Recipe Round-Up: What to Make This Labor Day

Whether you’ve gathered with a group at a beach house or are enjoying a solo staycation, there’s nothing more indulgent than spending time preparing the perfect breakfast. And we can hardly think of a more perfect treat than our fig and cacao nib granola, topped off with a handful of blueberries. Bonus points if you pick them yourself.

You don’t have to spend your long weekend on a blustery beach in New England to enjoy a lobster roll (although we absolutely endorse those plans, if you can make it work). Our take on the summer classic highlights the lobster meat–they’re dusted with such a subtle coating of mayonnaise, you hardly notice it–so the higher-quality your fishmonger can offer you, the better. These are best enjoyed in a lightly toasted brioche bun–and, if you’re feeling like treating yourself–with a glass of rosé or even an ice-cold beer.

If you are having guests over, and they’re eager to help (pro tip for guests: always, always offer to help), tasking them with the easiest everyday salad is a foolproof way to make them feel useful. It’s so easy to assemble, even little ones can help out. The zippy but creamy tahini-based dressing makes it a beautiful entree no matter what you serve next.

Speaking of what to serve next, our saucy BBQ chicken is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. If you have a grill, this comes together in minutes. The marinade is so delicious, we promise it’ll change the way even a skeptic thinks about chicken. Grilling will give you the best results here, but if you don’t have a grill, there’s always a way to make it work: try making the marinade, brushing the chicken, and baking it instead–it’ll still yield a sticky, delicious, and flavorsome result.

Is it just us, or are Palomas everywhere lately? While they’re growing in ubiquity on menus across the country, we have to admit we’ve tried a number of them and still think our recipe is the best. Plus, we can’t think of anything we’d rather pair with barbecue. Cheers!

It wouldn’t be a summer dinner without a fruit-based dessert. But, instead of the typical pie-forward fare, we recommend going for a galette. It might look beautiful and sophisticated but it’s not as hard as you think. Plus, once everyone you serve this to takes a bite and taste the homemade frangipane, it’ll be clear that all efforts are worth it.