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Labor Day Picnic Menu

Appetizers

Pimento Cheese with Bacon

Pimento Cheese with Bacon

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons cream cheese
  • 2 cups grated sharp Cheddar
  • 1 cup grated Monterey Jack
  • 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 4-oz. jar chopped pimentos, drained
  • 2 tablespoons sweet relish
  • 4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

Preparation

In a food processor pulse together cream cheese and Cheddar and Jack cheeses with mayonnaise and onion powder. Add pimentos and relish and pulse until blended but still chunky. Stir in bacon, transfer to a bowl, cover and chill at least 1 hour to allow flavors to develop. Serve with bread, crackers or chips, or spoon into celery ribs.

All You AUGUST 2008

White Bean Dip

White Bean Dip

Ingredients

  • 1 15.5-oz. can cannellini beans
  • 1 small shallot, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, chopped
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Preparation

In a food processor puree all ingredients until smooth. Transfer to serving bowl and chill for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to develop. Serve with crudités.

All You AUGUST 2008

Main Dishes

Tex-Mex Chicken Club Wraps

Tex-Mex Chicken Club Wraps

Ingredients

  • Marinade:
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • Wraps:
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup light mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped canned, seeded chipotle chili
  • 8 10-inch flour tortillas
  • 16 slices bacon, cooked
  • 16 slices pepper Jack
  • 3 tomatoes, thinly sliced
  • 2 avocados, peeled, pitted and thinly sliced
  • 1 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 cups shredded green-leaf lettuce

Preparation

Make marinade: Mix all ingredients in a ziplock bag. Add chicken, seal bag, rub marinade all over and chill at least 2 hours.

Preheat grill to mediumlow and cook chicken, 6 minutes per side, until cooked through. Let cool, then slice. Mix mayonnaise and chili.

Assemble wraps: Spread mayonnaise mixture over tortillas. Divide all ingredients among tortillas. Roll up; serve.

All You AUGUST 2008

Grilled Sausages with Mixed-Pepper Compote

Serve grilled chicken, turkey, or pork sausages, serve on hot dog buns, and top with Mixed-Pepper Compote—a mixture of bell peppers and onions seasoned with garlic, chili powder and Italian seasoning. This recipe makes 12 servings, so it’s great for summer entertaining.

Grilled Sausages with Mixed-Pepper Compote

Ingredients

  • 2 sweet onions, sliced into 1/2-inch rings
  • Salt and pepper
  • 12 chicken, turkey or pork sausages
  • 12 top-sliced hot dog buns

Preparation

Preheat grill to mediumlow. Push a metal skewer through onion rings horizontally.

Mist onion rings with nonstick cooking spray; season with salt and pepper. Grill for 20 minutes, turning often, until tender. Remove from grill, cut each ring in half and separate. Set aside.

Grill sausages, turning often, until a meat thermometer registers 170°F when stuck into thickest part, 20 minutes. Serve in buns with onions and pepper compote.

All You AUGUST 2008

Side Dishes

Grilled-Vegetable Succotash Salad

Grilled-Vegetable Succotash Salad

Ingredients

  • Salad:
  • 6 ears corn, shucked
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 small zucchini, halved lengthwise
  • 1 eggplant, quartered lengthwise
  • 1 red onion, cut into 1/2-inch rings
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded, cut into 4 pieces
  • 1 10-oz. package frozen baby lima beans
  • Vinaigrette:
  • 1/4 cup cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/3 cup olive oil

Preparation

Make salad: Preheat grill to medium. Brush corn with oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill for 10 minutes. Cool; cut off kernels. Place in a large serving bowl.

Brush zucchini, eggplant, onion and pepper with oil; season with salt and pepper. Push a metal skewer through onion rings horizontally. Grill vegetables, turning often, until softened but firm, about 7 minutes. Cool; cut into chunks and add to bowl.

Cook lima beans according to package directions; plunge into cold water to stop cooking. Add to bowl with vegetables.

Make vinaigrette: Whisk together all ingredients except oil. Pour in oil in a steady stream, whisking constantly. Pour over veggies; toss. Serve at room temperature.

All You AUGUST 2008

Pesto Pasta Salad

An easy homemade pesto elevates a casual pasta salad recipe to a must-try dish. Pasta salads are ideal for summer days when it's too hot to eat fresh-from-the-oven dishes.

Pesto Pasta Salad

Ingredients

  • Pesto:
  • 3 cups packed fresh basil
  • 1 cup packed fresh parsley
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • Salad:
  • 1 pound gemelli or other short pasta
  • 1 cup plain 2 percent Greek yogurt
  • 2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

Preparation

Make pesto: In a food processor puree basil, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper and pine nuts until smooth. With motor running, add olive oil and process until a thick paste forms. Add Parmesan and pulse twice. Season with more salt and pepper, if desired.

Make salad: Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and run under cold water to stop cooking.

In a large bowl, combine pesto and Greek yogurt and stir until well blended. Add cold pasta and toss to coat with dressing. Top with tomatoes. Serve salad at room temperature or cover and refrigerate to serve chilled.

All You AUGUST 2008

Watermelon and Feta Salad

Watermelon and Feta Salad

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
  • 8 cups diced seedless watermelon
  • 1 chopped sweet onion
  • 1 chopped, seeded English cucumber
  • 4 ounces feta cheese

Preparation

Whisk 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper and 3 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint. Toss with 8 cups diced seedless watermelon, 1 chopped sweet onion and 1 chopped, seeded English cucumber. Crumble 4 oz. feta on top.

