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10 Tips to Save on Memorial Day Grocery Shopping

Emily Co — Sat, 26 May 2012 00:15:10 PDT

It's fun to host people for a barbecue, but it can also get quite pricey when everyone isn't chipping in. Consumer expert Andrea Woroch provides suggestions to cut your grocery bill when shopping for your Memorial Day meal:

Prepare most of your meal. Woroch says, "The general rule for prepared foods is that they are more expensive, and it's cheaper to buy the ingredients to prepare yourself." For example, prepared veggie platters and fruit salads "are never a good deal" and aren't exactly the freshest produce. However, prepared potato salad at a regular supermarket is less expensive and will save you time in the kitchen.

Get chicken from the butcher. Buy chicken breasts from the butcher counter instead of the prepared packets. They tend to be cheaper and are generally more fresh.

Consider boxed wine. Save money by skipping the bottled wine and going for the box. "Boxed wine is an affordable option for large parties, and the quality has greatly improved in recent years," she says.

Buy liquor at a superstore. If you're insistent on a specific bottle, then check out warehouse clubs like Costco. There are better deals on wine, liquor, and beer at a superstore, according to Woroch. While you're there, pick the store's generic version of vodka for an even cheaper deal.

Make your own salad dressing and marinade. Check out recipes online - here's a list of over 60 different marinades to make. "Most people will already have the basic ingredients like olive oil, some type of vinegar, and herbs at home," she says. "Other ingredients like lemon or lime, soy sauce, or honey won't cost much extra."

Read on for more.

A Classic Americana Memorial Day Barbecue

Lisa Horten — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:46:59 PDT

If your Memorial Day plans include entertaining guests with an outdoor barbecue, look no further than this classic, all-American celebration from Celebrations at Home for red, white, and blue inspiration. A basic BBQ menu paired with old-fashioned games and fun makes this a great way to kick off Summer with the entire family.

Happy Memorial Day!

6 Summer Barbecue Must Haves!

FabSugar — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:20:01 PDT

No Fourth of July celebration is complete without your perfect Summer look. To help get you there, we're bringing you six of our favorite pieces for hanging in the sun at any Summer BBQ. From patterned rompers to sunny yellow shades, these must haves will keep you looking stylish at your Independence day soirees and beyond. On Allison: Vanessa Bruno romper

6 Summer Barbecue Must Haves!

FabTV — Tue, 24 May 2011 16:29:16 PDT

In order to celebrate the Summer-and all the outdoor barbeque parties that go with it-we’re bringing you our six top picks for Summer barbecue wear. From patterned rompers to yellow sunnies to festive printed bags, these must haves will keep you looking stylish at all your Summer soirees! Have a happy long weekend! On Allison: Vanessa Bruno romper

Make This: Moist and Healthy Herb Chicken-Tofu Burgers

Leta Shy — Tue, 24 May 2011 11:32:58 PDT

I love any kind of burger, especially one that's flavorful without being a caloric bomb. So I decided to forgo my usual ground beef burger indulgence and make one using ground chicken. Since I was using lean chicken breast, I was worried that the burgers would be too dry, so I was looking for a way to keep them moist without having to add ingredients that wouldn't meet the "healthy" cut.

Of course, in times of culinary confusion I always turn to my mom, who suggested I add tofu to the mix, and it was perfect. The tofu added just the right amount of binding so I didn't have to add egg yolk or breadcrumbs, and it blended nicely with the ground chicken. The result was a juicy chicken burger patty that didn't taste anything like tofu.

Check out the full recipe after the break (bonus: it's easy to swap the herbs and spices with your own favorites)!

Buzz In: Help Me Make a BBQ Playlist!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 05:45:54 PDT

Memorial Day weekend is upon us, folks! You know what this means: a day off from work (for many of us), the beginning of summertime - and barbecues! In the happy spirit of long weekend-ness, let's put together a playlist of songs so we can adequately start (as Fresh Prince might put it) "chillin' out maxin' and relaxin' all cool."

Speaking of Fresh Prince, the Will Smith "Summertime" tune is pretty much a staple on playlists like these. Weezer also seems to be in order here, so I'm including "Island in the Sun." I'd also throw in a little Wilco, maybe "Heavy Metal Drummer." And there need to be some older tried-and-trues, of course, so I'm including a little Sharon Jones ("The Dap Dip") and some Nick Gilder ("Hot Child in the City"). To see the other good times songs I've picked and to share your own,

Memorial Day BBQ Playlist

Source

Rewind: This Week's Buzz

BuzzSugar — Sat, 26 May 2007 10:03:19 PDT

Need a playlist for your Memorial Day BBQ this weekend? I made one for you!
Have you seen Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End already? If so, do you think we need more Pirates movies after this one? And by the way, that sexy Captain Jack Sparrow totally made my Top 10 Boys of Summer list.
Who would you cast in Diff'rent Strokes if you could cast the show today?
Check out my Cannes reviews roundups for A Mighty Heart, My Blueberry Nights and Sicko.
Weigh in on the week's finales of "Desperate Housewives," "Lost," "Heroes," and "Veronica Mars."
Speaking of finales, "American Idol" finally ended this week after a super long finale. The show was so long, in fact, that many people missed the climactic naming-of-the-next-American-Idol moment, so if you did, check out the video clip of the last six minutes. Do you think Jordin was the right winner?
In honor of Morissey's birthday this week, I posted Coldplay's version of The Smiths' "Stop Me if You Think You've Heard This One Before." And in honor of Bob Dylan's birthday I posted some of my favorite Dylan tunes.

