Your Labor Day Barbecue Will Shine with These Peak of Season Produce Dishes

While Labor Day was created as a tribute to the American laborer, it has since also become synonymous with the end of summer—one more weekend, extended by this glorious extra day, to grill, sip cold drinks, and take in some of the (hopefully sunny!) final days of the season with friends and family. When you plan that perfect picnic dish to share at Labor Day celebrations, you’ll want to use in-season produce to unlock the best flavors in your sides, dips, and desserts. Let’s savor these last days of summer and take advantage of these fruits and vegetables that are at the top of their game, right now!

Strawberries

Chowhound

In the U.S., we have easy access to produce throughout the year, but off-season, these foods might as well be called by another name. Have you ever eaten wintertime strawberries? They are nothing like their juicy, bright red summertime counterparts. It’s like comparing apples to…well, potatoes! Super-flavorful in-season produce can often stand on its own at a barbecue—fresh strawberries are a welcome accompaniment to savory grilled fare. But, if you want to dress up strawberries a bit, a dessert is the way to go! Get our recipe for Strawberry Shortcake Parfaits, a handheld take on the classic strawberry shortcake, and let the fruit be the star!

Tomatoes

Molly DeCoudreaux

If my latest CSA box chock-full of tomatoes is any indication of what’s in-season, then I’d say it’s prime time for tomatoes! Heirloom, beefsteak, cherry, grape, and so many more—a slice of ripe, red (or sometimes green or yellow) tomato is the perfect addition to any variety of burger (unlike that pale pink tomato-of-the-winter). A flatbread or tart is an ideal way to showcase tomatoes—so easy to slice and share with friends and family. Get this recipe for Cherry Tomato Tart with Anchovies and Garlic Confit (though I know some of you might opt to ditch the anchovies!).

Eggplant

Papa Spud’s

Growing up in a Midwestern suburb (the next stop for my family after the Polish Southside of Chicago), I have to admit I did not have much exposure to eggplants. But, as I encountered first eggplant parmesan, then Thai spicy eggplant dishes, followed by baba ganoush, I’ve grown to embrace this funny-looking purple “fruit.” Approaching Labor Day, you should embrace it, too, as it’s in peak season. If you don’t go full-on baba ganoush at your barbecue, a similarly delightful appetizer can be made with eggplant and hummus (store-bought, if you’re tight on time). Get our recipe for Eggplant and Hummus Pita Crisps.

Peaches

Amy Neunsinger

Nothing says summertime like a sweet, juicy peach! “Cling” to the final days of summer (see what I did, there), with a salad that highlights everything fresh and wonderful about the season. Basil and mozzarella play a co-starring role to two kinds of peaches, all dressed simply with olive oil and white vinegar. Get this recipe for Peach Caprese Salad.

Cucumbers

Chowhound

Cucumbers—so boring, right? Wrong! Think of all those wonderful Asian salads, those Mediterranean falafel bowls—heck, they’ve got a whole “water” dedicated to them. This Labor Day, bring a tangy salad that allows cucumbers to take center stage. When produce is in season, there’s no need to hide your vegetables —let them shine! Get our recipe for Creamy Cucumber Salad.

Blueberries

Chowhound

Peak-of-season blueberries are a whole other ballgame. Bursting with flavor, they thoroughly put their bagged, frozen cousins to shame. While frozen berries do have their place (it’s hard to deny the convenience!), fresh blueberries deserve the full attention of your tastebuds. As with the other recipes, a tart allows the produce to take the spotlight—let the blueberries do their thing, and the happy murmurs of munching guests will soon follow. Get our recipe for Rustic Blueberry Tart.

Corn

Chowhound

Corn is so ubiquitous at summertime barbecues, how could you not include it in your Labor Day celebrations? As is the case with all the other produce mentioned, summertime corn is on a completely different level than its canned and off-season counterparts. And if it’s sweet corn? Forget about it! This is another food I’ve underutilized throughout my life, having only recently learned this quick way to microwave it. When you can prep corn this easily, you have a delicious addition to so many dishes, especially ramen and veggie bowls. For a barbecue, you can bring back the cherry tomatoes, and put together a salad that lets corn show off. Get our recipe for Fresh Corn and Tomato Salad.

Watermelon

Raw Pixel/Unsplash

Presented without recipe, I give you: watermelon. A crowd-pleaser at any summer gathering, you’re a hero if you remember to bring the sliced watermelon. It’s sweet, it’s juicy, and it’s about 92 percent water, providing lovely hydration to counterbalance any summertime imbibing. If you’re not sure what to bring to Labor Day’s last hurrah for summer, do yourself (and everyone else) a solid, and make it watermelon.

