Taking labor out of Labor Day weekend

Labor Day, the first Monday of September, marks the close of summer. It's a weekend that focuses on relaxing.

This week I would like to share recipes you can make ahead of time so you can spend more time doing what you want to do this Labor Day weekend.

French Dip

Serving size: 8

2 pounds chuck roast

4 beef bouillon cube

2 bay leaf

Salt and pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon savory or seasoned salt

1 teaspoon rosemary

1 teaspoon oregano

2 1/2 cups water

Simmer on top of the stove several hours or until tender. Serve on thick slices of french bread or french rolls. Dip sandwich into juice. May also cook on low all day in the crockpot.

Fajitas

1 pound chicken breasts

1 pound beef steak strips, cut int thin stripes

1 green or red pepper (about 1 large), cut into thin strips

1 tomato, cut into wedges

1 large onion, cut into wedges

Flour tortillas

Marinate the beef and chicken strips in Italian dressing just enough to moisten the meat. Let set a couple of hours. Pour meat with dressing into a wok and stir fry until almost done. Add long strips of green pepper, 1 tomato cut into wedges, and 1 large onion, cut up. Stir-fry all ingredients until heated through. Heat flour tortilla shells in the microwave or oven until warm. Put mixture in middle of each shell and roll. Top each roll with sour cream, grated cheese, avocado dip, refried beans (optional), salsa sauce and serve.

Salsa and Honey Wings

3 pounds chicken wings

3/4 cup picante sauce

2/3 cup honey

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup dijon mustard

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel

Additional picante sauce for serving

Place wings in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Combine 3/4 cup picante sauce, honey, soy sauce, mustard, oil, ginger and orange peel in small bowl; mix well. Pour over chicken wings. Cover and refrigerate at least six hours or overnight. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken wings and sauce in single layer on foil-lined 15-by-10-inch jelly roll pan. Bake 40-45 minutes or until brown. Serve warm with additional picante sauce.

GARY'S TIP: When digging up dahlias or gladiola bulbs in the fall, separate by color and store in old nylons or knee-high stockings. Use a same-color ribbon or rubber band to tie ends shut and to remind you what colors you're planting for next year.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Money will buy a fine dog, but only love will make him wag his tail.