Written by Jaime Fawcett

All of us at Talklocal want your coming weekend to be a celebration with family and friends, to help remember all those who have fought and are still fighting over seas. We’ve got a list of decorating ideas, recipes, and tips to help you throw a memorable celebration for Memorial Day.

Flowers of Red, White, and Blue

One of the oldest traditions for Memorial Day is leaving flowers. Contact your local florist to find wonderful arrangements to leave for someone you’d like to remember. Make your own memorial with a loved one’s favorite flower, pictures, and wreaths to keep them present at home. If you’re not quite ready to bust out the Fourth of July decorations, buy smaller arrangements of red tulips, white daisies, and blue lilies to give a patriotic flare for the backyard barbecue.

Cool Foods

Memorial Day is the first holiday to reign in the new warm spring weather. While you’ll probably be heating up over the hot grill cooking burgers and dogs, cool down with some delicious cold foods. Try some of these delicious and refreshing recipes.

Antipasto Salad

Ingredients

Red Wine Vinaigrette:

1 bunch fresh basil, stemmed and leaves chopped (about 2 cups)

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1 clove garlic

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Antipasto Salad:

1 pound fusilli pasta

1/2 cup hard salami, cut into strips (about 3 ounces)

1/2 cup smoked turkey, cut into strips (about 3 ounces)

1/4 cup provolone cheese, cut into strips

1/4 cup grated Asiago cheese

2 tablespoons green olives, halved and pitted

2 tablespoons roasted red peppers, cut into strips

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Vinaigrette: In a blender, add the basil, vinegar, garlic, mustard, salt, and pepper. Blend until the herbs are finely chopped. With the machine running, drizzle in the olive oil until the dressing is smooth.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta.

In a large bowl, toss together the cooked pasta with the remaining salad ingredients. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat. Serve.

Red White and Blue Fruit Salad

Directions

Mix 2 cups each of sliced strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Sprinkle lightly with sugar. Add whipped cream on top when serving. Easy to halve, double, or triple depending on how many you’re cooking for.

Mayo-Free Potato Salad

Directions

Cook 3 pounds sliced red potatoes in salted simmering water for about 8 minutes. Drain, then toss with 1/4 cup each chicken broth and white wine; let sit 5 minutes. Whisk 1/3 cup white wine vinegar, 3 tablespoons dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds and a pinch of sugar in a bowl; whisk in 1/2 cup olive oil, and salt and pepper. Toss with the potatoes, then chill 2 hours. Top with chives.

Let TalkLocal Help You Plan the Perfect Party!

Hosting a large party? Look for a party planner or caterer to help decorate and serve finger foods throughout the event to supplement home cooked dishes.

Want to fix up? If a few backyard projects slipped your mind hire a handyman to mow the lawn, trim the hedges or give the deck a fresh staining before your guests arrive. Talklocal can find the right professionals to help you throw a memorable celebration for Memorial Day.