Related Video: How to Slice Watermelon with Dental Floss

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Your Dogs Can Safely Enjoy These Labor Day Treats

You’ve got your feet kicked up, the embers off the grill look like fireflies in the breeze, you’ve got a beer in one hand, a piece of cheese in the other…Labor Day is your much-needed—nay!—your much-deserved day off. But then you look down and see your doggo looking up at you with those giant, begging eyes. He can see the food, he can smell the meat, and he whimpers as he begs you for the tiniest bite. How can you say no?

You don’t have to! Plan ahead to share your Labor Day treats with your furry friend. They deserve a cookout just as much as you do. These foods and drinks are perfectly safe for you and your dog.

Start with Vegetable Skewers

Gourmande in the Kitchen’s Orange-Glazed Grilled Sweet Potatoes

You’ll already have some veggies on the grill, I’m sure. Sweet potatoes and asparagus are healthy for dogs. The key is to cut them in bite-sized portions so they don’t choke on the bigger pieces. And steer clear of onions and garlic.

Putting little pieces of the vegetables on skewers is a great way to grill them without them falling through the grate of the grill. Once the veggies are done, serve them up to your pup without the skewer. And enjoy them yourself—who doesn’t love a colorful and crunchy side dish?

Check out this dog-safe vinaigrette recipe for grilled sweet potatoes that even you’ll drool for.

Barbecue Burgers for Two

You didn’t think I was sticking to veggies, did you? It’s Labor Day and I’ve scored a burger patty recipe both you and your dog can eat.

Chowhound’s Meatloaf Burgers (not safe for dogs)

Serve your pooch only the patty, but you can have all the other accoutrements with it. The genius recipe below is from Dr. Janice Elenbaas, founder of Lucky Dog Cuisine, and she says it provides natural whole foods for your dog. They’re perfect for balanced absorption and digestion.

• 4 lb. grass fed ground beef
• 1 cup quick cook oats
• 1/2 cup of organic flax seed meal
• 1 large egg
• 1 medium carrot grated
• 1 medium zucchini grated
• 4 oz. of grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup fresh, chopped parsley

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl.

Form the mixture into patties and grill on medium heat for five minutes per side until they are no longer pink.

This recipe makes approximately 12 burgers.

*For just the humans, slather your favorite barbecue sauce on the patties and serve on a grilled bun with lettuce, tomato, and cheese.

Don’t Forget the Wine

That’s right people, wine for dogs exists!

Apollo Peak dog wine has some of the best varieties, including Char-dog-nay, Zinfan-tail, and Mal-bark.

Andy Leverett

The “wines” are a mixture of all-natural ingredients like chamomile extract, yellow and red beets, anise seed, bacon flavoring, and peppermint extract (for fresh breath). City Winery in Atlanta offers these as part of their canine brunch menu. But you can order some online for $12.95 a bottle.

Andy Leverett

This furry friend of ours, Banks, slurped down her glass with no problems. Just think…you could clink glasses with your fur-ball as you both wait for the food to get done. Vino buddies, how divine!

Doggy Dessert

Dogs don’t need processed sugar (neither do we, really). Natural sugars are great, though. Frozen fruit satisfies that sweet tooth and is also very refreshing for both dogs and humans.

Frozen watermelon slices are practically ice-pops. And since lime juice is safe for dogs, you can marinate the slices in lime juice and then freeze them for an extra layer of flavor. Grilled apples make for a yummy and caramelized sweet-treat. Frozen blueberries are also safe for dogs and make for great additions to a summer cocktail for you.

Trust me, your pups will love you when they see you’re both eating the same thing! No more begging eyes. Here’s a list of all the fruits dogs can eat.

The Cottage Market’s Frozen Strawberry and Banana Smoothie Dog Treats

Big No-Nos:

Dr. Janice Elenbaas says bones are not a safe treat (think chicken bones, ribs) because they can get lodged in the throat. Bite-sized pieces of anything are always better. Dogs get excited and will inhale their food. Also, never give dogs alcohol or caffeine, no matter how bad they beg.

Here’s a list of fruits and vegetables you should avoid giving your pooch.

Related Video: How to Make Salmon Dog Treats

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10 Cocktails that Bring the Lemonade Stand to the Bar

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” So the saying goes. But let’s just say that there are some times when life hands you lemons and all you really want is a cocktail.

