Holidays and Food Go Hand-In-Hand

Quick ideas for a fun-filled holiday weekend

May 23, 2025

Hi there and welcome to Roots! I'm so glad you're here. If you're enjoying what you're reading so far and haven’t subscribed yet, please click that button:

And if you like this post, please tap that heart button ❤️ and leave a comment as that helps the algorithm push this content out to more like-minded souls who might enjoy it. Thank you for being here!

Hi everyone!

If you’re in the US, you’re ready for summer … and vacation. Memorial Day weekend is the last weekend in May, a time to celebrate history and remember all your loved ones who have passed.

This weekend also ushers in summer - yeah!!! It’s always been one of my favorite holidays, maybe because it’s the signal to let summertime begin. It’s my birthday month, and Mother’s Day is propped in the middle - May is just a lovely time of the year. 🥰

This Memorial Day is a bit different for me. I’ve spent two weeks with my sister getting ready for an estate sale to finalize Mom’s things. It’s been an emotional two weeks. And, as if that weren’t enough, we decided to create even more memories and do a road trip back to my parents’ hometown. In the Midwest, it’s the heartland of America. I hadn’t been back there in years. December was a jolt when we laid my Mom to rest in her hometown cemetery - I’d forgotten how truly cold it can be there. We may get a little rain here in May, but at least it will be nicer as we visit again.

We also have other goals. We’re kind of on an Ancestry trip. We’ve found so much history deep in our family tree. With all of these memories, I suppose it’s only natural that you start digging into your roots once again. We’ll be visiting several towns, multiple cemeteries, and taking lots of photos of relatives’ grave sites. The things we’ve found in my Mom’s boxes have led us down so many paths. We can’t wait to see what we discover …

Picnics, Potlucks, and Good Food … Oh, My!

Road trips are traditionally filled with junk food. Gas station purchases fill the front seat, and you gorge on everything not good for you.

But for me, that was so yesterday. I don’t road trip much anymore, and I definitely won’t fill the car with “bad” snacks. Instead, we’ll be bringing coolers with healthier selections. I’m making a few simple things to bring along.

For most Memorial Day weekends, I keep things simple. If it isn’t raining, we eat outdoors. Possibly a picnic at the coast, or a park nearby.

Simple pasta salads are always easy. I also love charcuterie boards - takealong style. It’s easy to load up a cooler with lots of good things. Then take it along.

As I’m hitting the road, I thought I would share a few of my favorite treats that usually make Memorial Day truly memorable. I also use these recipes throughout the summer.