14 dishes that will rock your Labor Day

With Labor Day right around the corner for most of us it’s the last cookout of the summer.  Now for those of you on the West Coast who sees the sun more than 14 days in the summer (unlike us in the ‘Burgh) this won’t be your last hurrah of the summer. For a lot of people, Labor Day means two things: a day off and the end of summer. But why is it called Labor Day? Labor Day is a day set aside to pay tribute to working men and women. It has been celebrated as a national holiday in the United States and Canada since 1894.

And for a lot of us this is the last day off from work until Thanksgiving (in the US) so we tend to make this 3-day weekend a big ol’ blow out.  For Mr. Fantabulous and I we are taking it easy.  With my still in the hospital all plans are on hold. For me the best medicine is to be at home with my hubby.

With Labor Day coming up, more ‘rules’ if you will come into play. You can’t wear white after Labor Day.

The roots of the idea that people should not wear white after Labor Day appear to be shrouded in mystery, and the rule has been greatly relaxed since the 1950s and 1960s, when it was more heavily enforced. People who choose to wear white into the fall are no longer heavily criticized for the choice, and are sometimes embraced as fashion forward trendsetters.There are several theories about the the rule that governs people who wear white after Labor Day. The first and most sensible is that it reminded people not to wear summer weight clothing during the winter. It may be tempting to don a pair of light pumps in the crisp weather of early fall, but changing weather can make it an unwise decision. By not wearing white shoes after Labor Day, people can ensure that they don’t end up with soiled, cold shoes. It is also conceivable that the the rule was adopted as part of a larger movement to “educate”. TYVM Google for that tidbit.  Please, I wear what I want when I want to which means  I rarely am in style but hey, I’m at least comfortable, right?!

Labor day signifies the end of summer.  No more summer vacations, flip flops and laying out by the pool. It’s time to get real, get new school clothes, break out the fall jackets and *shudder* soon to follow winter sweaters. But there are a few positives – no more sweltering heat, no 987% humidity if you live in Pittsburgh and no more seeing funky feet of people that should NOT wear open toed shoes. Yes – you know who you are.

Did you good summer?  Take a family vacation?  Get in all of those amusement parks you wanted?

But like most Americans we’re all about that 3-day holiday that is packed full of foods, libations and good times. What’s a must-have at your cook out?  Burgers and hot dogs? Potato and macaroni salad?  For me I always kept it  different. I get tired of the same ol’ thing. Sure there are wings, burgers and dogs but I also like to serve a variety of dishes.  Some fall under the thinking of  a huge batch of 3 things on a buffet table (which I do like ) while some serve small samplings of 15 different dishes.  Which one are you?

So however you celebrate this holiday, do it safely, make some of these amazing recipes and have a blast!

♥ Crispy Bacon Wrapped Green Beans Fries
♥ Grilled Zucchini Pizza Bites
♥ One Pot Pastabilities
♥ Pickle Pinwheel Pops
♥ Sprinkle Chocolate Cake Chocolate Bark
♥ Summer Berry Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
♥ Wings out the wazoo
♥ Stuffed Roasted Tomatoes
♥ Chorizo Sliders
♥ Crab Stuffed Zucchini Appetizers
♥ Ultimate Lobster Rolls
♥ Baked Sriracha Glazed Man Candy Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings
♥ Peanut Butter Cup Oreo Rice Krispie Bars