Not that you’d need to be down on your luck to enjoy any of these spiked lemony drinks, but they just might help you make the most out of a rough spot (and your home bar supply). Here are 10 of our favorites that bring the sweet to the sour. They’re all perfect for serving at parties from the 4th of July through Labor Day, or mixing up for just one or two on any given warm weeknight. Relax, and take it squeezy.

Slushy Strawberry Vodka Lemonade

Chowhound

Frosty, icy, and thick, this blended drink is like an adult version of the sort you’d normally drink out of a ginormous, gulp-inducing cup. Except instead of that sugary, vaguely chemical-tasting flavor, you get the sweetness and succulence of fresh strawberries. Get our Slushy Strawberry Vodka Lemonade recipe.

Sangria Lemonade

Garnish with Lemon

Sangria gets a sunny spin with a lot of lemonade and a little lemon rum, plus white wine and fruit, for an ultra-refreshing sip to quench your thirst and chase the clouds away. Get the recipe.

Panaché

Chowhound

This one is called a “panaché” for a reason: its sparkling lemonade brings flair and finesse to fuddy duddy lager. Get our Panaché recipe.

Sparkling Rose and Tarragon Gin Lemonade

Heather Christo

Herbalists take note: here’s a cocktail that really lets its earthy aromas shine. Not only does it feature the anise-y notes of muddled tarragon, it also incorporates floral rose and gin for a full array of botanicals. Get the recipe.

Pink Summer Shandy

The Cookie Rookie

With the triple threat of beer, tequila, and pink lemonade all rolled into one, this cocktail sings of summertime hijinks from within the glass. Get the recipe.

Lillet Lemonade Cocktail

Salt and Wind

Featuring lemon with Lillet and a touch of gin, this cocktail is kind of like what would happen if James Bond’s martini was reimagined for a breezy summertime outdoor party. Get the recipe.

White Wine Lemonade Spritzer

Martha Stewart

A wine spritzer made with seltzer is fine for a flutter, but one with sparkling lemonade really brings the sunshine and cheer. Get the recipe.

Ouzo Lemonade

Lemon and Olives

Anise-flavored ouzo is one of those ingredients that drinkers either love or hate. But for the lovers, this concoction is as heady and fragrance-forward as you could want it to be. Get the recipe.

Honey Whiskey Lemonade

The Little Epicurean

All too often, the whiskey sour gets mangled and marred with artificial sour mix. It’s done right here, however, with a splash of lemonade and even a few drops of honey for extra emphasis, and fresh thyme for fragrance. Get the recipe.

Watermelon Lemonade Cocktail

Chowhound

“Fruity” isn’t always a compliment when describing a cocktail, but this one embraces the term like an accolade. Balancing watermelon juice, lemon, and berry (with a bit of rum for kicks), it emphasizes the sweet without getting saccharine. Get our Watermelon Lemonade Cocktail recipe.

Related Video: How to Make Easy Pink Lemonade

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White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

Get Recipe!

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Pineapple Jalapeño Pitcher Margaritas

These Pineapple Jalapeño Pitcher Margaritas infuse good-quality tequila with spicy jalapeño. Mix with pineapple juice for a margarita that balances sweetness and heat!

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Why Does Ketchup on a Hot Dog Piss People Off?

It’s surprising how many hard-fast, nit-picky rules there are for such a relaxed, no-fuss food as the humble hot dog. It’s just a casual American wiener, so what’s the big whoop?

The whoop is huge, however, and it is multi-faceted. No one should squirt ketchup on a hot dog after the age of 18, say officials at the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, part of the American Meat Institute.

“You have to grow up sometime,” says council president Janet Riley, a.k.a. “the Queen of Wien” in her Hot Dog Etiquette video.

So apparently it’s immature to use ketchup on your hot dog. Maybe that’s because ketchup is so sugary, and you’re supposed to be over that as an adult and into good ol’ salty meats with chopped onions, vinegary mustard, or chili. You want to enhance the all-beef dog, not camouflage it. Ketchup is what parents smother over everything to make kids eat their food, after all.

Another idea: The dislike goes back to the early days of baseball, when to protect patrons from sugar-loving yellow jacket and flies, hot dog vendors only carried mustard with them. Thanks, guys.

