and the handle.
5. Once you have finished with your cutting, now you will work one of the sections loose from the handle area.
6. Carefully lift off the side pieces. Remove fruit from both sections and cut into balls.
7. Once all the watermelon is removed, wrap the watermelon basket in plastic wrap and chill until you are ready to fill it with mixed fruit.
8.  When it is time for the party, fill the basket with a mixed fruit salad.  Enjoy!

Tableware

Now that we have the menu figured out, we need a few decorations & tableware to round out our celebration!

If you have been following me for a bit, you know that my Mom liked a lot of things. And she kept most of them!  She loved to decorate her tables for the various holidays.  She  had several different sets of dishes and lots of different things to use as centerpieces.  She loved to decorate with the American Flag and other red, white and blue items.  I think I may have inherited my decorating gene from her!

One of the cutest things I found when I was going thru her things was this adorable California Farmhouse relish set!  I love to use it when we have a cookout! Isn’t it just adorable?

To keep things simple for this celebration, I decided to use the place mats and tableware that I used for a previous late Summer celebration.   All of the details can be found here: How to Create A Simple Summer Tablescape

Using paper & plastic will make the clean up super quick & easy as well!  If you prefer to use plates that can be used more than once, I really like plates made from melamine. 

Now I think it is thyme to sit back & relax!

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