Memorable Memorial Day Ideas

Memorial Day is right around the corner. It’s all about honoring US armed forces, and thanking veterans. It’s also the unofficial start of the Summer (which technically doesn’t start until end of June), which means it’s the perfect time to host a great outdoor party.
Here are some memorable Memorial Day ideas for your grand gathering.

Decoration | Entertainment | Food

Decoration

Memorial Day should not be a somber occasion, so break out stars and stripes, plus lots of red, white and blue.

Go beyond basic “flag decor”, and brighten it up with a few patriotic rubber duckys. Fun for all!
Creators on Etsy are also constantly offering beautiful and original decorations for Memorial Day weekend.

Try out these American party cupcake toppers. Simple, and classy.

Don’t get bogged down on complex arrangements for your outdoor event. When in doubt, stay conservative. If you’re running out of time, try finding printable DIY decorations of your own. For example, you can embellish anything with some “party circles.” Fancy.

Entertainment

Although Memorial Day is not known for its entertainment value (besides frisbees), if you have kids around, it’s always a good idea to have some interesting activities going.
Chica and Jo showed us how to make a themed bean bag toss game with some patriotic flair. They have it all, from the supplies, to the sowing, and, of course, the rules. The bean bags are crafted around pockets from old jeans, with terra cotta saucers as the targets. It’s cute, it’s playful, and a great project to take on.
You can also test your knowledge the day of, with simple quizzes for all. Take a look at this one.

Food

Nothing beats good old grilling when it comes to Memorial Day. You should go for classic favorites like hamburgers, corn on the cob, and hot dogs. Don’t forget to add some grilled veggies (peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes).

If you don’t want the hassle of prepping food for dozens of people, make it a potluck. They bring it, you grill it. It’s a win/win: less work and new foods are thrown into the mix. Plus, everyone will end up eating what they like.

Embrace the meat, and the buns, with great burgers. Babble offered a couple years back delicious recipes for burgers and sliders. They may be from 2011, but they’re still as tasty. We recommend specifically their Easy Sliders with Caramelized Onions and Horseradish Mayo.

Servings: 8
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, sliced thin
8 slider buns
3 tablespoons mayo (we like Dukes)
1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon Coleman’s mustard powder (optional)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons salt
pepper
Piave cheese, cut into thin squares

Directions
For the onions
About 45 minutes before you plan to start the sliders, put the onions in a skillet with a tablespoon of butter over low heat. Stir occasionally.
For the sliders
In a mixing bowl, add the salt and pepper to the ground beef and knead thoroughly.
Form the beef into a ball and divide in half. Divide the halves in half and then once more so that you have 8 balls of about equal size. Flatten them into patties.
Heat a skillet over high heat, when it’s hot place the patties on it. Cook them about three minutes on each side, more if you need to, but remember these are thinner than burgers, so they will cook faster.
For the horseradish mayo
In a small bowl, combine the mayo, horseradish, mustard, mustard powder, and lemon juice. Whisk together with a fork.
Serve the sliders on buns with onions and horseradish mayo.

Season fruits, like strawberries and blueberries, are amazing easy dessert treats for Memorial Day. And they kinda look patriotic too.

Pies are the classic dessert, so why not make a special fruit tart for the occasion. Taste of Home gives us an easy recipe to make your own Star-Spangled Fruit Tart. It looks good, and it tastes even better.

Preparation time: 25 minutes
Baking time: 10 minutes (+ cooling)
Servings: 16
Ingredients:
1 tube (18 ounces) refrigerated sugar cookie dough, softened
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh raspberries
1 cup halved fresh strawberries

Directions
Press cookie dough onto an ungreased 12-in. pizza pan. Bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and extract until smooth. Spread over crust.
In center of tart, arrange berries in the shape of a star; add a berry border.
Refrigerate until serving.

What are some of your own Memorial Day traditions?