So, it’s Memorial Day Weekend and you don’t have any plans. Stop sweating! Here are a some great tips from Paula to throw the perfect Memorial Day Grilled Picnic! We’ve got you covered from A to Z for all you need to know for a great grill-filled weekend.
Let’s get started with the basics. Here’s a list of everything that you’ll need for fun in the sun.
Perfect Picnic Checklist
- A bottle of sunscreen for all to share
- Napkins, preferably cloth
- Melamine plates, both large and medium
- Reusable flatware, forks for everyone usually works
- Serving utensils—three should do it
- Thermos for soup or cold drinks
- Stemless wine glasses—small tumblers are good
- Corkscrew and bottle/can opener
- An assortment of condiments in plastic squeeze bottles
- Paring knife
- Cutting board
- Coarse salt in a jar and pepper mill, or salt and peppershakers
- Damp wipes, soft cloths or paper towels for washing up
- Little flower vase for wildflowers
- Plastic bags for leftovers
- Garbage bag
- A camera
- Blanket, bedspread, beach towel or quilt—cotton is best and can go in the wash
Now that we’ve got you all set with your Memorial Day picnic supplies, what are you going to make?
Paula’s Top Recipes for the Grill
- Simple Grilled Baby Back Racks
- Grilled Cheese and Jalapeño Poppers
- Grilled Tuna with Olive Tapenade
- Apple and Grilled Chicken Pizza
- Cherry Balsamic Grilled Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Did you know that you can even grill vegetables? We’ve got some handy tips, and even more recipes for grilled vegetables!
Tips for Grilling Your Vegetables
- Spray the grill with non-stick cooking spray prior to heating the grill to help make clean up a snap.
- Use kosher salt or sea salt on your vegetables to bring out extra moisture. Seasoning with salt and pepper both before and after grilling helps to make them sweet and full of flavor.
- Prevent your vegetables from drying out on the grill by soaking them in cold water first.
And now, because we always keep our word in the Test Kitchen, are some great grilled vegetable recipes:
