Happy Memorial Day from Blendtec! Today is much more than a day to sit poolside and barbeque with the family—Memorial Day honors the men and women who have died while serving in the armed forces of the United States of America.

Memorial Day started after the Civil War, to honor the dead of the Union and Confederate, and was originally known as “Decoration Day,” commemorated on May 30. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Holiday Act, making Memorial Day the last Monday in May. This ensured every Memorial Day was a three-day weekend, which eventually turned it into the unofficial kickoff of summer.

For most, Memorial Day Weekend is a time of barbequing, backyard games, and sitting poolside or at the beach with a cold beverage in hand. While that’s a perfectly okay way to spend the day, it’s also important to remember those fallen men and women who died fighting for our country. Here are some small ways to honor the meaning of Memorial Day:

1. Teach your children about the true meaning of Memorial Day

Take a break from swimming to talk to your kids about what the day is all about, helping them to appreciate the sacrifices of those who fought for their freedom.

2. Donate to the cause

Whether it be donating your time through volunteer opportunities or your money to one of many worthy organizations, you could make a difference in the lives of veterans and military families. 

3. Write a letter to an active duty military member

There are about 200,000 active troops deployed in over 170 countries, and writing a letter is the perfect way to thank those men and women who are far from their homes.

More ideas from Huffington Post

Don't miss our Memorial Day promo! 

Chef Marco’s Memorial Day BBQ Sauce

No Memorial Day is complete without a BBQ and no BBQ is complete without the sauce. Try Chef Marco Niccoli's recipe below. It will be the talk of the party! Trust us, it’s tasty. 

Ingredients

1 ½ cup apple juice
5 cups ketchup
¾ cup apple cider vinegar
1 bottle dark beer
5 Tbsp brown sugar
5 Tbsp local honey
½ Tbsp granulated garlic
½ Tbsp onion powder
1 Tbsp yellow mustard

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to WildSide+ jar and secure lid.
2. Run on "Soup" or "Hot" or "90" cycle twice or blend on a High speed for 180 seconds until warm.
3. When all the ingredients are fully pureed, warm and smooth, store in a mason jar. Refrigerate for 2 hours before using. Enjoy!

Pro Tip: I love being able to do as many things ahead of time. And this is the perfect recipe to do in advance. It also tastes better as it sits.

Happy Cooking!! 

Sources: 

Time Magazine: Why do we Celebrate Memorial Day?

Huffington Post: 50 Ways to Honor the True Meaning of Memorial Day 

“Successful mothers are not the ones that have never struggled. They are the ones that never give up, despite the struggles.” – Sharon Jaynes 

Being a mom isn’t easy. A mom works hard for 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure her children’s health, well-being, safety, and happiness.  They plan, they teach, they work, they cook, and even when their kids grow up and move out, they never stop caring or being there for them.

Showing your mom (or that special someone who played the influential role of mother) love and appreciation should be an everyday task. But every Mother’s Day, we have the chance to make the day all about them and how special they are. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking of ways to pamper the person who gave you life and continues to give you love, every day.

Avocado-Banana Facial

Bath Bombs for Mom!

Banana Bread French Toast

Piña Colada Ice Cream

Nutella Cheesecake

More ideas: 

5 Fruit Sorbet Recipes 

Mother's Day Fruit Dip

11 Decadent Nutella Recipes

By Paola of @ohsothymely

This decadent loaf is vegan, gluten free, and loaded with healthy ingredients such as flaxseed, chia seeds, and oats, making it a great mid-day snack, or a quick on-the-go breakfast.  Just toss all the ingredients in your Blendtec, blend until smooth, pour in a loaf pan, and bake! 

Servings: About 8 slices

Prep time: 5 minutes

Bake time: 40-50 minutes

Ingredients:

3 very ripe bananas
2 flax eggs (soak 1 tbsp of ground flaxseed in 2 tbsp of water to make 1 flax egg)
1/3 cup nut or seed butter
3 tbsp almond milk
1 ½ cups oat flour
1 ½ tbsp baking powder
2 tsp chia seeds
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp salt
1/3 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup diced strawberries 

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a loaf pan or line with parchment paper. 
2. On low speed, blend the bananas, flax eggs, nut butter, and almond milk. Blend until smooth. 
3. Add the oat flour, baking powder, chia seeds, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. Blend again on low speed until smooth. 
4. Stir in the chocolate chips and diced strawberries, the pour into the loaf pan. Top with more chocolate chips and sliced strawberries (optional). 
5. Bake for 40-50 minutes. Enjoy! 

By Paola of @ohsothymely

These healthy, vegan bites pack a real punch!  Loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fats, these are a delicious and satisfying treat with numerous health benefits.  The addition of moringa, a versatile superfood, adds amino acids, protein, iron, and numerous vitamins and minerals.  Moringa is also great for detoxifying, improving liver function, boosting immunity, and so much more.  Lemon zest give these bites a light and refreshing flavor, while cashews and pumpkin seeds add protein, healthy fats, iron, and magnesium, making these treats a perfect on-the-go snack. 

Lemon Moringa Energy Bites 

Prep time: 10 minutes

Time to set: 30 minutes

Yield: 12 balls

Ingredients:

¾ cup raw cashews
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
6 medjool dates
¼ cup coconut
1 tbsp hemp seeds
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 tsp moringa powder
1 tsp chia seeds
½ tsp vanilla extract
zest of 1 large lemon
juice of half a lemon
pinch of salt
extra shredded coconut and lemon zest to roll balls in

Directions:

1. Place the cashews and pumpkin seeds in your Blendtec Twister Jar. Blend until nuts and seeds are fine crumbs. 
2. Add the dates, coconut, hemp seeds, coconut oil, moringa powder, chia seeds, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Blend until well mixed. 
3. Roll into balls, about an inch and a half in diameter. Roll each ball in a mixture of shredded coconut and lemon zest and place the balls in the fridge for half an hour to set.  Enjoy!