Your Labor Day recipes, please tell us:

[eric rochow]

I'm curious to know what you all are cooking for Labor Day festivities. How about a recipe? I love cole slaw, I am more partial to a vinegar based slaw, but I'll eat most any slaw.

Jot down your recipes here, be fun to see what's going on out there.

[Stuccolow]

Meat and lots of it! Oh and tomatoes since the plants finally produced, and produced, and produced some more.

[Melissa]

I made some SUPER gazpacho the other day. Trying to be creative with my garden's bounty; tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, peppers, dill, basil, etc. I will make another small batch Sunday morning and photograph or video the recipe, as it's more of a creation than a list. Great, fresh, raw, vegetarian soup for a warm summer weekend.

[Paige]

Hi Eric,

Since you're a slaw fan, have you tried much broccoli slaw? You can find it bagged in the salad section of most grocery stores, and it's not bad with a regular slaw dressing on it. However, my friend David's mother introduced me to a really wacky broccoli slaw recipe some years ago that is really good, and I've made a couple of batches of it this Labor Day weekend.

Fair warning, it sounds gross, but I promise you it's tasty.

1 bag mixed broccoli slaw (usually contains broccoli, red cabbage, and carrot)
1 package chicken flavored ramen noodles
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup blanched, slivered almonds or plain peanuts
1/4 cup sunflower seeds (optional)

Place slaw in a large bowl. Remove seasoning packet from ramen noodles. Mix seasoning packet with sugar, vinegar, and oil (works best in a dressing shaker). Pour dressing over slaw and toss to coat. Place uncooked ramen noodles in a bag and crunch them up into small pieces. Add ramen pieces, nuts, and seeds to the slaw and toss. This slaw is best the second day, so you can dress the slaw and let it sit refrigerated overnight--just don't add the crunchy stuff until you're ready to serve (that is, if you want it to stay crunchy! :).

[eric rochow]

ok. i will try this. we'll see. i've never had broccoli slaw before. thx, eric.

[Melissa]

I made a fresh batch of my gazpacho today, and posted my complicated directions and photos in my blog. All of the ingredients shown on the yellow plate came from my containers in my apartment garden! All of my tomato varieties are small and fun to work with.