Labor Day Love

Ah, Labor Day. Unofficial end of summer and official cookout time. Here’s how my Labor Day weekend went:

• Green tomato and green apple tart with onions and gruyere, with a LARD crust because Andy is trying to kill me
• Chicken sausages with spinach and feta
• Salad of tomatoes and basil from Heather’s garden with feta and balsamic vinegar
• Chistarra (Spanish sausage)
• Homemade pork sausages with Thai spices
• My awesome deviled eggs, with a sprinkling of Bacon Salt
• Couscous with peas, carrots, and the merest touch of stuffed elephant
• “Gazpacho” of pureed eggplant, tahini, and yogurt
• Grilled pork skewers that had been marinating for a week in pineapple juice, Thai peppers, vinegar
• Various pates and smelly cheeses
• Caprese salad with yellow and orange heirloom tomatoes
• Excellently grilled hanger steak marinated in homemade Korean marinade
• Butterscotch “brownies”
• Salad of tomatoes and basil from Ali’s garden with chevre, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar
• Grilled chicken, marinated in olive oil and Italian herbs
• More grilled hanger steak, marinated in olive oil and rosemary
• Grilled okra from Heather’s garden
• Chipotle mashed potatoes with sour cream and green onions
• Various wines from various countries

I love a holiday weekend. And I sure do love my friends.