It's Time to Fire Up the Barbecue

Each Thursday, we feature Patch Picks, highlighting editors' and readers' top picks for great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off and more.  On the agenda this week? Recipes for Memorial Day.

It's the first official weekend of summer: Memorial Day weekend. In my family, it is a tradition to throw a big Memorial Day barbecue filled with delicious fried chicken, pulled pork, fruit and pasta salads, plus plenty of desserts. For this week's Patch's Picks I'm sharing some of my favorite recipes. Make sure to share your's too.

Grandma's Fried Chicken

There has never been a holiday without my grandma-in-law's famous fried chicken. I have decided, after much taste testing for you, that there is no other recipe that can beat it. Sprinkle garlic salt and lemon pepper on some wings and thighs. Dip the chicken in egg, then flour, then add a little pepper. Fry them up! Her recipe is simple, but here are some important notes. Don't put too many pieces in the pan as it will not cook as well. Make sure to use Lawry's. And eat while hot!

BBQ Bacon Blue Cheese Sliders

My husband and I put together this recipe when we were having a barbecue one summer. Since then it has been a frequent request at our gatherings. Fry up some bacon, let it cool, then chop into little pieces. Finely chop a sweet onion and cook until soft. Let it cool. In a bowl, add the bacon, onion, two pounds ground beef, a cup of blue cheese and one egg. Add garlic salt, lemon pepper, pepper, and regular salt. Combine everything together (your hands will get cold!) and form into mini patties. Heat up the grill and start cooking. Use King's Hawaiian Sweet Rolls and add extra blue cheese on top for extra flavor. 

Watermelon Fruit Bowl

To me, nothing is better this time of year than the wide variety of fresh fruits. We are blessed to have so much great produce. So what better dish to have on the side than a big bowl of fruit. Plus it's easy to do. Gather your favorite fruit like strawberries, blackberries, pineapple, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon. Cut a watermelon in half and carve it out. Chop up all the fruit, including the watermelon, and place back in the watermelon half. For my step my step process click here.

Baked Beans

What else screams "summer bbq" like a bit pot of baked beans? Perfect with burgers, chicken, hot dogs and more. Whether you like them with bacon or not, I have always liked to follow this recipe. If you want a little more kick, add some sliced jalapeno or diced green chiles. Another favorite of mine is this one. If you try them out, let me know which one you like best.

Dessert Bar

When you have a gathering, it's nice to offer a variety of treats. Try whipping up some fun cookies. Shopping at  or and grabbing their tastiest treats never hurts. Neither does my friend Pillsbury! If you are into making a family-friendly dessert, try some cupcakes, sorbet or a moist lemon cake. Recently, I made some lemon sorbet which was simple with only sugar, water and lemon juice. If you have an ice cream-maker, check out this recipe, and to go along with it, try making this lemon cake. I promise it is worth every step. Want something simple? Grab some Hostess shortcakes and top them with fresh cut strawberries and whipped cream.