Labor Day Menu

The Labor Day holiday weekend seems to signal the end of summer.  What a great time for a party!  Here are some ideas for your family or to bring to a pot luck.  Most feature using the last of the season vegetables.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Ingredients:

• 4 large, green tomatoes
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup milk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cornmeal
• ½ cup bread crumbs
• salt and pepper
• 1 quart vegetable oil for frying

Directions:

• Slice tomatoes ½ inch thick, discarding the ends.
• Whisk eggs and milk in a bowl.  Set flour in a plate or shallow bowl.  Mix cornmeal, breadcrumbs, and salt and pepper in another plate or shallow bowl.
• Dredge tomato slices in flour, egg mixure, then breadcrumb mixture.
• Heat oil in a large, deep skillet to 275 degrees.  
• Cook tomatoes in batches until crisp and golden brown on one side and then turn to fry on the other.
• Drain on paper towels.

Squash Casserole

Ingredients:

• 4 cups sliced yellow squash
• ½ cup chopped onion
• ¼ cup water, or more if needed
• 35 buttery round crackers, crushed
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 2 eggs
• ¾ cup milk
• ¼ cup butter, melted
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons butter

Directions:

• Put squash and onion in a large skillet with water.  Cover and cook until squash is tender.  Drain well and reserve.
• Combine cracker crumbs and cheese.
• Stir half the cracker mix into the cooked squash and onions.
• Whisk together eggs and milk and add to squash mixture.
• Add melted butter and season to taste.
• Place mixture into a prepared baking dish.  Sprinkle with remaining cracker mix and dot with butter.
• Bake in an oven preheated to 400 degrees until lightly browned.

Green Beans and Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and snapped
• 8 small “new” potatoes, diced
• 1 large clove garlic, minced or pressed
• ¼ cup chicken broth
• 1 ½ teaspoons white balsamic vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Cook bacon until evenly browned.  Drain on paper towels.
• Melt butter in another skillet.  Add onion and cook until onion is translucent.
• Add bacon, green beans, potatoes, garlic, and chicken broth.
• Bring to a boil, cover and simmer until beans and potatoes are tender.
• Season to taste.

Apple Slaw

Ingredients:

• 3 cups chopped cabbage
• 1 red apple, cored and chopped
• 1 Granny Smith apple, cored and chopped
• 1 carrot, grated
• ½ finely chopped bell pepper
• 2 green onions, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or to taste

Directions:

• Combine cabbage, apples, carrot, bell peppers and onions in a large bowl.
• Prepare dressing by mixing mayonnaise, sugar, and lemon juice.
• Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat evenly.

Cheesy Bacon Chicken Bites

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces thin sliced cheese, your choice, cut into 1 inch squares
• 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken
• 1 ½ pounds thin sliced bacon
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Season chicken cubes with ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon paprika and salt and pepper.
• Cut bacon strips in half.  Place one chicken cube at one end of the bacon strip and top it with a piece of cheese. Roll it up.  
• Combine brown sugar, chili powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, cayenne, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon onion powder. Dredge each bacon and chicken roll in this mixture, making sure it adheres
• Air Fryer:  Place each piece into the air fryer basket 1 inch apart and cook for 6 minutes at 400 degrees.  Flip each piece, sprinkle with a bit more brown sugar mixture and cook for another 6 to 8 minutes at 400 degrees.  Chicken will be done when bacon is crisp and dark, but not burned.
• Oven:  Bake in an oven preheated to 350 on a parchment lined baking sheet, 1 inch apart, for 25 minutes.  Flip each piece and return to the oven for another 10 minutes.  You may wish to carefully drain the excess grease before returning to the oven.