Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a time to reflect on people who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.  It is also a time to thank our current service men and women and veterans for their courage and bravery.  It is because of you that our country is the best place to live on this planet.  Thank you is such a small and seemingly insignificant phrase, but know that it is meant with the deepest respect and admiration for all you have done.

I love to decorate for the summer holidays starting with Memorial Day and leading next into the 4th of July.  It makes me feel so patriotic.  Red, white and blue are such happy colors and I get such a feeling of Americana when this time of year comes around.

We celebrated this fabulous holiday by inviting some friends over for a cookout.  We did "cook out" on the grill, but the entire time was spent indoors because the temperature soared into the 90's and the humidity was oppressive.

Here is what our menu consisted of:

chicken or shrimp kabobs with peppers, onions and mushrooms

Greek Santorini Couscous Salad

macaroni salad

deviled eggs

strawberry shortcake kabobs for dessert

Greek Santorini Salad.....see recipe here

Strawberry Shortcake Kabobs....via pinterest

We also made whole fruit margaritas.  Oh my, were they ever delicious.  We recently purchased a Vitamix and this recipe was in the cookbook that came with it.  In the future I will talk more about the Vitamix and everything wonderful it can do.

Whole Fruit Margarita

1/4 cup water

6 oz tequila

2 oz Grand Marnier or triple sec

1 medium orange, peeled, halved and seeded

1 lime, peeled, seeded

1 lemon, peeled, halved, seeded

6 Tablespoons sugar (I used 4 T of Truvia)

4 cups ice cubes

1.  Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container (blender) in the order listed and secure lid.

2.  Select Variable 1.

3.  Switch machine to start and slowly increase speed to variable 10.

4.  Blend for 15-20 seconds or until desired consistency is reached.

5.  Pour into salt-rimmed margarita glasses.

6.  Serves 5.

We do not care for the salt on the rim, so we just skipped it.  Sugar on the rim is another option too.

Olivia 15, Chloe 17, Josh 19, Adam 18

The kids have basically grown up together.  Although they go to different schools, they have become good friends over the years.

The Coles....Olivia, Donna, Adam, Ed

 Donna, Mark and I are originally from Buffalo.  Donna moved to Syracuse after she graduated from SUNY Potsdam and married the love of her life, Ed.  She has been a music (instrument) teacher in the same district that hired her right out of college.  I believe they have lived here for about 24 years.  Ten years later is when we moved to Syracuse and it was Donna who helped us get acquainted with the area.  Thank you so much....we couldn't have done it without you.

Just us.....Josh, Mark, Chloe, Holly

Donna and I have been friends since the 5th grade.  So that is about 36 years.  Wow, that's a long time! I never realized it has been that long.  Well, it has been a fabulous 36 years my friend.  So many great and wonderful times/laughs/trips/tears and memories.  Cheers (with my margarita in hand) to friendship.

Holly and Donna

Hope you all had a marvelous Memorial Day weekend!  Let summer begin....WOOHOO!

Holly