Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, became an official federal holiday in 1971. This major holiday unofficially started after the Civil War as a way to honor and remember the men and women who died serving in the US military. Nowadays, most people spend the day attending large ceremonies, parades, and cookouts. We want to bring normalcy to your home during these times and help you come up with a commemorative way to celebrate Memorial Day. What better way than with a colorful and festive picnic? The set up is easy, our recipes are simple, and our goal is to help you make beautiful memories during trying times. Click here to download our Memorial Day Recipes for easy viewing.  

What You Will Need for the Perfect Picnic

Centerpiece Dish

Pasta Salad  

A colorful pasta salad is a perfect centerpiece for any picnic. This dish is served cold, so you don’t have to worry about it staying warm, it’s ideal on a hot summer day, and easy to put it together! This simple recipe will tie together the rest of your picnic spread and goes well with a variety of sides. Versatility is one of the best parts of this recipe, so it can be altered to meet your preferred taste. This is also an excellent opportunity to incorporate more vegetables into your family’s diet in a creative way.

Be sure to download our pasta salad recipe for easy viewing.
Download Recipe

What You Will Need To Make Pasta Salad
  • 1 lb Penne pasta
  • Fresh roasted veggies (We use roasted asparagus and brussel sprouts)
  • Grated carrots
  • Spinach
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Queso fresco (or feta)
Garlic Butter Sauce
  • 4 Tbsp Melted butter
  • 1 Juiced lemon
  • 2 tbs Olive oil
  • 4 Cloves grated garlic
  • 1 Fresh or dry dill
  • Salt & pepper to taste 
Directions 

Cook your pasta and set aside. Once you have all of your other ingredients, combine them with the cooled noodles, and serve. It’s that easy!  

Side Dish

Grilled Corn Cup
Cocktail Recipe

  • Small glass cup
  • Grilled corn
  • Mexican cream
  • Queso fresco
  • Lime juice
  • Cilantro
  • Chili powder
  • Melted butter or ghee 
Directions 

Grill, roast or boil your corn, remove kernels and set aside. Melt a couple tablespoons of butter or ghee and set aside. Rim your glass with lime juice and sprinkle chili powder all over the edge so that it sticks.  

Assembly  

First, start with corn, add 1 Tbsp melted butter, queso fresco, cilantro, Mexican cream. Then top with lime juice, chili powder, and flaky salt and repeat. 

Baked Dessert

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Be sure to download our recipe for easy viewing.
Download Recipe

  • 2 ¾ cups All-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp Baking soda
  • ½ tsp Baking powder
  • 1 cup Butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cup Sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • Topping: 2 Tbsp Sugar
  • 2 Tbsp Cinnamon 
Directions 

Step 1 Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.  

Step 2 In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.  

Step 3 Roll dough into balls and place them onto ungreased cookie sheets. Mix the remaining sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on top of each cookie.  Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden. Allow the cookies to stand on the sheet two minutes before removing and setting them on a cooling rack. 

Make it Your Own 

Feel free to substitute any of the veggies we listed for your family’s favorites. Have each family member mix their preferences in separate zip-top bags or bowls, and top it off with the garlic butter sauce to make an easy salad even more personalized. We hope you enjoyed putting together this recipe and that your picnic is festive and delicious. Be sure to download our Memorial Day Picnic guide for a few more great ideas. 

Memorial Day Picnic
Showmanship 

Putting together a picnic on Memorial Day is a fun family activity and a great way to make lasting memories. If you happen to have a crafty little artist in the family, put them in charge of making decorations. Safety scissors and decorative paper napkins can go a long way. Let them get creative! Most importantly, thank our service members for all of the sacrifices they make to keep us safe and free.  

Reference History.com Editors. “Memorial Day.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 27 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history.