Okay, ladies. Labor Day is slowly creeping into view. And after that, wearing white won’t be so high on your priority list. Reap the benefits of these last few weeks of summer and grab any one—or all—of these perfect, late summer whites now.

1. White summer vests

Ah, the trendy, functional, summer vest. It’s perfect because it’s light and airy, and works as a spring and early fall accessory… if you’re cool with breaking the traditional “white after Memorial Day and not after Labor Day rule.” But if you like to stick to rules, you still have a few weeks to wear this vest at picnics, concerts, and nights out. We’d pair this piece with some short-shorts, a crop top, and 1970s-inspired platform heels. Priced at $88.

2. White jumpsuit

This piece is so elegant. We recommend wearing it with a pair of sleek heels and minimal jewelry. And while this pantsuit is a bit nicer than most summer outfits—and by that we mean it’s not airy and breezy—we think this outfit would look amazing at late summer dinner parties. And again: If you are cool with wearing white in fall and into winter, this piece would also make a wonderful Christmas or New Year’s Eve outfit. Yes, we like to think ahead. Priced at $280.

3. White summer pants

White pants look so perfect on cool, summer days. We love that this piece is loose—it features pull-on styling—and has a relaxed, detachable belt. We’d wear this piece with an equally loose t-shirt, or button-up white, collared shirt. Priced at $138.

4. White with floral print dress

Want to feel like a woodland, fairy princess? Then you’ve got to get this piece ASAP. We love this gorgeous maxi dress’ delicate, floral print, and its flirty, crinkled v-neck. We’d wear this piece with a cute pair of flats and a boho bag. Priced at$148.

5. White converse

White shoes go with everything. Jeans? Check. Shorts? Check. Mini skirts? Check! Accessorize these shoes with some cute, baby doll socks, solid colored knee-high socks, or funky printed socks. Basically, you can make these shoes fit any occasion. Priced at $55.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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White shoe image via Shutterstock

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Labor Day conjures imagines of grilling, picnics and outdoor festivities surrounding by friends, family, and neighbors. So instead of letting the reason to celebrate go to waste, gear up for a Labor Day to remember, making recipes perfectly fit for the occasion. The following 10 Labor Day recipes are meant to inspire your taste buds and get you enjoying the last that summer has to offer.

10 Labor Day Recipes

1. Zucchini Patties Recipe with Lemon-Yogurt Sauce

Zucchini is a popular summer vegetable that is quite versatile. This recipe for zucchini patties with lemon-yogurt sauce is testament to that. The patties have a crispy outside and soft inside and are complemented by a zesty yogurt sauce that cleanses the palate while you munch away.

2. Mix Melons Sorbet Recipe

This sorbet recipe is a deliciously sweet and light way to enjoy melons while you still can and cool down while the weather is still hot. Enjoy this recipe as a sorbet or in the form of frozen ice cream bars.

3. Cold Pasta Salad with Green Beans, Red Peppers and Feta

Cool down and fill up with this pasta salad recipe that is served cold and accented with the wholesomeness of veggies and cheese. You can adapt the recipe according to the veggies you already have on hand and spice it up with seasonings and herbs you enjoy.

4. Grilled Veggie Burger

It’s still summer after all, and soon you’ll start to miss the ease of grilling outdoors. But just because the grill excites meat eaters beyond measure doesn’t mean there is no room left for the vegan to enjoy it. Next to regular burgers, always prepare a vegan burger option for those who don’t want to eat meat and animal byproducts. This grilled veggie burger recipe is based in black beans and quinoa. It is dense, is full of spices and will even satisfy meat lovers too!

5. Fruit Kebabs

Who says you need to pull out all the stops to make dessert? Fruits do the trick all on their own. But don’t just serve fruit in a bowl and call it a day. Instead, chop them and place them on skewers to make fruit kebabs!

6. Sweet Corn Recipe with Miso Butter and Scallions

Cooked corn on the cob is only as good as the butter spread on it. This sweet corn recipe with miso butter and scallions speaks for itself, adding a more complex twist to a classic picnic treat.

7. Trail Mix

If you’re going on a picnic for labor day or inviting friends and neighbors over, it’s always good to have appetizers to munch on to keep the hunger at bay. Trail mix is an easy solution. This trail mix recipe adapts to you, not you to it, so you can pick and choose which nuts, seeds, dried fruits and superfoods you like and then pair them appropriately to create a crave-worthy snack.

8. Blueberry Pancake Cake Recipe

Start the day off on a festive foot with this blueberry pancake recipe. Stack the pancakes up and indulge!