People are pretty frank about the horror that this pairing creates. “Ketchup on your hot dog is the end of the world,” says Bill Savage in the Chicago Tribune. Savage gave a “Ketchup: The Condiment of Controversy” talk at the Chicago Hot Dog Festival last summer. For Savage, you’re not a real Chicagoan if you put the tomato-based condiment on your dog. It’s an identity thing. That’s not the way his people do it. Vienna dog vice president Bob Schwartz even wrote a book about it: “Never Put Ketchup on a Hot Dog,” about Chicago’s hot dog stands.

Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

When you push people past their outrage and spouting of the 11th commandment — Thou Shalt Not Put Ketchup on a Hot Dog — and make them give a good reason, it always comes back to sugar.

“Ketchup smothers the flavor of the hot dog because ketchup makers add sugar to their products,” says Cecil Adams in his reply to this very question on The Straight Dope. “That takes the edge off the highly acidic tomatoes, but it takes the edge off everything else, too.” Adams merely repeated the reasoning given by Mel Plotsky, sales manager for the David Berg hot dog company in Chicago.

As if you didn’t already know, Chicago is one of the Hot Dog Holy Cities. It’s usually an all-beef Vienna dog with yellow mustard, chopped onion, relish, pickle spears, sliced tomatoes, hot peppers, and celery salt. In New York, it’s a Sabrett-brand dog with brown mustard, stewed tomatoes and onions, and sauerkraut. In the South, they like coleslaw on it.

So with all these regional taste differences, why the nationwide fuss over the red stuff on the loveable tube steak? “Because ‘no ketchup on a hot dog’ isn’t a regional taste, but rather a universal condemnation,” writes Michigan Daily food columnist Giancarlo Buonomo in 2014. “One of the heads of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs in NYC referred to putting ketchup on a hot dog as a sign of a ‘less sophisticated’ palate.”

Buonomo continues, calling it an “intuitively disgusting food pairing, like cinnamon in spaghetti sauce or blue cheese with chocolate syrup” — before he then refutes everything he just said, calling it all elitism. Having a strongly defined dislike is a way to place yourself in an imaginary in-group of people who know food and what’s proper in the food world, he says.

Food & Wine magazine categorizes this popular no-no in the same list as drinking your wine with ice, eating your pizza with a fork, and dipping your french fries in mayonnaise. All of these rules are ridiculous, writer Justine Sterling says.

Next time you’re in shorts and sandals at the barbecue party or summer fair, you might hesitate before grabbing that Heinz bottle or packet and squeezing out a red zig-zag across your frankfurter. But if you like it, don’t hesitate. We won’t judge. (Yes, we will.)

That’s the lesson of Harry Callahan’s famous rant from the 1983 Dirty Harry movie Sudden Impact. Clint Eastwood’s character can cope just fine with a filthy, brutal, and greedy world, but a ketchup dog? That’s a trigger for righteous rage. “Nobody,” Callahan says with a clenched jaw, “I mean nobody puts ketchup on a hot dog.”

Follow Harry’s lead and relax. Try some of these no-ketchup hot dog recipe ideas.

1. Bison Chili Cheese Dog

Chowhound

Bison is almost more American than beef. But if you can’t find the former, use the later to make this more-than-acceptable hot dog. Get our Bison Chili Cheese Dog recipe.

2. Corn Dogs

Chowhound

A deep-fried favorite at fairs, corn dogs got it going on in the awesome food-on-a-stick category. Just ignore that ketchup ingredient and go with your own homemade spicy mustard. We have the recipe for that too. Get our Corn Dogs recipe.

3. Dough Dogs

Chowhound

This recipe gets it right and keeps it simple: hot dog, dough, mustard. The End. Oh, well, eat the thing. Start by getting our Dough Dogs recipe.

Related Video: 5 Hot Dogs with Unusual Protein

— Original Chowhound article written by John Birdsall in 2012.

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What Tequila Should You Buy?

Confused by tequila? Ever wondered what words like anejo and blanco mean? What's best for a straight-up margarita, or sipping neat, or a fruity pitcher cocktail? In this guide to tequilas, we break it all down for you!

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Dessert Dips Are the Easiest Way to End Your Labor Day Celebration

Who doesn’t love a good dip? They’re easy, versatile, run the gamut from healthy to indulgent, and are just plain fun to eat. Dessert dips are no exception—and they’re particularly great for your Labor Day party, since there’s no baking required, you can make them ahead of time, and you can pair them with some of summer’s last fruit.

Most sweet dips take only a few minutes of active time to make; just mix a handful of ingredients in a single bowl and pop it in the fridge to meld and chill. You’ll probably spend more time arranging the serving platter, but that’s super simple too.

