4 Essential (less labor intensive) Labor Day Recipes... ...and 1 Delicious Drink Recipe

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​Have you been asking yourself, "But HOW is it Labor Day weekend already?". This summer flew by faster than a raven from north of the wall to Dragonstone...and if you don't understand that Game of Thrones reference - simply put: summer went by SUPER FAST​. 

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Just because we are nearing the season of all pumpkin everything,

                              doesn't mean you have to put the picnic basket away just yet. 

I've rounded up 4 of my favorite less labor intensive recipes for your Labor Day picnic. We don't all work jobs that allow us to have a 4-day weekend, but I hope that you're able to take some time out for yourself, and to spend it with your friends/family/furbaby. 
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Walking Pasta Salad
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​It's no secret that I love to put food on a stick. After all, I come from Minnesota - where our State Fair is known for it's variety of foods on a stick. It's portable, it's not messy, and it looks a lot cuter than plopping it down into a bowl. Hey, if not only to impress your friends when you bring this to their party, do it for the 'gram, people.

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of tortellini
• 1 package of mozzarella pearls
• 1 package (about 2 cups) of cherry tomatoes (rinsed)
• olive oil
• salt & pepper
• oregano or other Italian spices ​
• **bamboo skewers

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Instructions:

• Cook the tortellini as instructed by the package, drain and allow to cool
• Once tortellini is cooled add one piece to a skewer, followed by one mozzarella pear, and a cherry tomato - repeat until you've made desired amount.

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Strawberry and Jalapeño Salsa
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If you like refreshing and spicy at the same time, this is for you. This summer salsa brings the heat! I've paired this salsa with my new favorite addiction,Brandless Organic Blue Corn Tortilla Chips. I'll talk more about Brandless in another post - so be on the lookout for that!

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups of diced strawberries
• 1 diced jalapeño (de ribbed and seeded - unless you want it extra, extra spicy, then leave in the seeds)
• 1/2 diced red onion
• 2 limes (we're only using the juice)
• cilantro or chives to garnish

Instructions: 
This is so easy, can you even deal?

• Add strawberries, jalapeño, and red onion  to mixing bowl and stir together
• Squeeze the juice from two limes into bowl
• Stir and let sit in the fridge for 30 mins to an hour to allow flavors to mix

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Quick Quinoa and Corn Salad

​Unlike your basic greens (how many times have you seen a spinach, goat cheese, cranberry, and walnut salad at gatherings, amiright?) With quinoa being protein and vitamin packed, this gluten-free salad will be your new substitute for leafy greens. Plus, it doesn't get soggy!

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Ingredients:

• 4 Cups of cooked quinoa (** TIP ** want to save even more time? Trader Joe's sells cooked quinoa in the freezer section!) 
• 1 Cup of halved cherry tomatoes (rinsed)
• 4 Tbsp. honey (try some from your local Farmer's Market!)
• 2 limes
• 1-2 Cups of corn (I used fresh, simply boil for 5-8 mins, cool, and sliced off the cob. You can also use canned, rinsed)
• 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
• 1/3-1/4 Cup of crumbly cheese (I prefer goat over feta - but either will work!)
• Chives or parsley for garnish 

Instructions:

• Cook quinoa as instructed on package, and allow to cool
• Add coconut oil to a pan and heat
• Add corn and tomatoes to pan, sauté and cook for 8-10 mins
• Fold in corn and tomato mix into quinoa
• In small bowl mix honey and juice from limes
• Slowly add honey mixture to quinoa mixture, until all is coated
• Sprinkle cheese and garnish on top when ready to serve

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No Bake Chocolate Bark
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​Chocolate on chocolate, on candy on sprinkles.....
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via GIPHY

​Ingredients:

• 2 Cups of dark or milk chocolate (feel free to mix together whatever chocolate you have in your pantry)
• 2 Cups of white chocolate
• 1 Cup of M&Ms
• various sprinkles

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Instructions:

• Add dark chocolate to a microwave safe bowl, and microwave 30 seconds at a time, stirring between intervals. Heat until chocolate is completely melted
• Spread melted dark chocolate on to a parchment paper lined 9x13 sheet pan
• Place pan in refrigerator to allow to cool and harden (about an hour)
• Add white chocolate to a microwave safe bowl, and melt the same as above
• Spread white chocolate over dark chocolate
• Add M&M's, sprinkles, candy confetti - whatever your sweet tooth desires
• Place pan back in refrigerator to harden
• When ready to serve use hands to break the bark up into pieces, serve immediately 

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The New Skinny Margarita: The Paloma
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Ingredients:

• 2 Cups of your favorite tequila
• 3 1/2 Cups of Sparkling Grapefruit Soda or Italian Grapefruit Soda (I used Villa Italia from Trader Joe's)
• 2 limes (sliced)
• 2 lemons (sliced)
• 1-2 Cups of Ice cubes

Instructions:

• Mix tequila and grapefruit soda in tall pitcher
• Add ice cubes and stir
• Squeeze one lemon and one lime into pitcher, stir
• Pour into glasses, garnish with lemons and limes
• Sit back, smile, and enjoy!