Tag Archives: Memorial Day

Fresh-Squeezed Pink Lemonade Recipe

There’s a nice balance of sweet and tart in this refreshing summer drink. It becomes perfectly pink with the addition of grape juice. —Cindy Bartnicki, Mount Prospect, Illinois

Yield: 6 Servings

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups water, divided
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 lemon peel strips
  • 1 cup lemon juice (about 5 lemons)
  • 1 tablespoon grape juice
  • Lemon slices and maraschino cherries, optional

 

Directions:

  1. In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups water, sugar and lemon peel to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Discard lemon peel.
  2. In a large pitcher, combine the remaining water, lemon juice, grape juice and sugar mixture. Serve over ice. Garnish with lemon slices and cherries if desired.

 

 

Nutritional Facts:
1 cup (calculated without optional ingredients) equals 141 calories, trace fat (trace saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1 mg sodium, 37 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, trace protein.
Originally published as Fresh-Squeezed Pink Lemonade in Reminisce August/September 2010, p47

 

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Honoring Memorial Day in the US

Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. It was formerly known as Decoration Day and commemorates all men and women, who have died in military service for the United States. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day and it is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season.

What do people do?
It is traditional to fly the flag of the United States at half mast from dawn until noon. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries. Memorial Day is combined with Jefferson Davis’ Birthday in Mississippi.

Image

Jefferson Finis Davis was the President of the Confederate States of America during the entire Civil War, 1861 to 1865.

Memorial Day has become less of an occasion of remembrance. Many people choose to hold picnics, sports events and family gatherings on this weekend. This day is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season for cultural events. For the fashion conscious, it is seen as acceptable to wear white clothing, particularly shoes from Memorial Day until Labor Day. However, fewer and fewer people follow this rule and many wear white clothing throughout the year.

Public life
Memorial Day is a federal holiday. All non-essential Government offices are closed, as are schools, businesses and other organizations. Most public transit systems do not run on their regular schedule. Many people see Memorial Day weekend as an opportunity to go on a short vacation or visit family or friends. This can cause some congestion on highways and at airports.

Background
Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers, who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern states honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men and women, who died in any war or military action.

Soldier decorates tombstones at Arlington National Cemetery with American flags

A soldier honors his fellow countrymen by decorating their tombstones with the American flag at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The current name for this day did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day and then Memorial Day used to be held on May 30, regardless of the day of the week, on which it fell. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create three-day weekends. This meant that that, from 1971, Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May. However, it took a longer period for all American states to recognize the new date.

Memorial Day

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.

Soldiers in Heaven

Little Jake asked his mother during the Memorial Day Parade: “Mamma, don’t soldiers ever go to heaven?”

“Of course they do!” protested his mother. “What makes you ask?”

“There are so many soldiers with beards but I never saw any pictures of angels with beards.” he replied.

The mother responded “Oh, that’s because most vets who go to Heaven get there by a close shave.”

 

Angel Waiting by Artist Todd Kasovetz

Angel Waiting by Artist Todd Krasovetz. For a copy and/or more information, click here.

 

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Let us remember as we fall asleep this Memorial Day those who fight and the many that have died to protect our freedom.

 

 

 

Honoring Memorial Day – May 30, 2016

Eagle mourns for veterans

All gave some.. Some gave all. Remember them this Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces. The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May, was formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the war. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who died while in the military service. It typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end.

Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.

Annual Decoration Days for particular cemeteries are held on a Sunday in late spring or early summer in some rural areas of the American South, notably in the mountain areas. In cases involving a family graveyard where remote ancestors as well as those who were deceased more recently are buried, this may take on the character of an extended family reunion to which some people travel hundreds of miles. People gather on the designated day and put flowers on graves and renew contacts with relatives and others. There often is a religious service and a picnic-like “dinner on the ground,” the traditional term for a potluck meal in which people used to spread the dishes out on sheets or tablecloths on the grass. It is believed that this practice began before the American Civil War and thus may reflect the real origin of the “memorial day” idea.

Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day; Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, while Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans.

Young child in uniform at military cemetery

Photo by rao nageswar

Corn with Cilantro-Lime Butter Recipe

Yield: 12 Servings

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons grated lime peel
  • 12 medium ears sweet corn, husks removed
  • Grated cotija cheese, optional

 

Directions:

  1. In a small bowl, mix butter, cilantro, lime juice and lime peel. Shape into a log; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until firm. Wrap each ear of corn with a piece of heavy-duty foil (about 14 in. square).
  2. Grill corn, covered, over medium heat 15-20 minutes or until tender, turning occasionally. Meanwhile, cut lime butter into 12 slices. Remove corn from grill. Carefully open foil, allowing steam to escape. Serve corn with butter and, if desired, cheese.

 

Nutritional Facts
1 ear of corn with 2 teaspoons butter (calculated without cheese) equals 145 calories, 9 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 20 mg cholesterol, 67 mg sodium, 17 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein.

 

Originally published as Corn with Cilantro-Lime Butter in Taste of Home June/July 2013

Vegetable Kabobs

Skewers of potatoes, peppers, onions, and squash take on a smoky flavor when grilled. Brush on herbs and salad dressing for a bit of extra flavor and you’ll have a side dish recipe that’s scrumptious when served with grilled chicken, pork, or steak.

Yield: 8 Servings

Vegetable Kabobs

Photo by BHG.com

Ingredients:

  • 2 medium potatoes, quartered
  • 2 small red onions, each cut into 4 wedges or 8 red boiling onions
  • 8 baby squash (such as zucchini and/or yellow summer squash)
  • 8 medium fresh mushrooms
  • 8 miniature sweet peppers or 1 or 2 small red and/or orange sweet peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/4 cup bottled oil-and-vinegar salad dressing
  • 2 teaspoons snipped fresh rosemary or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Directions: 

  1. In a covered medium saucepan cook potatoes and onions in a small amount of lightly salted boiling water over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until nearly tender, adding the squash and mushrooms for the last 1 minute of cooking time. Drain well. Cool slightly. If using wooden skewers, soak in water for 30 minutes before grilling.
  2. On eight 10-inch skewers, alternately thread potatoes, onions, squash, mushrooms, and sweet peppers, leaving a 1/4-inch space between pieces. In a small bowl combine salad dressing, rosemary, salt, and pepper; brush over vegetables.
  3. Place kabobs on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals. Grill for 10 to 12 minutes or until vegetables are tender and lightly browned, turning and brushing occasionally with dressing mixture. Makes 8 servings

TO BROIL:

Place kabobs on the greased unheated rack of a broiler pan. Broil about 3 to 4 inches from the heat for 10 to 12 minutes or until vegetables are tender and lightly browned, turning and brushing occasionally with dressing mixture.
Nutrition Facts (Vegetable Kabobs)

Per serving: 75 kcal cal., 4 g fat (1 g sat. fat, 145 mg sodium, 9 g carb., 1 g fiber, 2 g pro.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet