Memorial Day is the perfect time to gather around with family and friends, and what better way to keep everyone munching than with some finger foods? Not every party demands a full meal, and these tasty, bite-sized treats are perfect for snacking while you enjoy the sunshine and good company, And since you don’t need silverware, it frees up a hand to hold an ice cold drink—who doesn’t love that?

Finger-Food Appetizers

Deviled eggs are a classic Memorial Day finger food option—try these BLT Deviled Eggs or Pimiento Cheese Bacon Deviled Farm Eggs for a twist on the classic version. For something a little sweet and savory, try Pecan Stuffed Dates or Bacon, Blue Cheese & Fig Tartlets—both are easy to pop in your mouth and packed with flavor. If you’re wanting to satisfy the palates of your littlest guests, Pigs in a Blanket are always a winner, as are Bacon-Wrapped Saltines.

Finger-Food Entrées

Looking for something both handheld and a bit more substantial? Sliders are a great option—from Buffalo Chicken Sliders and Chicken Salad Sliders to Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders, Paula’s got you covered!

Finger-Food Desserts

And it’s just not a party without something sweet, and, yes, even your dessert can be handheld! You can’t go wrong with Paula’s Strawberry Tiramisu Bites or Blueberry Cream Cheese Tarts. They’re both fruity, light, and the perfect way to get just the right amount of sweetness!

Which Memorial Day finger food recipes are you planning on serving up? Let us know in the comments below!

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Make-Ahead Appetizers

Start things off with Paula’s Southern Cucumber Salad—it’s refreshing and full of flavor, and, as an added bonus, it’s even better when made ahead because the flavors have a chance to really marinate together. Another great starter option is Paula’s Tomatoes Stuffed with Chicken Salad appetizer! Not only does this make-ahead appetizer make your life a little easier, but it’s easy for your guests to enjoy as well—no silverware needed!

Make-Ahead Entrées 

When it comes to the entrées for Memorial Day, you may want to stick with classic burgers, brats, hot dogs, or grilled chicken, but if you even want to get your main course prepped ahead of time, Paula’s Light Lobster Roll recipe is a great option. Make the filling ahead of time and stick it in the fridge until mealtime. Then, everyone can prep their own sandwich!

Make-Ahead Sides

Sides are one of the easiest ways to work ahead—for instance, you can’t go wrong with a Southern Coleslaw or Southern Pasta Salad, both of which are classic make-ahead recipes. If you’re looking for something even fresher, try a Watermelon and Cucumber Salad or Corn and Carrot Salad with Golden Raisins. And of course, every cookout needs a good Mac and Cheese recipe. Plus, this Barbecue Baked Bean Casserole isn’t just any average baked bean recipe—we promise your guests will go crazy over it!

Make-Ahead Desserts

Of course, we can’t forget the dessert! Paula has plenty of make-ahead Memorial Day dessert recipes, including Strawberry Cream Pie and a Blueberry Cream Pie, both of which will satisfy that sweet tooth! For something a little less conventional, serve up a slice of this incredible Strawberry Pretzel Salad recipe for a salty, sweet, creamy, and crunchy treat.

Make-Ahead Drink

Lastly, be sure to prep something refreshing to sip on—Paula’s Black Cherry Limeade will keep everyone cool!

Make It Easy with Make-Ahead Recipes

Now that you’ve had a taste of Paula’s make-ahead Memorial Day recipes, be sure to check out the full list of ideas below! And with most of your dishes now prepped and ready ahead of time, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the day with your loved ones. Have a blessed Memorial Day, y’all!

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Labor Day is all about taking it easy, spending time with loved ones, and enjoying the last bit of summer sunshine. So why fuss over fancy recipes when you can whip up some down-home favorites in a jiffy? From grilled BBQ chicken and juicy burger recipes to quick salad recipes and easy lemon bars, these easy recipes are sure to please even the pickiest eaters. And with these easy Labor Day recipes, you’ll spend less time cooking and more time enjoying the company of your nearest and dearest.

So, my friends, as we bid farewell to summer and prepare to usher in fall, let’s take a moment to appreciate the simple pleasures of good food, good company, and good times. Happy Labor Day, y’all! Now, who’s ready for seconds?

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Picnics, potlucks, parties—with the warmer weather comes plenty of opportunities to eat and hang out with our family and friends. And every sweet opportunity to spend time with our loved ones deserves a sweet ending, don’t you think? When we think about spring dessert recipes, pie is one type of dessert that immediately comes to mind!

