Labor Day weekend is just around the corner and many families will be celebrating with friends and family. However many people do not even know what Labor Day is or why we celebrate it for that matter.

This day is always the first Monday in September and was created to honor the labor movement and to show dedication to the achievements of the American workers.

Labor Day is the perfect time for barbecuing and spending time with family. Remember to savor these little moments you get to spend with your family and this free time. Crack open a book even. Here are a few recipes to make your labor day delicious.

Recipe 1- BBQ Pork for Sandwiches

Being a holiday, especially in the late summer, barbecue is most definitely a must-have.

Servings-12
Cook Time-4 hr 45 minutes
Calorie Count- 355

Ingredients-
1 (14 oz) can of beef broth
3 pounds of boneless pork ribs
1 (18 oz) bottle of barbecue sauce

1. Pour can of beef broth into slow cooker, and add boneless pork ribs. Cook on High heat for 4 hours, or until meat shreds easily. Remove meat, and shred with two forks. It will seem that it’s not working right away, but it will.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Transfer the shredded pork to a Dutch oven or iron skillet, and stir in barbeque sauce.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until heated through.

Recipe 2- Hot Fudge ice cream bar

Instead of a traditional cake or cobbler, cool off with this sweet treat.

Servings- 12
Cook time- 1hr 35 mins
Calories-575
Ingredients:
1 (16 ounce) can chocolate syrup
3/4 cup peanut butter
19 ice cream sandwiches
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

1. Pour the chocolate syrup into a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave until hot, about 2 minutes on high, stopping every 30 seconds. Do not allow to boil. Stir peanut butter into hot chocolate until smooth. Allow to cool to room temperature.
2. Line the bottom of a 9×13-inch dish with a layer of ice cream sandwiches. Spread half the whipped topping over the sandwiches. Spoon half the chocolate mixture over that. Top with half the peanuts. Repeat layers. Freeze until firm, at least 1 hour. Cut into squares to serve.

Recipe 3- Potato and Bacon Salad

You can never go wrong with a potato salad, it is an all-time favorite.

Servings- 8
Calorie Count- 361
Ingredients:
5 eggs
4 slices bacon
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, or to taste
1 cup mayonnaise
3 stalks celery, minced
2 pounds small potatoes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste

1. Place the potatoes in a pot with enough water to cover, and bring to a boil. Cook for about 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain and cool.
2. Meanwhile, place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, and place in a bowl of cold water to cool.
3. Peel the eggs, and place 3 of them into a large bowl. Reserve the rest for later. Mash the eggs in the bowl with a fork. Stir in the mustard, mayonnaise, celery, salt and pepper. Set aside.
4. Cook bacon slices in the microwave for about 4 minutes, until crisp, or fry in a skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble 2 of the bacon slices into the mayonnaise mixture. Reserve the rest for garnish.
5. Peel and chop the potatoes, and stir into the bowl until evenly coated. Slice the 2 remaining eggs, and place on top of the salad. Crumble the remaining bacon over the eggs, then sprinkle parsley over the top.

Recipe 4– All-American Burger Dog

Now you do not have to make the agonizing decision of choosing, you can have the best of both worlds hamburger and hotdog fans.
Servings – 2
Cook Time- 20 mins
Calories- 763
Ingredients:
2 extra-long hot dog buns
4 teaspoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons ketchup
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 slices Cheddar cheese
1 pound of ground beef

1. Place half the ground beef on a sheet of plastic wrap. Pat it into a rectangular shape, about 1/2 inch thick, 8 1/2 inches long, and 4 inches wide. Season with salt and pepper. Roll the beef into a log, using the plastic wrap as a guide. Season with more salt and pepper. Wrap the plastic tightly around the log and twist both ends tight. Pat gently to slightly flatten. Repeat with remaining ground beef.
2. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate. Remove the burger dogs from the plastic wrap and place on the grill, perpendicular to the grates. Cook until burgers are browned but still pink inside, 4 to 5 minutes, flip, and cook another 2 to 3 minutes. Place a slice of cheese on each burger dog and grill to medium doneness (an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 140 degrees F/60 degrees C). Remove and rest 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Toast hot dog buns on the grill and spread each with 2 teaspoons mayonnaise. Place burger dog on each bun and squirt 1 tablespoon of ketchup on top.

Recipe 5– Best of Everything Veggie Burger

Here’s a recipe for all the vegetarians out there. Here’s to a great burger without meat.
Cook Time- 41
Servings-6
Calories- 317
Ingredients:
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 eggs
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs, or as needed
1/2 cup uncooked brown rice
1 cup water
2 (16 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 green bell pepper, halved and seeded
1 onion, quartered
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
6 cloves garlic, peeled
1. Bring the brown rice and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender, and the liquid has been absorbed, 45 to 50 minutes.
2. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat. Lightly oil a sheet of aluminum foil. Mash black beans in a large bowl with a fork until thick and pasty; set aside.
3. Place the bell pepper, onion, mushrooms, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor, and chop finely. Stir the bell pepper mixture into the mashed black beans. Place the brown rice and mozzarella cheese in the food processor, and process until combined. Stir the mixture into the black beans.
4. Whisk together the eggs, chili powder, cumin, garlic salt, and hot sauce. Stir the egg mixture into the black bean mixture. Stir in the bread crumbs, adding additional bread crumbs as needed until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide into 6 large patties.
5. Place patties onto the prepared foil, and grill until browned and heated through, about 8 minutes per side.

Recipe 6– Patriotic Fruit pizza

Get really creative and in the holiday spirit with this tasty dessert.

Servings- 24
Cook Time- 1 hour
Calories- 301
Ingredients:
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 large bananas, sliced – or as needed
1 tablespoon lemon juice, or as needed
1 (16 ounce) package fresh strawberries, sliced
1 (6 ounce) container fresh blueberries

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Whisk the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mash the vegetable shortening and margarine together until thoroughly combined, and beat in 1 1/2 cup of sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix in the flour mixture to make a workable dough, and spread the dough out in a rectangle shape onto an ungreased 12×17 inch baking sheet.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until very lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
4. While the cookie base is cooling, mash the cream cheese with 1 cup of sugar and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth. Place sliced bananas in a bowl, and gently toss with lemon juice to prevent browning.
5. To decorate the pizza, spread the cream cheese filling all over the cookie base in an even, smooth layer. Place the blueberries in a square in neat, closely-spaced rows, in the left upper corner for blue stars. Arrange alternating stripes of white bananas and red strawberry slices across the pizza. Refrigerate leftovers

All recipes and photos courtesy of http://allrecipes.com