Memorial Day

“The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men.” -Minot J. Savage

Man if there's anything i like more the cooking, it's quotes. TGIMemorial Day! Am i right? 

Here's a good one i stole from good old Davey T: "Today is a day of remembrance, not barbeques and beer. A day to remember the fallen, and thank the returned. If you see a veteran, or an active service member, be sure to thank them. Or I'll find you..."

I believe that's true, he will find you. But also well spoken. I happen to know a Vietnam vet pretty well:

 

 

Who coincidentally want's to celebrate with a bbq and some beer. So that's convenient. Beacuse:

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” — Maya Angelou

 Too true Maya Angelou. (Rhymes!) Additional shout out to Mr Specs who is also a Nam Vet and invited to dinner. And to my Uncle George who was in the military forever and is just in general a personal hero.

First what Phil has preemptively Thumbs uped is a cucumber gimlet:

Which is not the same thing as the cucumber fizz from my last post (though it is the same picture of Phil, i forgot to get one of him drinking it, sue me!)
  

It's basically 2 parts cucumber juice, 1 part gin, and a squirt of lime and simple syrup.Yum. Fun Fact: Cucumber Juice was William Henry Harrison's favorite beverage (according to my high school history teacher so really who knows) and he was an Army General. He also wanted to show he was tough, and didn't wear a jacket to his inauguration speech so 30 days 12hrs and 30mins later he died of pneumonia. Which is why you should always wear a jacked. ALWAYS!

Actually i think it was Zachary Taylor who like cucumber juice. anyway...

Food!

So we've got grilled bread with homemade ricotta with tomato sardine salad or olive oil and basil, grilled shrimp marinated in lime, garlic and cilantro, roasted vegetables, bacon wrapped potatoes, sausage cheddar meatballs. Most of these recipes are from Martha Stewart but the ricotta is from Smitten Kitchen. It's kind of a random spread because i was being as indecisive as congress. 

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” -Mark Twain (nice segway)

Oh, and Banana Cream Pie.

Duh. 

I think Harvey's got the right idea.

But wait, what do you do in the morning with left over bacon wrapped potatoes and sausage cheddar meat balls?

YOU FUCKING SCRAMBLE THEM!

SON.

And then you hope you make it through the rest of your day without having a heart attack.

I am proud to be an American. Because an American can eat anything on the face of this earth as long as he has two pieces of bread.” -Bill Cosby

Thanks Bill. But especially thank you to all those who are serving/have served. 

"These heroes are dead. They died for liberty - they died for us. They are at rest. They sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars - they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead." -- Robert G. Ingersoll