Celebrate Labor Day The American Way

Happy Labor Day! Even passionate real estate people need an occasional holiday. One of my kids recently asked me why we celebrate Labor Day. I proudly said that Labor Day was a joint celebration to remember the hard working people of America and the ancient rite of summer BBQing. Ok, so I may have stretched the truth a little, but Wikipedia was unavailable. Labor Day is the last hurrah of summer: A time for kids to think about going back to school, enjoy the last of the high summer sun and to talk real estate while gathering around the BBQ.

Labor Day is a great time to grill hamburgers. One of my favorites is stuffed cheeseburger with plenty of fresh lettuce, tomato and bacon. You can use any type of cheese inside. Cheddar, Blue Cheese or Swiss are all delicious, but if cheese isn't your thing, try stuffing burgers with sauteed mushrooms,  caramelized onions or roasted jalapenos. In this video, Guy Fieri shows you the basic technique for stuffing burgers with anything you like.

Labor Day is also a great time to pull out your favorite macaroni salad recipe for one last summer fling. I like this Classic Macaroni Salad recipe. I cut the amount of sugar and onion down and add 1 tablespoon of brown mustard for a little extra zing. Let it sit in the fridge overnight and in the morning...Voila! Delicious! The last time I this for a potluck, I went home with an empty bowl. A promising sign for any recipe.

Finally, nothing says summer like corn on the cob and even most picky veggie-phobes love it. You can cook corn inside the husk or out, but as long as you have that BBQ going, you might as well keep the house cool and throw them on the grill. Soaking the corn in the husk for 15 minutes before grilling steams them or you can try roasting them with husks off like Stephen Raichlen does for a new twist on an old favorite. 

Labor Day is a time to enjoy your friends, family and neighbors. The open houses are closed, the multiple listings won't be refreshed until Tuesday and even most agents are forwarding messages to voice mail, so preheat the grill, grab a nice cold drink and enjoy the day off!