Recipe(tried): Memorial Day Menu for Two

This Memorial Day is just DH and me, so the menu is slightly pared down but still has the fun in it! Memorial Day is not a holiday without the hot dogs which DH just loves.

He claims that my hot dogs taste just like the old Howard Johnson ones...all I do is cook them on a skillet with a little butter til they brown a bit and then split the hot dog buns and brown them in the skillet. So easy and delicious and he loves them, that's al that counts!

Anyway, here is the menu for Memorial Day this year for two, him and me!! The Mojito Recipe was posted previously and that's what I will be drinking that day! The Vidalia Onion Dip was at a party we went to last month and it is killer, very creamy and good.

Happy Memorial Day!

Gina

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THE MENU:
Hot Dogs & Buns
Deviled Eggs
Easy Baked Beans for Two*
Classic Potato Salad*
Vidalia Onion Dip & Crackers*
Lime Mojitos (recipe)
Beer
Chocolate Pie*
*Recipe follows

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THE RECIPES:

EASY BAKED BEANS FOR TWO!

1 (28 oz.) can Bush Baked Beans (I use Country Style)
2 slices Vidalia onion, chopped
2 slices sweet red bell pepper, chopped
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
a squirt of ketchup
a squirt of mustard

Saute the onion and bell pepper in 1 Tbsp. olive oil in a small pot, when golden, add the beans, brown sugar, ketchup and mustard, stir and leave on low until heated through.

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CLASSIC POTATO SALAD
serves 4

1/2 cup Hellman's mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. vinegar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. black pepper

3 medium potatoes, peeled, cubed, and cooked
1/2 cup sliced celery
1 Tbsp. finely chopped red onion
3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1 Tbsp. chopped gherkin pickles
1/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup green bell pepper, chopped

Combine 1st 5 ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients and toss gently but thoroughly to coat with sauce. Cover and chill.

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VIDALIA ONION DIP
serves 3-4

1 cup finely chopped Vidalia Onion
1 cup Hellman's Mayonnaise
1 cup finely shredded Swiss Cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. sweet paprika
1 small garlic clove, minced

Mix all ingredients, put into a baking dish and put in 350 degree F oven for 20 minutes. Drain oil off and mix again with a spoon and serve with Wheat Thins.

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CHOCOLATE PIE
serves 8

1 Pillsbury Pie Shell cooked according to pkg. direction
FOR THE FILLING:
1 scant cup of sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
3 large eggs, separated
1 cup whole milk
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla extract
pinch of salt

In the top of a double boiler, mix the sugar, cocoa, and flour. Lightly beat the egg yolks (save the white for the meringue) and stir in the milk. Slowly add the egg milk mixture to the sugar mixture in the double boiler creating a paste at the beginning; this will ensure that the chocolate and flour blend smoothly. Cook for about 45 minutes until thick. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, melted butter and salt. Blend in well. Pour the filling into the prepared pie shell. Allow pie to cool in refrigerator for 45 minutes before putting meringue on.

FOR THE MERINGUE:
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
5 Tbsp. sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. With an electric mixer, beat egg whites until foamy, add salt and keep on beating. Ad the sugar gradually as you beat until all used. Beat until smooth and glossy and stiff peaks form. Spread over the cold pie all the way to edges to seal pie well. With the back of a spoon touch meringue and pull up to form peaks. Bake for 20 minutes or until top is browned. Cool in refrigerator completely before serving.