Come Party With Me: Memorial Day BBQ - Music

partysugar — Fri, 25 May 2007 08:03:18 PDT

My big memorial day bbq is tomorrow and everything has fallen into place for a successful, fun, and memorable party. Earlier this week I started prepping and planning to ensure that no detail would be overlooked. From the easy invites to the grilled food, the cool drinks and the outdoor decor, all is ready for the bbq to begin. Not to be forgotten or overlooked is the music. Music is important at a bbq to encourage mingling, movement, and merriment amongst the crowd. Since this party is all about welcoming the start of summer, the songs will reflect this attitude. For my musical suggestions,

I like to create a summer playlist with a whole bunch of songs that include the actual word summer or images and lyrics that are reminiscent of summer. Examples are The Dove Shack & Warren G, Summertime in the LBC, Sublime's Summertime Sheryl Crow, Soak Up The Sun, and U2's Beautiful Day. I'm a native Californian and will add songs that remind me of summer in California like Red Hot Chile Peppers, Californication. Throw in the songs from BuzzSugar's bbq playlist (including my all time favorite classic warm weather hit, Fresh Prince's Summertime) and you'll have a few hours of music ready for your party.

What's your favorite summertime song? What do you listen to when you bbq? Share with us below!

Come Party With Me: Memorial Day BBQ - The Look

partysugar — Thu, 24 May 2007 06:59:13 PDT

Although Memorial Day is a holiday that is generally associated with patriotic colors, I've decided to keep my bbq light, festive, and fun by using bright red and vibrant yellow (keeping in theme with the invitation). Just because the event is outdoors doesn't mean that I don't have to transform my space from everyday to party day. For my outdoor entertaining decorating tips,

The first thing you should consider when planning any outdoor event is the weather. If you live in a climate where it usually gets cooler in the afternoon, set up a fire pit or outdoor heaters. If it's really hot make sure there is plenty of shade for your guests to keep cool in. If rain is scheduled, you may unfortunately have to take your party inside.

My bbq begins at 4:30 and will most likely go until dark, meaning I'll have to consider outdoor lighting. Use a combination of candles, hanging lanterns, and electrical lighting (like Christmas lights). Place candles in taller glass votives or in areas where you know they will be shielded from the wind. Hide electrical cords under bark and along the bottom of the fence.
Set up stations for food and eating. A buffet set near the barbeque is essential to place just grilled food quickly and effortlessly. Place the salads, desserts, drinks, and grilled foods each on a different table area to encourage mingling and general flow of the guests.

Create eating stations by arranging chair clusters around the patio and grass.
Cover the tables and bar areas with yellow linen tablecloths.
Fill vases with red and yellow tulips.
Use either high quality colored paper plates and napkins or your white everyday china. If you have a set of plates/silverware specifically for outdoor dining, use this.

Don't bother with using your glass stemware, purchase a nice set of clear plastic glasses.
Next to the beer buckets place a few bottle openers.
Don't forget big trash bins - one labeled for trash and the other for recycling.
Designate a trusted friend to be in charge of bringing you a few bags of ice about fifteen minutes before the party is scheduled to start.

Got a great bbq decorating idea? Please share your ideas and inspirations with us below!

Come Party With Me: Memorial Day BBQ - Drinks

partysugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 05:59:19 PDT

Memorial Day is all about barbeques, beer, and summertime fun and my party will be a perfect combination of those three components. I've invited everyone I know through email - the more the merrier at this laid back bash, come up with a grill-based menu highlighting classic bbq dishes such as baby back ribs and modern twists like scallop skewers with pineapple and avocado. Cool and refreshing drinks are essential in a party as large as this one, so in addition to silver buckets filled with a variety of cold beers, I'll offer a few bottles of a crisp white Pinot Gris, and both spiked and hard lemonade. For the details,

When guests call to RSVP ask each person to bring a six pack of their favorite beer to ensure that there is enough selection and brews to go around. Or else think about getting a keg of a light, highly drinkable beer. Generally people stick to beer at barbeques, however give the choice of white wine (everyone knows at least one girl who refuses to drink beer, right?). Lemonade and cold water-sparkling and still-are ideal options for those who prefer not to consume alcohol. To get the party really started make several pitchers of my hard lemonade. I've been making this for awhile now and it gets rave reviews every time. Watch out it tastes so good it's easy to down a few glasses before the vodka hits you.

Lemonade
From Martha Stewart

3 cups lemon or lime juice, about 20 lemons or 25 limes freshly squeezed
2 cups superfine sugar
4 cups cold water
4 cups ice
2 lemons or limes, thinly sliced for garnish

Into a large serving container, strain the citrus juice, mix it with sugar, and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Add 4 cups cold water and stir again until well combined. Add ice to fill and a few lemon or lime slices.

Makes 10 cups.

Print recipe with images | without images

PartySugar's Hard Lemonade
From Bon Appetit magazine

1 cup packed mint leaves, chopped
2/3-cup sugar
1-cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 cups vodka
Crushed ice for serving
Fresh mint springs, optional for garnish

Combine chopped mint and sugar in a large bowl or pitcher.
Stir in lemon juice and vodka.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
Strain mixture into serving pitcher.
Fill six 6-8 ounce festive glasses with crushed ice. Pour mixture over. Garnish with mint springs.

Serves 6.

Print recipe with images | without images

What's your favorite thing to drink at a barbeque? Share your concoctions with me below!