There are so many ways to use spring’s best flavors in pies, from coconut and chocolate to berries and citrus fruits. Pies can also be incredibly easy to make! While a homemade pie crust is always a treat, it can also be a labor of love! Pre-made pie crusts can be found at any grocery store, and they significantly reduce the time and effort it takes to put together one of our favorite sweet treats.

Whether you prefer a store-bought crust or a homemade one, a cookie crust or a classic pastry crust, you simply must try some of these spring pie recipes, y’all!

What’s your favorite pie recipe? Let us know in the comments, won’t you?

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We don’t know about y’all, but we’re looking forward to a long weekend and enjoying these Memorial Day grilling ideas with some of our favorite people. How will you be honoring Memorial Day? And what will you be grilling? Leave a comment below to let us know!

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From a grilled salmon recipe and a Southern fried chicken recipe to recipes for how to grill steaks, we’ve assembled tons of great Father’s Day dinner ideas. We even included some healthy main course recipes, like a Chopped Crunch Salad!

Will you be making any of these main courses for Father’s Day? What is your favorite dad’s favorite meal? We’d love to hear from y’all in the comments below!

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Utilizing strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and cherries in tandem with whipped cream, yogurt, or some other creamy filling easily pulls in the red, white, and blue to maximize the patriotic effect of your food table.

These red, white, and blue dessert recipes with fruit will add a berry patriotic look to your celebration, but what else will you be serving this Memorial Day? Let us know in the comments below!

And just as a reminder, while you’re enjoying your patriotic sweets, your day off, and your cookouts, take a moment to reflect on why we have these privileges in the first place.

The post A Berry Patriotic Celebration appeared first on Paula Deen.

First up, grab your ingredients. You’ll need the following:

• 1 (9-inch) pie plate
• 1 (9-inch) baked pie crust (Make your own pie crust or pick up a pre-made pie shell from your grocery store.)
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 4 tomatoes, peeled & sliced (Use your favorite tomatoes—roma, beefsteak, or on-the-vine or really dress it up and use a variety of colors and sizes of beautiful heirloom tomatoes!)
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 4 ounces grated white cheddar cheese
• 4 ounces grated yellow cheddar cheese
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Once your ingredients are prepped and together, preheat your oven to 350˚F. Place your pie crust into your pie pan and then spread the inside of the pie crust with the Dijon mustard.

Next up, layer in half of the tomatoes (pro-tip: save the prettiest slices for later) before sprinkling them with a little salt and pepper, to taste. Now top the seasoned tomatoes with both the white and yellow Cheddar cheese. Paula likes to grate her own, but if you’re looking to save time, the already shredded cheese in the bag works just as well.

Next up, you’re going to mix the mayonnaise with the Parmesan cheese before spreading it over the top of the pie. This step adds the creaminess that is so important to a Southern tomato pie. 

Now you’re going to bake the tomato pie for approximately 20 minutes. Once it’s bubbly, remove it from the oven and let it cool completely. Lastly, you’ll top it with the remaining, tomato slices. This will be the top of the pie, which is why we like to save the prettiest slices for the end. 

And that’s it folks—just serve it at room temperature with anything from burgers and ribs to fried chicken and pork chops. We love serving this traditional Southern Tomato Pie recipe at brunches, picnics, bridal showers, and barbecues. It’s such a versatile summer side dish!

Does your tomato pie vary from Paula’s recipe? Let us know in the comments below!

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After all, while we’re certainly not entirely free of stress, we’ve all experienced more than a normal amount recently. It feels good to finally be able to reconnect safely with our friends and family after a tough year plus, so getting together for a festive 4^th of July party feels extra wonderful and just so very… normal.

While the focus of our gatherings is on celebrating our country and our relationships with one another, food is also an important part of any get-together. While there is no shortage of recipes that have us cooking up until it’s time to host (or leave for) a party, wouldn’t it be better to enjoy some make-ahead 4^th of July recipes so that you’re not rushing around and starting your time together stressed? We certainly think so! So today, we’re sharing nine make-ahead Fourth of July recipes, including make-ahead main dishes, make-ahead side dish recipes, a make-ahead drink recipe, and a couple of fabulous make-ahead 4^th of July dessert recipes!

Will you be gathering with friends this 4^th of July? Let us know your plans in the comments below!

