Labor Day Food and Fun Ideas

The Labor Day holiday is often heralded as summertime's last hurrah before the school year and new fall season get into full swing, leaving the long and lazy days of summer behind as memories to be treasured. Having a fun cookout or al fresco end-of-summer bash with friends and family is a fun thing to do to make some last-minute summer memories and wind up the season.

In addition to the well loved traditional grill-fare of hamburgers and hot dogs, here are a few other delicious grill-top ideas for Labor Day good eating:

Kabobs- The combination of ingredients that can be chosen for kabobs on the grill can be as varied and limitless as each individual person you have at your Labor Day party. A nod to summer produce can be given this Labor Day with a kabob made up of zucchini and peppers alternated with seasoned beef. An all-vegetable kabob on the grill is a great way to showcase those summer vegetables. The ever-favored chicken can be creatively combined with pineapple and teriyaki flavoring or simply barbecued for a bbq chicken kabob-definitely a pleaser for all, especially the sometimes-picky younger crowd. For the more adventurous eaters this Labor Day, try a honey mustard kielbasa kabob or a ham-and-apple combo. Labor Day kabob combinations are limited only by the imagination-have fun with them.

Bratwurst- This ball-park, German heritage food is a big hit anytime and never more so than when hot off the grill. Grill this Labor Day treat well and offer fresh buns along with a variety of tasty toppings such as a spicy mustard, a good relish or two and caramelized onions as well as the usual ketchup and pickles.

Vegetables- We have already mentioned showcasing summer vegetables in this Labor Day celebration by making up kabobs, but another idea to do as well is to simply foil package up, season and grill those vegetables for a great dish.

More Labor Day food fun goes on aside from the grill in the form of summer time desserts. As the weather is still hot, cool and refreshing desserts are a great choice this Labor Day. A couple of fun recipes we've enjoyed this summer fit our Labor Day bill well. Give one of these a try:

Frozen Banana Split Salad:

5 ripe bananas
1 cup sugar
2 ½ tsp lemon juice
8 oz sour cream
16 oz whipped topping
1 cup cherries, drained and chopped
1 large can pineapple, drained
½ pecans, chopped

Mash the bananas, add lemon juice and sugar and mix well. Add remaining ingredients to banana mixture, pour all into a buttered 13x9 pan and freeze. Once frozen well, cut into squares and serve. An easy dessert from traditional favorite flavors.

For the kids and young at heart, Moowiches:

Large, soft chocolate chip cookies
½ gallon of any flavor ice cream

Allow ice cream to soften, as to be scooped out easily. Take one cookie and spread it with the softened ice cream then place another cookie on top and 'smoosh' them together. Wrap each moowich in plastic wrap and freeze until firm. MmmmMM!

A Labor Day party, even with great company and wonderful food, would not be complete without games to enjoy for all ages but most of all for the kids while the adults kick back and lazily watch after working so hard on all that Labor Day food.

The most fun and least stressful way to do games is to have several fun free-form options rather than rigidly organized group play. If group play comes together, great-if not, no worries. Ideas for such games to have about this Labor Day:

Horseshoes- Whether the real iron horseshoes and poles or the kidlet plastic versions, this game is a timeless favorite that folks of all ages can play and enjoy talking and laughing together.

Badminton- Easily set up, a badminton net is a draw for anyone wanting to move about and enjoy summertime. Older kids are often drawn to this easy yet energy burning game whilst the younger kids can get in on the fun as well. It goes without saying that adults can too!

Volleyball- A more organized game, yet great summertime fun. Just the presence of a volleyball net and some balls will inevitably lead to rip-roaring fun this Labor Day.

Have bubbles,sidewalk chalk and balls of all sizes on hand as well and kids of all ages will play happily together.

Enjoy Labor Day, giving summertime a wonderful, memory-filled send off!