My Personal Chef is an Air Force brat. So, our FabFam is especially mindful to remember the soldiers who selflessly sacrificed their own lives in the defense of our nation's freedoms on Memorial Day. This year, we had the honor of hanging the flag that belonged to a former Army Ranger, and our Evil Genius marched in two local parades.
Memorial Day weekend is also the unofficial start of the summer season. Here in New England, where the winters are long and the springs are rainy and cool, this long, holiday weekend is highly anticipated as the harbinger of beach weather and summer fun to come.
Around the country, but definitely for my extended family, the "Memorial Day Barbecue" is a tradition. Some years, it's just a few relatives grilling burgers and hot dogs in the yard. Other years, we throw down with a gourmet menu and red,white, and blue-themed decor. Regardless, whether it is a simple gathering or an extravagant event, our Memorial Day Barbecue requires planning and preparation to be successful.
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We began discussing plans for a gathering of friends several weeks ago. We suggested to our friends that they watch the Evil Genius in a parade then come to our place for a barbecue. For one reason and another, it was decided that the get-together would be at another friend's home instead.
So imagine my surprise when at 11:55 AM yesterday, while at the hardware store picking up garden fencing and petunias, I received the following text: "What can we bring?" Yep. Apparently, we were to be hosting a Memorial Day Barbecue for approximately 20 people. In an hour. We were NOT prepared for a shindig. Our living room was filled with unfolded laundry and papers. My Personal Chef was in the yard up to his eyeballs in chicken wire. The bathrooms were a mess. And there was nothing in our house to eat.
Memorial Day weekend is also the unofficial start of the summer season. Here in New England, where the winters are long and the springs are rainy and cool, this long, holiday weekend is highly anticipated as the harbinger of beach weather and summer fun to come.
Around the country, but definitely for my extended family, the "Memorial Day Barbecue" is a tradition. Some years, it's just a few relatives grilling burgers and hot dogs in the yard. Other years, we throw down with a gourmet menu and red,white, and blue-themed decor. Regardless, whether it is a simple gathering or an extravagant event, our Memorial Day Barbecue requires planning and preparation to be successful.
We began discussing plans for a gathering of friends several weeks ago. We suggested to our friends that they watch the Evil Genius in a parade then come to our place for a barbecue. For one reason and another, it was decided that the get-together would be at another friend's home instead.
So imagine my surprise when at 11:55 AM yesterday, while at the hardware store picking up garden fencing and petunias, I received the following text: "What can we bring?" Yep. Apparently, we were to be hosting a Memorial Day Barbecue for approximately 20 people. In an hour. We were NOT prepared for a shindig. Our living room was filled with unfolded laundry and papers. My Personal Chef was in the yard up to his eyeballs in chicken wire. The bathrooms were a mess. And there was nothing in our house to eat.
What happened next is the stuff that legends are made out of.
Please note, we are highly trained catering professionals. It is not advisable to try this at home.
We had until the 1:00 PM parade step-off to pull a rabbit out of our hats. Laughing all the way, my Personal Chef went to the grocery store. I white tornadoed the old homestead. In 50 minutes, two bathrooms were cleaned to Nana Franna White Glove Standards. Two loads of laundry were folded and put away. The coffee table was unburied from the piles of papers, mail, and magazines. The dining room was set up as a red, white, & blue buffet. The screen porch was readied to receive guests. Burgers, dogs, and a caesar salad were set to go. Chicken and pork was getting all happy in the smoker. Veggies were prepped for grilling. A case of beer was iced down. And a pitcher of "Adult Limeade" was mixed up.
And so it was that we enjoyed a parade, were touched by a moving ceremony that honored our community's fallen soldiers and surviving veterans, and hosted a kick-ass barbecue feast with folks we love.
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