Wow. 2020 has thrown most of us for a loop, with social distancing, working at home, school closings, and bare grocery shelves. It’s easy to lose track of time. But a week from today is Memorial Day. And while parades and other big events may have been cancelled, you can still enjoy some quality time with family, while honoring what the day is all about.
Please take a moment to remember our fallen military personnel, who have fought and died for our country over the years. If COVID-19 precautions prevent you from going to a parade or visiting a cemetery, you can have your own memorial. This is especially important if you have family members who died in service to our country.
Trying to have as normal a Memorial Day weekend as possible is important for your mental well-being. It’s also important for your kids. Memorial Day has the traditional start to summer, with pool parties, trips to the beach, getting out on the Chesapeake, and more. But most of us will be staying at home this year.
Still, there are several things you can do to enjoy time with your family on Memorial Day Weekend.
If you haven’t done it already, opening up your inground pool will help cheer everyone up in this time of staying at home. You can still have the traditional pool party – it will just be smaller this year. Get the kids involved in the process, as long as they don’t go near the chemicals.
Getting them outside and away from their screens is a good thing.
The ingredients for your traditional favorites might not be available this year, so be prepared to improvise. Plan for what you’ll be grilling, what the sides will be, what yummy concoction you can create for dessert, snacks, drinks, and more.
Looking for new ideas? Try out one of our favorite grilled chicken recipes, Grilled Chicken Thighs with Cilantro and Lime. It’s a fan favorite, and easy to prepare, as well. Just give yourself several hours for the chicken thighs to soak in the marinade, up to 24 hours. Using boneless, skinless chicken thighs makes them healthier, and also prevents grill flare-ups.
Now we use a gas grill, so here’s your modification for that:
Don’t have a meat thermometer? Grill for the instructed time, and poke with a fork to see if the juices run clear. If they do, it’s done. And if it’s raining, you can still do these chicken thighs in the oven, at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
Finally, take time to relax this Memorial Day weekend. You’ve earned it. Dealing with COVID-19 precautions and the ensuing lockdown is stressful for everyone. Play games with your kids. Reengage with your spouse. Maybe do a Zoom call or FaceTime with friends and family that you would normally have over for a party.
And if you think all this family time would be even better with a full outdoor kitchen, installing one is easier than you think. Outdoor Living companies such as LiveWell Outdoors are still working with homeowners across the state. With virtual meetings and small work crews, we take your health and the health of our employees seriously.
Your next holiday gathering will hopefully be a much bigger get-together.