Go for a generous but not too overwhelming array of different things to dip. Along with fruit like strawberries and cherries, consider including graham crackers, shortbread, animal crackers, and almost any other type of cookie you want, plus something unexpected like pretzels, waffle cone pieces, donut holes, or even plain potato chips for a sweet-salty combo (although chips won’t work quite as well for all of these, they’re dynamite with chocolate in particular, as anyone who’s ever dipped fries into chocolate milkshakes well knows).

Make any one of those low-effort but high-impact dessert dips for your next party, and prepare to be just as delighted as your guests.

Sweet Cinnamon Fruit Dip

Shelly Westerhausen

This cinnamon mascarpone concoction is seriously almost effortless to throw together, and delicious with mountains of summer fruit while it’s still in season (although in fall, it goes just as well with apples and pears). Get this Sweet Cinnamon Fruit Dip recipe.

Tiramisu Dip

Chowhound

Mascarpone also stars in this tiramisu-inspired dip with ricotta, espresso, sweet liqueur, and chocolate. A cannoli dip is another great Italian-inspired option, but strawberries and butter cookies go great with either one. Get our Tiramisu Dip recipe.

Fluffernutter Dip

A Pretty Life in the Suburbs

Marshmallow fluff and peanut butter make a creamy dip that kids and adults will love, especially with banana slices to dunk. Get the recipe.

Monster Cookie Dough Dip

Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt

If even no-bake cookies sound like too much hassle, just make what amounts to egg-free edible cookie dough, packed with plenty of oats, butter, brown sugar, and M&Ms. Get the recipe.

Lemon Bar Dip

Wine and Glue

Lemon bars are a lovely, light, and bright dessert, but if you’re still not up for baking, this tangy-sweet dip is a great choice. It only has three ingredients: cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon curd. Okay, four ingredients if you count the sunny lemon zest on top. Five if you count the shortbread for dipping. Get the recipe.

Funfetti Cake Dip

If You Give a Blonde a Kitchen

Funfetti is always festive, and this cheerful three-ingredient dip will bring happiness for sure. If you’re not into the Cool Whip, which shows up in a lot of sweet dips, just replace it with homemade whipped cream, but make sure to stabilize it by adding one tablespoon of cornstarch for every cup of heavy cream before whipping it up. Get the recipe.

Samoa Dip

Chef in Training

Chocolate and caramel are dynamite together; add toasted coconut and they’re even better. If you can get your hands on some Girl Scout cookies for a meta dipping experience, great, but this tastes fab scooped up with practically anything, honestly. Try sprinkling a little flaky sea salt on top too! Get the recipe.

Nutella Cheesecake Dip

Cooking Classy

Fluffy, creamy, and flavored with Nutella, this could almost be served as a mousse with spoons, but shoveling it up with strawberries makes it healthier, which means you can eat even more, right? Get the recipe.

Banana Cream Pie Dip

Oh Sweet Basil

There are lots of pie-inspired dips worth making, from luscious coconut cream pie dip to key lime pie dip with actual pieces of pie in it(!), but banana cream pie dip is tailor-made for dunking Nilla Wafers. If you’re feeding adults only, cut back on the milk by a tablespoon or two and add an equivalent amount of banana liqueur instead.  Get the recipe.

Fluffy S’mores Dip

Homemade Hooplah

Hot s’mores dip is really good (it’s melted chocolate and toasted marshmallow, so how could it not be amazing?), but if you need something easier to put together and transport, this dip will do the trick. Feel free to stir in some chopped chocolate along with the mini marshmallows, unless you like things strictly smooth. Get the recipe.

Oreo Cookie Dip

5 Boys Baker/Life in the Lofthouse

Cookies and cream is a fantastic ice cream flavor, and it’s a fantastic dip flavor too. The only other thing you need to know is that this takes 10 minutes to make, so there’s no reason not to do it. Get the recipe.

Salted Caramel Butter Pecan Cake Dip

Something Swanky

Salted. Caramel. Butter. Pecan. Cake. Dip. Yes, there is actual cake mix in it, and yes, there is dulce de leche too, and the pecans should be lightly toasted for maximum deliciousness. This one is a little warmer and nuttier in flavor, which means it’s another great choice to carry you on into fall. Get the recipe.

Almost all of these recipes are easy to double (or triple) for larger crowds if need be, and can also be made ahead, but if you do that, just let them sit out at room temperature for 10 minutes or so before serving, so they loosen up a little and the flavor wakes up from the chill.

Related Video: How to Make a Frudité Platter with Mint Lime Dip

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