Memorial Day may have ancient roots, going back thousands of years with the Greeks and Romans.They held annual days of remembrance for loved ones, including soldiers and decorated  their graves with flowers. They had feasts and public festivals in their honor. 

Originally known as Decoration Day!  

When we were kids my dad & mom would pile all of us in his Chevrolet to go on a day long trip to Dayton, Ohio to visit relatives and to decorate the graves of our family. There were no super highways back then! 

Mom would pack her version of a picnic lunch: stuffed cabbage rolls cooked and toted in an iron kettle; fried kibbi patties, tabouleh, plain white bread and seasonal fruit.

Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season

Memorial Day may have ancient roots, going back thousands of years with the Greeks and Romans.They held annual days of remembrance for loved ones, including soldiers and decorated  their graves with flowers. They had feasts and public festivals in their honor. 

Originally known as Decoration Day!  

When we were kids my dad & mom would pile all of us in his Chevrolet to go on a day long trip to Dayton, Ohio to visit relatives and to decorate the graves of our family. There were no super highways back then! 

Mom would pack her version of a picnic lunch: stuffed cabbage rolls cooked and toted in an iron kettle; fried kibbi patties, tabouleh, plain white bread and seasonal fruit.

Talking to o Matt Swaim each week on the Sonrise Morning Show is always fun. Today we talked about Memorial Day and here’s the salad he chose to share.

Orzo Salad with Chickpeas, Cucumbers, Lemon, Dill, & Feta

If you like, go ahead and add some chopped tomatoes, too!

Ingredients

For the Salad:

• 1 cup uncooked orzo
• 15 ounces chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup chopped cucumber
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
• 1/4 cup diced red onion

For the Dressing: DOUBLE IT!!!

• 3 tablespoons olive oil – 
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

• Cook orzo pasta according to package directions. Drain the orzo and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking and to wash away some of the starches. Allow the pasta to cool.
• In a large bowl, combine orzo, chickpeas, cucumbers, feta, dill, and red onion.
• In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill, salt, and pepper. Drizzle over salad and stir until ingredients are well coated. Serve immediately or chilled.