15 LOW-LIFT, HIGH-REWARD RECIPES
For Memorial Day Weekend: Featuring rhubarb! chocolate! and all the greens and herbs!
If you enjoy this post, kindly hit the ❤️ at the bottom. It helps spread the word and keep my work going! Other ways to support me: share, subscribe + buy my books.
Hello!
It’s finally here: Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer holidays, and that legs dripping from the hammock feeling we wait for all year.
After weeks and weeks of rain, it hardly feels like we are nearing pool days. Even the arrival of spring produce has been a slow drip, but the kids are off school for the next five days, and we are not wasting it.
This year, with bigger kids, soccer tournaments, and ballet rehearsals, I’m already missing the lazy picnics and lawn fetes of Memorial Day’s past, but one thing we will never skip: the dreamy small town parade that marches right in front of our house at 10 A.M. Monday.
I’ve shared about our cherished parade—and our annual slow-grazing brunch on the front lawn while the kids hunt candy loot— here and here. There have been years for big spreads and big crowds—color-coordinated floor pillows and flags flying from our windows. But traditions soften over time. I’m learning to love that about life, a loosening of expectation that lets everyone breathe a bit.
Traditions soften over time. I’m learning to love that about life: a loosening of expectations that lets everyone breathe.
It’s no secret among my dear friends that I’m an expert on lazy entertaining (humble brag). I prefer help-yourself style spreads to sit-down meals or anything fussy or formal. I like to set it and forget it and focus on one-on-one conversations with my guests, refilling plates for my littlest friends, and inviting in neighbors for impromptu iced coffee or a corner of coffee cake as they pass by.
This year, I’m leaning into that even harder. Maybe that’s you, too?
I will always have some form of rhubarb on my Memorial Day table—a rhubarb torte, rhubarb compote over yogurt, or a meltingly delicious rhubarb crumble (with ice cream scooped right on top, while warm). There will be iced tea and iced coffee. And savories guests can get their fill of without being waited on. This time of year, big bowls of greens with a bracing shallot vinaigrette go a long way to fill the gaps. When there’s energy for it, something chocolate is always nice.
This kind of low-effort, high-impact menu lets you enjoy the party—or the parade, as it were—and still delight your guests (because who can relax if your hosts are huffing and puffing?). Below are a handful of set-it-and-forget-it menus and party spreads with all the recipes and links you need to do just that.
Now, your turn. Tell me (in the comments) what you plan to make for Memorial Day weekend, what traditions have softened for you (or not!), or one thing you did on Memorial Day as a kid/teen/adult that created a meaningful memory for you! I LOVED hearing so many of your food memories on last week’s giveaway post, and I welcome more of that. This is a place for all our stories.
Happy long weekend, and enormous gratitude to all the individuals and families who have served. Your sacrifice is enormous and humbling.
xx
Sarah
A reminder that you need a paid subscription to access all 165+ recipes in my archives. I’m unlocking a bunch of paid posts for you as an early summer gift, but you can upgrade to paid to access the full list, here:
6 LOW-LIFT SPREADS FOR SUMMER ENTERTAINING
BRUNCHABLE BAGEL PARTY: lay out a spread with all the bagel fixings for vegetarians + lox lovers alike. Serve on paper or bamboo plates for easy clean up.
A NO-GRILLING, GRAZING MENU FOR EVERY SUMMER HOLIDAY (details within.)
LARGE FORMAT GREEK SALAD: serve composed on giant platters or separate individual components in various bowls with tongs for guests to DIY their favorite fixings in their own shallow bowls. Offer olive oil, vinegar or dressings on the side.
AVOCADO HUMMUS PLATTER: with generous bowls of raw veggies, pita chips, grilled veggies, plus feta and other soft cheeses, small toasts and crackers.
EGG LOVER’S LUNCH with my CHEESY POLENTA AND EGG BREAKFAST CASSEROLE, SPRING GREENS AND SHALLOT FRITATA, or GREEN SHAKSHUKA with avocado (a short cut version: big bowls of scrambled eggs with platters of watercress, fresh summer herbs, and bacon). Serve with toast and jelly or fresh buttered bread.
GIANT GRANOLA BOWL BAR with tall jars of whole-milk/low-fat plain yogurt (and dairy-free alternatives), TAHINI + FIVE SEED GRANOLA, RHURBARB COMPOTE, fresh berries, or sliced bananas to ladle and layer. Offer a large stack of bowls, cups and a jar full of spoons for guests to build their own bowl or parfait.
4 SUMMER-READY STRAWBERRY + RHUBARB SWEETS:
STRAWBERRY SNACKING CAKE (from
)
5 CHOCOLATEY BAKES + BARS
FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE SKILLET CAKE
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES FOR MODERN TIMES
Original recipes and excerpts with permission from my books: The Newlywed Cookbook, Every Day is Saturday, and Instant Family Meals. Copyright © Sarah Copeland. Photos: Gentl + Hyers, Tara Donne, Linda Pugliese, Kate Sears, and Nico Shinco. Styling by Sarah Copeland.
A closing note: as we start a new season, I’d love to hear what you’re enjoying in my newlsetter and what you want more of from me. Biggest thanks for answering this quick poll, which I’ll keep open all week. ♡
Every year for the past many I've made Dorie's strawberry-rhubarb crisp with ginger (from Baking) over MDW. This year, my kid, Camil, is away at college, and my husband and I are away with friends for the weekend...so no crisp. But last night in a phone call Camil told me they were gathering ingredients for a strawberry-rhubarb crisp. Full disclosure: I’m not actually sure it will happen, but the fact that Camil feels this tradition so keenly makes me very happy.
I'm thinking of making either a homemade pork bbq or sloppy joe for one day, probably hot dogs--we don't have them often, sides, chocolate cake, and we'll go out for one meal because my youngest has a birthday next week.