Labor Day is one of my favorite weekends of the year. It may seem like we are holiday deprived during the summer. School starts soon, and for me this has been a great way mark the end of summer, and begin the fall season. I love to catch up with friends, and for me, that means cooking up lots of great copycat recipes. You don’t have to go out for dinner this weekend, you can make many of your restaurant recipes at home.

Labor Day Recipes

Now, for labor day, I love to grill, I will grill up burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and if I can find good steaks on sale, well those get thrown on the grill too. I like to spend time with my friends as much as possible, I don’t like spending too much time cooking while my friends are over, well unless I can get them to help as well.
Appetizers
So, I must confess, I love appetizers, honestly, I could live on appetizers and desserts. I am generally far more concerned about appetizers than I am any other part of the meal. I will try to reign in my appetizers for you guys, otherwise this would be a list of appetizers.
Houston’s Spinach Artichoke Dip – This wouldn’t have been on my mind, but recently I went to a party, and I realized how much I loved spinach artichoke dip. This copycat recipe for Houston’s Spinach Artichoke dip is one of our recipes that receive the most compliments.
Luby’s Stuffed Jalapenoes – Pickled jalapeno peppers are stuffed with a flavored cream cheese, these are a little spicy, but not too much. Want to take it really easy, stuff these with goat cheese, and they are just as good, and easy to make.

Side Dishes
Better than KFC Cole Slaw – I love this recipe, this makes delicioius cole slaw, and you can make it ahead of time. This copycat recipe is easy to make, inexpensive, and it makes a large quantity. You can make this recipe up to two days ahead of time, so you aren’t in a rush the day of your event.
Luby’s Shredded Carrot Salad – This is another easy to make salad that helps to stretch the budget and you can make this ahead of time. Freshly shredded carrots, raisins and a creamy dressing makes for a refreshing salad everyone is sure to love.
Other dishes I will be making, grilled corn on the cob, and grilled potato packets. My grilled potato packets are simply potato and onion slices wrapped in foil seasoned with salt and pepper with a couple of pats of butter on them and cooked on the grill. These potato packets take about 20 minute or so, so I like to start them before I start to grill the meat.
Desserts
Sopapilla Cheesecake – this is not a copycat recipe, but it was one I made recently and received numerous compliments, and it may be one that your friends and family have not previously tried. Cresent rolls, a cheesecake filling make for an easy to prepare dessert.
Colonia Cottage Buttermilk Pie – Buttermilk pies may not be familar to everyone, but they are one of the easiest pies to make. Buttermilk pies take very few ingredients, and you pour this creamy and tangy filling into a frozen pie shell, and it you will have homemade pie in no time.

Cocktails
I enjoy serving up delicious copycat cocktails at parties I throw at my house. I like to prepare cocktails that you may not always order when you go out. Sometimes cocktails are expensive when you have them in the restaurant, but at home, they cost much less. Here are a few of my favorite cocktails to serve.
TGI Friday’s Sex on the Beach
Joe’s Crab Shack Ya Ya Punch – everytime I have served up this cocktial I have had to make a 2nd or 3rd batch of this drink. Wonderfully fruity and refreshing is perfect for a hot summer day.

For me, the main thing about those nice holiday weekends is having extra time to get together with your friends and family. Enjoying a meal with someone is a great way to spend time together, best of all, you don’t have to spend a lot of money when you prepare food at home. Why not have a pot luck and have everyone bring a favorite dish or two of theirs? I hope everyone has a relaxing weekend and that you get to spend time with those that you love.

Happy Labor Day!