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Not letting the grill preheat properly: We know plenty of impatient grillers, and they do one of two things. They either put the food on before the grill is hot enough or they blast their charcoal with lighter fluid. If you don’t let your grill reach the right temperature, you’ll either burn the outside of the food or undercook the inside—and even worse, you could do both. And if you go wild with the lighter fluid, it can actually take even longer for your grill to be ready because it needs to burn off the lighter fluid—otherwise you’re eating burgers and veggies that take on a very chemical taste, and that’s neither healthy or delicious. And if you’re using a Kamado grill, never use lighter fluid—the ceramic body will trap that lighter fluid in there. The only solution to this mistake is having a little patience—and starting the grill 30 minutes or so before you’re wanting to start cooking.

Opening your grill too often: The key to creating spectacular dishes on a grill is consistent heat. Every time you open the lid of your grill to check on your food’s progress, your grill loses heat, and it takes time to reach your desired temperature again. Give it a reasonable amount of time before you open it up to check—after all, a watched pot doesn’t boil and an open grill doesn’t cook. If you’re concerned about the doneness of your food, invest in a grill with an internal meat probe that can check the temperature for you with the grill lid down.

Not using a meat thermometer: We take this one very seriously. Coming from a background in the restaurant industry, we’re super mindful of food safety. Chicken and pork have to reach specific temperatures in order to be safe for consumption. And when it comes to beef, we don’t want it to be under- or over-cooked. We always use a meat thermometer to make sure our dinner is safe and delicious. Again, we love a grill with an internal meat probe—the LIFESMART pellet grill has this feature and it will show the meat’s internal temp on an external display.

Not cleaning your grill: Some people say they don’t clean their grill because it adds more flavor to their food, but we have to disagree. That’s like saying you don’t wash your dirty casserole dishes because last week’s lasagna adds flavor. Baked on food bits and burnt bits of who-knows-what isn’t helping anyone—trust us. If you just hate doing it, you’ll save yourself a whole lot of elbow grease by giving it a quick scrape as soon as you finish grilling. The hot grease and food bits will come right off, and then you’re grill is ready for the next time you decide to fire it up.

Piling everything on the grill at once: We know y’all know this, but not all foods cook for the same amount of time. Zucchini takes considerably less time than a burger, which takes less time than a whole chicken. Be sure you pay attention to the different cook times and stagger when you put them on accordingly. This will ensure that everyone is eating everything all at once. Or if you’re waiting to serve the food until everything is done, your guests won’t have to eat cold brats. Take 5 minutes to make a plan of what time everything needs to go on. These few extra minutes will make mealtime a little extra enjoyable.

Pressing down on meats when cooking: For whatever reason, people seem to think that by pushing down and flattening a burger or steak that they’ll get to eat quicker. And sure, it may cook a little bit faster, but all you’re really accomplishing is that you’re pressing all the juices out of the meat. All that will be left when you’re done is a dry piece of meat, and let’s be honest—no one wants that. The solution to this one is simple—put the spatula down!

Not letting meat rest after cooking: We know it’s hard to wait to start chowing down on those burgers and steaks, especially if you’ve got hungry kids, but if you’ll give it just five to ten minutes, you’ll be so glad you did. The meats will be so much juicier. When you cut fresh-from-the-grill meats, you’ll often see the juices running out onto the plate, and if it’s running out onto the plate, guess where it isn’t. That’s right—it’s not in the meat! All you have to do to prevent this mistake is to have patience—or start cooking a few minutes earlier! Whichever you prefer.

Overcrowding the grill: We know—you’d rather spend your time eating with the family than standing over a hot grill, especially if you’re having a scorcher of a summer; however, by overcrowding the grill, you’re reducing some of the flavor you get from the grill. You’re not giving your food a chance to get that slightly smoky, charred crust that is so delicious. You’ll also have more time to move the food around as necessary.

Plus, think of it as a safety issue. If one piece of chicken catches on fire in a crowded grill, it will spread quickly. Goodbye, cookout. Hello, fire department!

All you have to do here is to cook in batches! Sure, it takes a little extra time, but isn’t a well-grilled meal worth a little extra effort?

If you’re in the market for an awesome grill, we love our grills by LIFESMART. They have one of the very best Kamado grills, and an awesome pellet grill, too, which is perfect for smoking and slow cooking. You can check out their line of LIFESMART grills right here.

Do you have any grilling tips or questions? Share them with us in the comments section below!

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