Celebrate Memorial Day, being outdoors with totable salads

How many of you know Memorial Day as Decoration Day?

Yep, that’s what Memorial Day was called way back when.

Remembering those who have died in service to our country is the main theme. It’s also a day to give a prayer up for those in our circle of family and friends who’ve passed on.

We cherish the tradition of outdoor Mass, weather permitting, at our country sister church, St. Philomena. Sprigs of mom’s heirloom mint and whatever flowers are blooming decorate family graves there.

Memorial Day is also a kick-off to summer with the first outdoor celebration.

You probably already know what your main dish is going to be, so I thought I’d share recipes for our favorite totable salads. The bonus? The dressing for the antipasto salad works equally as well with the more simple, garbanzo and black bean salad.

Daughter-in-law, Courtney’s Aunt Diane brought her broccoli salad to a brunch at our home. It was too yummy not to share, so that’s here too.

Layered antipasto picnic salad

Amounts and kinds of ingredients aren’t too important, so use the salad ingredient list as a guide. Do what suits you.

Ingredients dressing

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

1 teaspoon cumin, or to taste

1/2 teaspoon chili powder, or to taste

2 teaspoons garlic, minced – 2 cloves

1 teaspoon dried oregano

Salt and pepper to taste

Ingredients salad

Something for everybody!

Line tray or large, shallow bowl with greens. Set aside.

Combine following in large bowl:

1 can beans, drained and rinsed if necessary

1 small cucumber, diced coarsely, not peeled

Grape or cherry tomatoes, cut in halves

Olives – a good cup or so – black, Greek, green are all good. Make sure they’re pitted

Salami – thinly sliced and cut

Cheese – small chunks and/or shaved (save shaved for garnish)

1 bell pepper, chopped

Canned artichoke hearts, drained and quartered

Instructions dressing

Whisk everything together. Can be made ahead.

Instructions salad

Spoon over greens.

Garnish with shaved cheese, then drizzle dressing over all.

Garbanzo/black  bean salad

Ingredients dressing

Same as for antipasto picnic salad.

Ingredients and instructions salad

Mix these ingredients together in large bowl, then pour dressing on and toss well.

1 can garbanzo beans, drained and 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed – or 2 cans of your choice beans

2 green onions, chopped

1 small red onion, diced small – start with 1/2 cup and go from there

2 tomatoes, chopped

2 ribs celery, diced small

1 bell pepper, diced small

Handful cilantro, optional

Broccoli salad with bacon and cheese

Ingredients salad

1 head broccoli, cut into florets

1 small red onion, diced

2 cups cheddar cheese

8 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

Ingredients dressing

1 cup mayonnaise

1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar or to taste

1/3 cup red wine vinegar or to taste

Instructions for both

Mix salad ingredients in a bowl. Whisk dressing ingredients, pour over salad and toss gently.

Tips to tote

Pack dressing separately and add before serving.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Celebrate Memorial Day, being outdoors with totable salads