There’s something about long weekends that make me want to grill out. Memorial Day Weekend, Fourth of July, Labor Day…it’s like the heat outside isn’t enough, so we all just want to sweat over a hot grill. I don’t know what it is honestly, but I also find myself wanting pies….lots and lots of pies. Which completely counteracts all of my efforts at the gym…but whatever, it’s a holiday right?!
I posted a couple of recipes awhile ago that I think are worth pulling back out for this holiday weekend. I’m telling you today because in case you’re a planner (unlike myself) you might want to hit the grocery store tonight before all the weekend traffic makes it insane and everyone else buys up all the goodies I’m about to suggest that you make.
First off is Ribs. Baby back ribs that fall off the bone and are so good they make you want to smack your momma. Ok…so maybe they won’t make you want to smack your momma, but what I’m saying is that they’re so good they make you a little crazy. Which you’d have to be to actually smack you momma I’m thinking.
Anyhow…make them. They are good, and you will love them. Your friends that you’re hanging out with over the weekend will love them too…and subsequently they will probably love you more for making them. HERE is the recipe. I even took pictures along the way to make it easier to follow in case the idea of ribs intimidate you.
No holiday weekend meal is complete though without dessert. I personally don’t think you will always have your life for dessert if you don’t ever actually eat a dessert. 🙂 This one is seriously a favorite of mine…an all-time favorite. HERE is this recipe for my most favorite Classic Key Lime Pie.
My friend Amber called to ask me for some thoughts on pies yesterday, and we ended up talking about her menu for this weekend. This is pretty much the menu I recommended…and lo and behold she called me from the store today making sure she was getting the right stuff. And it got me to thinking…maybe there are more of you hemming and hawing over what to make and would just like a good suggestion. Well, here you go.
Best part about both of these recipes is that the bulk of the cooking can be done ahead. For the ribs, all you’ll have to do when your guests arrive is toss them on the grill since you will have done the pre-baking part earlier in the day. And the pie is best made in the morning or night before so that it sets up really well.
In my opinion, the key to easy and seamless entertaining (and the kind where you actually have fun too) is to do as much as you can in advance of having guests arrive. Set your table early in the day, pre-select serving platters for your food items and put sticky notes in the center of each one reminding you what dish goes where, make your drinks ahead, cook as much as humanly possible ahead, and the real key is selecting a menu that allows you to do that. By the time people arrive, whatever didn’t get done…let it go. It’s always better to enjoy the people coming than to stress about the things they’ll never even realize were “supposed to happen.”
Come back tomorrow too. I have a really hilariously fun craft/meal to share that your kids will LOVE! Ok…you will love it too. I did. There’s just something fun about kid stuff that makes me want to be a kid again too!
Thanks for the suggestions!! Add some sides, lemonada and Firefly for sipping and I might not be able to move after making this yummy food! Hopefully will turn out as good as yours! You’re the best!