Even though Memorial Day is the “official” kick off to summer, it sure feels like it is already summer here in North Carolina… I could not be more excited. I am not a big fan of the cold weather and staying inside, so as soon as the temperatures warm up I am ready to start spending my days outside enjoying the warm summer air!
One of my favorite things to do this time of year is entertaining all of our loved ones by hosting big cookouts with all of our family and friends. When my husband and I built our house, we made sure to choose a family-friendly neighborhood. The street we live on is filled with couples who also have children who are similar ages to ours. We’ve become friends with many of our neighbors over the years as our children have played and grown together.
Every year, as soon as the weather gets warm out, we start planning cookouts. Nothing says summertime like the smell of our favorite foods cooking on the grill!
Our friends and neighbors all sign up to bring different items to the cookouts. Some will bring meats for grilling, while others bring side dishes, salads, desserts, and drinks. We see a lot of favorite recipes that make an appearance at every gathering, but we also see fun new recipes as well. I love to find new recipes to try out every summer to spice things up a little.
I’ve already started planning our cookout for Memorial Day and can’t wait for the big day. I’ve collected lots of great recipes that I’m interested in trying and know they’ll all be perfect for the cookout.
We’ll need lots of great side dishes for the cookout. I thought they would all be perfect for Memorial Day. Since we have several vegan neighbors who might attend, I found a few recipes that they might love as well.
Want more recipes? Find awesome recipes here at A Helicopter Mom!
