Sunny barbecues in the backyard – my happy place! And Memorial Day is the quintessential “barbecue in the backyard” day.

It’s almost upon us, so let’s get our ducks in a row and plan some amazing meals out on the patio with these delicious Memorial Day recipes!

Steaks are first up on my list. But the long, leisurely weekend gives us a bit more time to explore something new so why not go for this Memorial Day recipe for Grilled Kansas City Strip Steak and Blue Cheese Mashers? While you’re grilling steak, get your helpers to dive into making the mashers. Everybody wins!

For us, burgers are ALWAYS on the sunny holiday menu. This time, we’re going to mix it up a bit with this Tropical Burger recipe. Pineapple and mango chutney will make you feel like you’re in the tropics!

It’s a long weekend, right?

Serve it with this Fresh Cilantro Picnic Salad – perfect for a group of hungry holidaymakers!

Enjoy good food and relaxation this Memorial Day weekend – I know I will!

Fish Friday is a time to get really creative with seafood.

Beef isn’t on the menu so fish/seafood is the star of this show. And we’ve got to do it right.

I’m a huge baked potato lover (hello, it’s a classic steak side!) so when I discovered this Lobster Loaded Potato from The Kansas City Steak Company, I thought I had found nirvana.

Take one stuffed potato – or twice baked potato – and fill it with mouth-watering Maine lobster, Mascarpone cheese and flavorful herbs and seasonings.

Oh, glorious heavens!

This beautiful creation can be a wonderful appetizer, but for me, it’s the main entrée. It’s a protein, vegetable and side dish all in one!

Try it for one of your Fish Fridays!

Maybe you weren’t aware (as I wasn’t not too long ago), but steak fries can be the building block of a great meal.

Don’t believe me? It’s time to try Carne Asada Fries!

Diced carne asada, pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream all on top of delicious, crispy fries. Oh, the flavors!!!

Or maybe Cheeseburger Steak Fries are more your speed?

Ground beef, cheese sauce, ketchup, mustard and all your cheeseburger topping favorites.

I mean, you were gonna eat fries with your cheeseburger anyway, right? Why not all at once?

And for the cheesesteak lover in us all, try Cheesesteak Fries.

Melted provolone over thinly sliced top sirloin, peppers, onions and fries? Where do I sign up?

Get creative with your own steak fry toppings and create a meal or an appetizer you never thought was possible!