This weekend is Memorial Day and the unofficial start of the summer season! While Memorial Day is a holiday to remember the people who have died serving in the armed forces, it is also a day when families get together and have their first outdoor parties of the year. My family, like most families, holds our first barbecue of the season on Memorial Day and we make enormous amounts of traditional barbecue foods to celebrate. Here are eighteen recipes that my family loves to make when we barbecue and are perfect for your Memorial Day celebrations:

1. Banana Split Cupcakes

This recipe for banana split cupcakes is absolutely amazing! I have used this recipe countless times and they have come out amazing every time! Whenever I make these cupcakes, people absolutely love them! They are a perfect treat to kickoff the summer season and to bring to your Memorial Day party. They look like they are complicated, but they are really easy to make! These cupcakes will be the hit of the party and will become your favorite treat to make over the summer!

(Disclaimer: This is not my photo. I did not make this recipe this week because I have already made it countless times. Sadly, I did not have a photo of when I made them!)

Ingredients: For the chocolate cake: One box of devil's food cake mix, three eggs, one half cup of oil, one half cup of milk, one cup of sour cream. For the banana cake mix: one box of yellow cake mix, two large bananas, three eggs, one-third cup of oil, one-half cup of sour cream, two teaspoons of vanilla extract. For the strawberry frosting: two cups of softened butter, one-fourth cup of strawberries, six to eight cups of powdered sugar, one teaspoon of vanilla extract, melted chocolate, sprinkles and cherries for decoration.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line pans with cupcake liners.

For the chocolate cake: Sift cake mix into a large bowl, then add eggs, oil, milk and sour cream and stir until smooth. Set aside.

For the banana cake: Sift cake mix into a large bowl. Mash bananas using a fork in a small bowl and then add to cake mix. Add eggs, oil, sour cream and vanilla extract and stir until smooth. Use a small food scoop or a spoon to place a small amount of chocolate cake batter in the side of each cupcake liner. Then scoop a small amount of banana cake batter next to it. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out clean. Let cool.

For the strawberry frosting: Beat butter for 2 minutes. Add in crushed freeze-dried strawberries. (See a below recipe for more on these awesome berries!.) Slowly add in powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency. Add in vanilla extract. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes and top with melted chocolate, sprinkles and cherries!

2. Old Fashioned Potato Salad

Click here for the recipe.

3. Simple Deviled Eggs

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4. Red, White, and Blue Mason Jar Salad

Click here for the recipe.

5. Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad

Click here for the recipe.

6. Grilled Corn on the Cob

Click here for the recipe.

7. Homemade Cheese Stuffed Burgers

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8. Sweet Maple Barbecue Chicken Kabobs

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9. Grilled Sausage with Peppers and Onions

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10. Easy Grillable Veggie Burger

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11. Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

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12. Star-Shaped Berry Hand Pies

Click here for the recipe.

13. Healthy Blue Velvet Cupcakes with White Coconut Frosting and Strawberry Drizzle

Click here for the recipe.

14. Brownie and Fruit Kebabs

Click here for the recipe.

15. Long Island Iced Tea

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16. Strawberry Mojito Sangria

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17. Southern Style Strawberry Tea

Click here for the recipe.

18. July 4th Layered Drink

Click here for the recipe.