9. Roasted Artichokes with Lemon Anchovy Caper Vinaigrette

Get a little sophisticated and try your hand at roasting artichokes and pairing them with a savory sauce. This artichoke recipe with lemon anchovy caper vinaigrette is fit for small crowds and an easy way to introduce yourself to the world of artichokes.

10. Summer Sangria

Nothing boozes up a crowd quite like sangria. All you need for this red sangria recipe are a few bottles of wine and a basket of fruits. The result is a feast for the eyes.

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Mexican Corn from Shutterstock

The post 10 Delicious, Light, and Fun Labor Day Recipes appeared first on EcoSalon.

 This sweet corn recipe will impress your guests with sweetness and bright flavors.

At the end of summer corn is at its best and sweetest. Sometimes pale yellow and sometimes bright canary yellow, the kernels are as sweet as candy and just divine with a little salt and butter alongside grilled meats or veggies.

When you think about grilling, don’t stress about trying to fit large ears of corn on the grill, as this corn is quickly steamed on the stove. Miso paste adds subtle sweetness and the scallions add crunch.

This sweet corn dish was inspired by a popular Mexican corn dish called elote made with mayonnaise, cojita cheese, lime and chili powder. Instead of elote’s heavy toppings of mayonnaise and cheese, miso butter gives this corn a satisfying and light Japanese flare. This summery side dish can be made in under 15 minutes as long as you begin with soft butter.

Sweet Corn Recipe with Miso Butter and Scallions

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

4 ears fresh corn, shucked and broken in half
1 tablespoon miso paste
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons very finely chopped scallions
1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Directions

1. Soften the butter and miso to room temperature and place next to a heat source like your stove or in direct sun so it’s slightly warm.
2. Bring 2 cups of water to boil in a large pot. Place the corn in a steamer basket and steam for 5 minutes.
3. Whisk the softened butter and miso paste together until completely combined.
4. Prepare the corn by spreading the miso butter on all sides. Using your fingers, sprinkle ½ tablespoon of chopped scallion and a dash of sesame seeds on each buttered ear. Serve immediately.

Ally Jane Grossan is a Brooklyn-based food blogger and editor. Her exotic but easy to follow recipes can be found at Ally-Jane.com.

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Images by Ally Jane Grossan.

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In need of vegetarian-friendly grilling ideas? Look no further.

Labor Day is just around the corner and you know what that means: last chance in summer to rev up the barbecue. But that doesn’t mean you’re forced to eat burgers with bacon on them. While burgers and hotdogs might be the go-to barbecue food, there is so much more that can be grilled that if you throw meat on the barbecue you might as well just slap a “I am a chef with no creativity” apron on.

Here are 15 different grilling ideas for all you vegetable lovers out there.

1. Eggplant

Slice it the right way, and grilled eggplant is an excellent alternative to your classic burger, or serve eggplant slices in a salad.

2. Artichoke

To get a good tasting grilled artichoke, you actually want to steam the artichoke beforehand.

3. Asparagus

You can grill asparagus a lot of ways, but I like to marinate them in some soy sauce and garlic beforehand. Olive oil and lemon also does wonders.

4. Corn

Grilled corn can be eaten on its own, but is also tasty in a salad.

5. Portobello Mushrooms

Grill portobellos on their own, or stuff them for a delicious twist.

6. Polenta

Make up a batch of polenta before it’s barbecue time, then cut out squares or rounds and grill away.

7. Cauliflower

Cut the right way and flavored with a few spices, you can almost call grilled cauliflower a vegetarian steak.

8. Romaine

Grill a head of romaine lettuce and top it off with a citrusy dressing or a yogurt sauce.

9. Haloumi

If you haven’t embraced the amazingness of haloumi yet, it’s time you started. The salty cheese grills up without melting all over the place, and is the perfect addition to a plate of grilled vegetables.

10. Radicchio

While radicchio has a reputation for being bitter, some time on the grill lets it chill out a bit and adds some smoky flavors.

11. Onions

It’s hard to turn down the sweet flavor that comes from grilling onions, completely transforming them from their usual strong flavor.

12. Zucchini

Consider salting and draining your zucchini beforehand, then douse it in some olive oil before throwing on the grill.

13. Tofu

Yes, grill that tofu up (douse it in sriracha if you like) and then use it to make tacos.

14. Cabbage

Cut the cabbage into wedges, and then you get can make a unique twist on the wedge salad.

15. Pizza

You haven’t been cooking your pizzas in the barbecue? Now’s the time to start. Grilled pizza is definitely a good way to celebrate the end of summer. Now all you need to do is choose some good toppings. Caramelized onions and fennel perhaps?

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Image: Sharat Ganapti, Didriks, arvind grover

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