Take the Labor out of Labor Day with these simple and fun ways to entertain a crowd! The whole idea behind this party is to make it a relaxing evening for the host and the guests. A Labor Day / Labor free sanctuary! With recipes that can easily be made ahead and decor that requires little assembly, this is a party where you can truly “kick back”!
DRINKS FOR ALL
Stateside Sangria
Recipe:
1oz stateside vodka
.5 oz blush wine
.5oz giffard mure
.5oz lemon juice
.25oz basil simple syrup
Oranges, grapefruit, grapes, limes
Brooklyn Bee Well
Recipe:
Brooklyn Gin – 2oz
Fresh Lemon Juice -- .5oz
Honey -- .25oz
Turmeric – ¼ teaspoon
Ginger Kombucha – 4oz
Kids Mixed Berry Smoothie
Recipe:
1 1/2 cups apple juice can also use almond milk, skim milk, coconut milk or other flavor of juice.
1 banana sliced.
1 1/2 cups frozen mixed berries.
3/4 cup vanilla Greek yogurt.
1 tablespoon honey optional.
Optional garnish: fresh berries and mint sprigs.
FRESH DECOR
DIY Citronella Candles
These candles are sure to keep the bugs away at your Labor Day party! All you need are citronella votives, any type of jar, sliced lemons and limes, and sprigs of rosemary. So simple and your guests will love being bug free!
Repurposed Flower Vases
I’m all about reusing and repurposing! I used the liquor bottles from my cocktails as vases for my flowers. I also used some apple cider bottles, lemonade bottles, and really anything else I had laying around the house! This adds a great look to your table.
Jam Mason Jars
These little mason jars double as decor and a party favor! You can use them as place cards if you’re doing a sit down dinner, or you can have them scattered around the table labeled with all your guests names to take home!
FOOD
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken
Instant Pots are ALL the rage right now and I am completely obsessed! No more sweating over the grill on a hot day. I used InstaMeal sauces to make this buffalo chicken and it was probably the easiest and tastiest meal I’ve ever had! The InstaMeal sauces do all the work for you and are specifically made for the Instant Pot. For every 2lbs of meat you use one bottle of sauce, cook for 10 minutes, shred, and voila you have your buffalo chicken. Only 30 calories per serving, I highly recommend this sauce as it also comes in a variety of flavors!
Tri-Color Potato Salad
Recipe:
Purple fingerling potatoes
Golden potato
Red potatoes
Red onion
Yellow string beans
Chopped rosemary, chives, parsley
Kosher salt
Fresh ground pepper
Red wine vinegar
Olive oil
Dijon mustard
Fresh garlic
Fruits and Desserts
I love to add fresh fruit and a little sweet treat to all of my tables, I sourced fruit from the local farmers market and sourced the cupcakes from House of Cupcakes!