Labor Day Top Ten

I've had a few people ask me on here/email/Facebook what they should make for their Labor Day party. Well, my friends, I looked through a lot of my old posts and put together a list for you.

What are you doing for Labor Day? Big plans?

I'm not doing anything. It's pathetic. But I'm not working, and that's the most important thing. I've worked on Labor Day for at least the past five years.

If I were going to a Labor Day party I'd bring a dessert. In my opinion a fruit pie is the perfect dessert to bring to a Labor Day gathering. If my parents randomly ask me to come over on Monday for some barbecue, cornbread and baked beans, :D I would bring them a blueberry pie. Blueberry pie is our favorite family dessert.

1. Blueberry Pie
Blueberries are still in season and are cheap! In a few more weeks they'll be gone, or at a much higher price, so now's the time to buy them.



2. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake.
Oh my lawd. This was so good. Sometimes I dream of this cake. It was a lot of work to put it together, to be honest with you, but worth it. If you're looking to put a little more effort into a dessert, this is the one for you. Is it better than DQ's?? Well, I'll let you be the judge of that.



3. Strawberry-Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Pie
I'm not sure if anyone ever made this recipe, but it's a good one! I love the combination of vanilla bean, ricotta and cream cheese topped with the strawberry sauce.



4. Lemon Drop Cocktails
This isn't a dessert obviously, but I'm posting this because Labor Day is a good day for drinkin'. And not everyone likes beer. This cocktail was light and refreshing, due to the inclusion of lemonade and sparkling wine. And it has candy!!



5. Chocolate Cheesecake-Filled Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting
I've had a few people make these and really like them. I liked them too when I made them for my sister's baby shower. Who doesn't love chocolate cake, chocolate frosting and cheesecake?



6. Toasted Coconut-Banana Cream Pie
Two of my most favorite flavors in the world: banana and coconut. And whipped cream. Is that a flavor?



7. Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
This recipe is super simple and really delicious. You don't have to make a custard! There are no eggs involved! Homemade ice cream is the perfect Labor Day dessert. I wish I could make some more of this ice cream, but I can't because I was using my mom's ice cream maker at home when I created this recipe. But I think, actually, she has two ice cream makers now. Hmmm. Hmmm. *Cough*



8. Pink Pomegranate-Raspberry Sangria
More alcohol! Yaaaay! I made this sangria a couple of times a few years ago and I forgot about this recipe. It's refreshing and goooood. It has zinfandel wine it it, pomegranate schnapps, raspberry ginger beer and raspberries.



9. Mini Chocolate Chip Turtle Cookies
They're cute and mini and yummy, and everyone loves mini cookies.



10. Key Lime Pie
Key lime pie is always a nice refreshing summer-y dessert. You'll make some friends with this one.


I hope this gives you all some ideas! Have a fun and wonderful weekend.

A Few Things

Today is September 1st.

That means a few things.

1. Halloween is in two months so you better start shopping for decorations and candy. Right now! Right now, I tell you. Walmart and Dollar General had their stuff out two weeks ago, and that means you're late.

2. Labor Day weekend is this weekend and you need to start planning your desserts. I've had some requests for Labor Day dessert ideas so maybe I'll throw together a list.

That reminds me. Fellow family members out there! Hello hello hello - Are we doing anything for Labor Day?

3. Eric and I have lived together in our townhouse for six months! Can you believe that? The six months have flown by. I couldn't have asked for a better roommate.
He doesn't complain about the house smelling like stir fry and tofu every night (I like a lot of Asian food, haha), he takes out the trash, he brings me coffee, he helps me with computer stuff, and he's the perfect person to sit and drink an amaretto sour with. Thanks for being a wonderful boyfriend and roommate, Ericcakes! <3

A few more things I've learned from living on my own...

- Organic locally grown apples are amazing. See above picture. I bought apples from Bistro Market in downtown Springfield, and they are probably some of the most delicious apples I've ever eaten. Have any local readers visited Bistro Market? What did you think? Email me if you want to.

- Don't place your pepper grinder too close to the burners on the stove. I melted mine in the first week of living on my own. Now it won't stand up straight and it falls over all of the time and startles me.



- Buy Angel Soft toilet paper. You get twelve double rolls for the low, low price of $5. It's cheap and good, and all profits they make go towards babies.



- Do not buy frozen turkey burgers. These have been in our freezer for months. I love turkey burgers and always tell people how good they are, but that's because I usually make them from scratch and mix the meat with vegetables, spices, herbs, etc. I've cooked these frozen burgers a couple of times and they are bland and dry, dry, dry. Nothing against Jennie-O, though - I love their fresh turkey and turkey sausage.



- Lemon Crisp candles are a joy to have in the house. I really like this candle that I bought. Sometimes I start smelling it and I can't stop.



- Edamame is something you should keep in your freezer at all times. I throw the soybeans into pasta dishes, Asian dishes, but most of the time I eat them without anything at all. They're that good! And good for you.



- Lastly, water your herbs. Sigh. Maybe I'll have better luck next year.



R.I.P. Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.