I love vacations. And it is that I love to eat. Memorial Day is fast approaching and we are having a barbecue to celebrate and remember the loved ones who bravely fought and died for our country.

Here are some Memorial Day Appetizers Not only will that make you salivate, but you can wear them all summer long. I’ve always liked recipes for focaccia, crostini, and bruschetta. Try these that I am sharing here and see if you disagree that they are simple to make and even more fun to eat. Enjoy and remember what the true meaning of this vacation is.

Delicious Onion Focaccia

If you’ve never had focaccia bread, start with this delicious caramelized onion focaccia sandwich. This is an easy appetizer recipe that makes a great snack and everyone will love it.

If you’re running out of ideas for a different appetizer or snack at 11 o’clock for a party, grab this recipe, make it and bake and voila!

What you will need:

– 2 butter spoons

– 1 tablespoon of olive oil

– 2 onions (chopped)

– salt and pepper to taste)

– 8 slices of provolone cheese (but really, any type of cheese you like will work)

– 1 focaccia (from the deli section) or a Boboli cheese crust (divide horizontally)

To do:

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Next, melt the butter and olive oil in your favorite skillet. Then cook the onions for about 15-20 minutes while stirring frequently. You will want the onions to brown and caramelize as this brings out the sugars in the onions and adds a wonderful flavor to the overall recipe. Just make sure you don’t overcook the onions so they burn.

Sprinkle the onions with a little salt and pepper and continue stirring.

Next, place the bottom of the split focaccia or boboli pizza dough on an ungreased baking sheet that you have lined with aluminum foil. Place half of the cheese on top of your focaccia. Now, you will end up sprinkling with the caramelized onions and the rest of your cheese slices.

The final step is to take the top focaccia slice and place it on top like a sandwich. Wrap everything tightly in foil and bake for about 15-20 minutes until you see that the cheese has melted.

Take out of the oven and chill for 5 minutes then cut into chunks and serve to your hungry crowd.

You can also make this ahead of time, keep it refrigerated, and then reheat it in the oven before serving. Everyone will love it! Enjoy!

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Goat cheese crostini

What’s great about this easy recipe is that it can be an appetizer on its own or paired with a delicious salad to make it more of a side dish or meal. This type of cheese likes to mix other flavors, so don’t be shy, use your imagination. All kinds of herbs work well. This is also a great recipe for a Mother’s Day brunch, but you can also serve it as an appetizer in a cocktail party.

What you will need:

– 8 slices of French or Italian bread (cut diagonally)

– 1 package (5 ounces) goat cheese – make sure it’s nice and smooth and leave it out to come to room temperature

– 2 tablespoons chives (finely chopped) – you can also use any other herb that sounds good to you.

– Salt and pepper (freshly ground) to taste.

– 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)

To do:

Preheat the oven to 350 * F (175 * C).

Toast the bread slices on a baking sheet in the middle of the oven until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove the now toasted bread and preheat your broiler. (The nice thing about this is that the toast can be made up to 2 days in advance. Let cool completely and store tightly covered).

While bread is toasting, combine goat cheese, chives (or other herbs), salt, and pepper in a small bowl, mixing all ingredients well. Spread cheese mixture over toast and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. *

Grill the crostini until the cheese is lightly browned and slightly bubbly, about 2 minutes.

This easy appetizer recipe makes 32 beautiful servings. Serve on your favorite party plate or salad plates.

* Cheese mix can be made ahead of time, covered and refrigerated, for up to 2 days.

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Asparagus and cheese bruschetta

I love Bruschetta recipes. It’s easy to make and they taste great. This asparagus and cheese bruschetta has been a long-time favorite of mine. Whenever I do it for a crowd, they disappear almost instantly!

What you will need:

– 1 pound. asparagus (break off ends and cut into 1.5-inch pieces)

– 8 oz. Gruyère (or Swiss) cheese (grated)

– 6 oz. country ham or for a lower-fat version: use Canadian bacon (finely chopped or mash in a food processor)

– 1 baguette, cut into 1/2-inch slices (grill or toast the slices)

– 3 cloves of garlic, (peel and cut in half)

– extra virgin olive oil (use whatever you need to drizzle last)

– Kosher salt (to taste)

– black pepper (best results if you use it freshly ground)

To do:

Fire up your grill.

Use a large skillet for sautéing – fill 3/4 of the way with salted water and bring to a boil. Add the asparagus and cook about 2 minutes to keep them tender and crisp. Drain the asparagus in a colander, while running cold water over it to prevent it from cooking. Save money.

Combine the cheese and ham in a small bowl. Save money.

Next, take the garlic halves and rub them against one side of the toasted slices for flavor. Then drizzle the olive oil over the top of the toast.

Place the lightly cooked asparagus on the toast, then spoon the cheese and ham mixture evenly divided over the asparagus. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Finally, place the freshly made bruschetta on a baking sheet. Put the tray on your grill and let it bake until the cheese is melted, browned and bubbly. Look carefully so you don’t get burned. This should be approximately 2 minutes.

Serve immediately while hot. This delicious and easy appetizer recipe makes 12 servings (3 pieces each).

And there you have it. Make these delicious appetizers and wow your crowds. Have a safe and happy Memorial Day!