All You AUGUST 2008

Desserts

Deep-Dish Peach Pie

Nothing says "summertime" like a homemade peach pie.  The filling mixture is thickened with both tapioca and cornstarch, and a sprinkling of sugar over the crust adds a bit more sweetness.

Deep-Dish Peach Pie

Ingredients

  • Crust:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 teaspoons sugar
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into pieces
  • 8 tablespoons solid vegetable shortening, chilled and cut into pieces
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1 large egg white, lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • Filling:
  • 3 pounds ripe peaches
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 cup sugar
  • Pinch salt
  • 1/4 cup instant tapioca
  • 4 tablespoons cornstarch

Preparation

Make crust: In a food processor pulse flour, salt, cinnamon and sugar. Add butter and shortening; pulse until mixture resembles bread crumbs. Beat yolks with 1/4 cup ice water and pour onto flour mixture. Pulse until dough just comes together into a ball (add more ice water, 1 tsp. at a time, if dough is too dry). Flatten dough into a disk, wrap in plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes.

Make filling: Bring a pot of water to a boil and have ready a bowl of ice water. With a knife make a few slits in skin of each peach. Drop peaches into boiling water for 1 minute, then plunge into ice water. Remove peaches from water and slip off skins. Quarter each peach, remove pit, and cut each quarter in half. Toss peaches with remaining filling ingredients. Let stand for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll out half of pastry to an 11-inch circle. Cut a 1-inch-wide strip from outer edge of pastry. Place trimmed pastry circle in a deep-dish 9-inch pie plate. Brush edge with water and place pastry strip on edge, pressing to seal. Fill with peach mixture. Place remaining pastry over pie dish. Press pastry together, trim any excess and crimp edges together to seal.

Brush top of pie with beaten egg white and sprinkle with sugar. Make a few slits in top crust to allow steam to escape. Place pie on lined baking sheet.

Bake for 20 minutes, then reduce heat to 375°F and bake for 40 minutes, until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Let pie cool on a wire rack for at least 25 minutes before serving.

All You AUGUST 2008

Fresh Fruit in Watermelon Bowl

Make this colorful watermelon bowl the centerpiece of your summer tablescape.

Fresh Fruit in Watermelon Bowl

Ingredients

  • 1 whole seedless watermelon (about 12 lb.)
  • 10 cups assorted prepared seasonal fruits such as cantaloupe and honeydew melon balls, blueberries, halved strawberries, cubed pineapple, diced mangos, sliced kiwis, sliced nectarines and seedless grapes

Preparation

Cut a small piece off one side of watermelon. Remove just enough to allow watermelon to sit flat, lengthwise; be careful not to break through rind. Score a line lightly around top third of watermelon (the line may be straight or serrated, as shown in photo, left). Carefully cut through line. Scoop out flesh from base (use it for the Watermelon and Feta Salad recipe on p. 114), taking care to leave rind intact. Fill bowl with prepared fruit and serve.

All You AUGUST 2008

Beverage

Ginger Limeade

Ginger Limeade

Ingredients

  • 8 cups water
  • 2 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh ginger
  • 2 cups fresh lime juice
  • 4 cups chilled ginger ale

Preparation

Mix 8 cups water, 2 1/2 cups sugar and 1/2 cup chopped fresh ginger in a heavy pan over medium heat; stir until sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Cool completely; strain. In a large pitcher combine sugar syrup, 2 cups fresh lime juice and 4 cups chilled ginger ale. Serve over ice.

All You AUGUST 2008

Formal Menu Top Labor Day Picnic Menu

Appetizers

Pimento Cheese with Bacon

White Bean Dip

Main Dishes

Tex-Mex Chicken Club Wraps

Grilled Sausages with Mixed-Pepper Compote

Side Dishes

Grilled-Vegetable Succotash Salad

Pesto Pasta Salad

Watermelon and Feta Salad

Desserts

Deep-Dish Peach Pie

Fresh Fruit in Watermelon Bowl

Beverage

Ginger Limeade

All You

Formal Menu Bottom

Shopping List for Labor Day Picnic Menu

While it's still warm, enjoy this easy, al fresco meal. (Serves 8)

Shopping List:

Baking

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 1/2 cups sugar

Canned

  • 1 15.5-oz. can cannellini beans
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste

Dairy

  • 4 tablespoons cream cheese
  • 2 cups grated sharp Cheddar
  • 1 cup grated Monterey Jack
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into pieces
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1 large egg white, lightly beaten

Frozen

  • 1 10-oz. package frozen baby lima beans

Meat

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Other

  • Marinade:
  • Wraps:
  • Salad:
  • Pesto:
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
  • Crust:
  • 8 cups water

Produce

  • 1 small shallot, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, chopped
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
  • 2 sweet onions, sliced into 1/2-inch rings
  • 6 ears corn, shucked
  • 2 small zucchini, halved lengthwise
  • 1 eggplant, quartered lengthwise
  • 1 red onion, cut into 1/2-inch rings
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded, cut into 4 pieces
  • 3 cups packed fresh basil
  • 1 cup packed fresh parsley
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
  • 1 whole seedless watermelon (about 12 lb.)
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh ginger

Spices

  • 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 8 tablespoons solid vegetable shortening, chilled and cut into pieces

Recipe List

Appetizers

Pimento Cheese with Bacon

White Bean Dip

Main Dishes

Tex-Mex Chicken Club Wraps

Grilled Sausages with Mixed-Pepper Compote

Side Dishes

Grilled-Vegetable Succotash Salad

Pesto Pasta Salad

Watermelon and Feta Salad

Desserts

Deep-Dish Peach Pie

Fresh Fruit in Watermelon Bowl

Beverage

Ginger Limeade

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Labor Day Picnic Menu
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