Compensation was provided by Gallo Family Vineyards via Sunday Supper, LLC. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Gallo Family Vineyards.
Labor Day is just around the corner so we need to send summer off with a bang!
It’s hard to think of summer vacation winding down while temperatures top the 90’s here this week in Pennsylvania. So let’s back burner back-to-school and forget about fall and celebrate Labor Day with friends and family.
Sunday Supper is teaming up with Gallo Family Vineyards to share some end of summer fun and recipe ideas with you to help you make the most of the holiday weekend.
What do you have planned for this three day weekend event?
We’re having a relaxing night with a few friends before we all return to our busy schedules.
We picnic and do cookouts all summer long. A special way to end summer for us is a small plates party culminating with wine and a special dessert.
Plated parties take the stress out of cook to order burgers and steaks. No need worry about those 10 potato salads arriving to the potluck.
I like to mix it up. Guests sample from small sandwiches, wings, stuffed shrimp, assorted salads, fruit and cheese even Charcuterie. Easy clean up too!
Here’s some tips for a Small Plates Party:
- Keep in mind that not everyone will sample everything. Most people only sample 4 to 5 different items. Offer no more than 10 items.
- No one wants to run out of food. You also don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen all day. Rule of thumb is a 4-ounce portion per person. That goes for baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad and cold cuts. A 2-ounce portion per person for an assorted cheese tray.
- Quarter cut your sandwiches and secure with a pick. Estimate 4 pieces, one sandwich total per person.
- Individual items like wings or stuffed shrimp: 3 to 4 per person.
- Put out plenty of napkins! That sounds like a no-brainer but you may be surprised to learn that many people don’t want to hold plates. They will grab a napkin, a wing and stand in a group to eat. Give your guests that option.
- Parties should fun. Relax and enjoy your guests.
What might a typical plate contain? Mine would have 2 wings, 2 shrimp, 1/4 sandwich, 2 salads and 3 blocks of cheese and fruit. I would probably go back a bit later for seconds. Added together the portions would total close to the allotted amounts per guest.
Of course everyone leaves room for dessert.
A special party deserves a special dessert.
Lamingtons have been around for over a hundred years. It is easy to see why. Lamingtons start out as sponge cake. The cake is cut into bite-sized squares, dipped in chocolate and rolled in coconut.
Many stories surround how Lamingtons were created. Most attribute the dessert’s namesake, Lord Lamington Governor of Queensland (1896-1901) with its invention. Some accounts say he was looking for a snack and took leftover dry cake, dipped it in chocolate and rolled it in coconut so it wasn’t so messy to eat. Others credit his maid with combining these ingredients to make a last minute dessert for unexpected guests.
Scotland and New Zealand also lay claims to the dessert.
There’s even a National Lamington Day celebrated in Australia on July 21st!
Don’t you agree that Lamingtons make a great conversation starter?
Why did I choose Gallo Café Zinfandel to pair with these Lamingtons? It seemed like a natural choice to me. Café Zinfandel is a light-bodied, bright red wine with raspberry and strawberry flavors. Its taste compliments the sweet raspberry jam and dark chocolate coating on this dessert.
Take a bite of Lamington then a sip of Café Zinfandel and the flavor pops! Delicious!
Learn more about Gallo Café Zinfandel and foods to pair with this exceptional wine here.
Wondering where you can buy Café Zinfandel and other fine Gallo Family Vineyards wines? Use their handy Store Locator .
Visit Gallo Family Vineyard’s Blog for more Labor Day Entertainment Ideas! GFV Wine Blog
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Ingredients
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup cake flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup cocoa, sifted
- 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
- Beat eggs, sugar, salt and vanilla together until thick and sugar is dissolved.
- Heat milk to just below boiling. Remove from heat and add butter to melt. Cool slightly.
- Slowly incorporate cooled milk into egg mixture. Add a little at a time to prevent curdling.
- Sift together cake flour and baking powder. Add to mixer.
- Lightly grease an 8x8-inch or 9x9-inch pan. Line with parchment leaving edges up to easily lift out cake.
- Pour batter into pan. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes until cake is slightly brown and inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove cake with paper intact and cool on rack.
- When cake is cool, slice in half and spread jam on one layer. Stack layers and cut into squares.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Whisk in milk.
- Add cocoa and whisk to dissolve.
- Add powdered sugar. Heat and whisk until sugar incorporates.
- Assemble by dipping squares in chocolate and rolling in coconut. Drain on rack. Refrigerate to set.
Enjoy these exciting Labor Day Food and Wine Pairings from the Sunday Supper Group!
For your Labor Day feast:
- Arugula Fig and Goat Cheese Salad by Family Foodie
- Caprese Fruit Salad by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta Salad by The Crumby Cupcake
- Five Fruity Wine Spritzers by Sunday Supper Movement
- Grilled Flank Steak Pinwheels by Palatable Pastime
- Grilled Shrimp Burgers with Quick Remoulade Sauce by The Weekend Gourmet
- Hatch Chile Avocado Cream Dip by Magnolia Days
- Harissa Spiced Chicken Kabobs by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
- Mango Habanero Shrimp Flatbread by Flavor Mosaic
- Peach Barbecue Chicken Wings by Life Tastes Good
- Salmon Bagel Sliders with Strawberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese and Basil Aioli by Food Done Light
- Sunny Side Up Frittata with Ham by Recipe For Perfection
- Tuscan Panzanella Salad by Shockingly Delicious
To sweeten the holiday:
- Blackberry Buckle by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
- Chocolate Strawberry Cream Puff Bites by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
- Hasty Chocolate Pudding by Nosh My Way
- Raspberry Lamingtons by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Raspberry Upside Down Cake by Take A Bite Out of Boca
- Summer Fruit Tart by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Tropical Angel Food Cake by Recipes Food and Cooking
- Vanilla Bean Roasted Peaches by Alida’s Kitchen
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