Chef E’s Labor Day Note: Relax, Nourish & Soak in Summer

You deserve to rest—and that includes your brain

At New Leaf Table, we take the guesswork out of healthy meals. Just open your recipe hub, pick a few crowd-pleasers, and you’re off and cooking—real food, ready fast, no stress required.

Whether you’re hosting a backyard hang or just want to chill in the A/C with something fresh and clean, here are a few of my favorite picks for this long weekend:

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🍔 Labor Day Weekend Recipe Lineup (Chef E–Style)

• Bacon‑Wrapped Chicken Thighs with Warm Brussels‑Apple Slaw
• Crispy, maple-mustard glazed chicken thighs baked alongside a warm slaw of Brussels sprouts, apples, and toasted walnuts. All in one pan—minimal cleanup, maximum comfort.
• Bacon‑Wrapped Shrimp with Collard Greens
• Delightfully smoky shrimp wrapped in pasture-raised bacon, paired with garlicky, vinegary collard greens. Show‑stopper flavor, low stress.
• Black Bean Burgers with Fresh Fruit Salad
• Crispy, flavorful black bean patties wrapped in romaine "lettuce buns" and served with a refreshing strawberry‑pear‑mint salad. Plant-powered and light-hearted.
• Buffalo Chicken Chopped Salad
• Spicy, creamy, cozy-chill vibes in every bite: pasture-raised chicken dressed in buffalo sauce over crispy romaine, crunchy veggies, avocado, blue cheese, and chickpeas.
• Cheeseburger Casserole
• A burger-night makeover: grass-fed beef baked in tomato garlic sauce, topped with gooey cheddar, and served on a bed of butter lettuce with all the fixings.
• Chicken Meatballs with Roasted Potatoes
• Juicy chicken meatballs mixed with spinach and feta, baked alongside golden roasted potatoes, and served with a creamy yogurt‑onion dip—dinner, simplified.
• Fish Sticks with Carrot Fries
• Crispy, grain‑free fish sticks with roasted carrot “fries” and a tangy cocktail sauce—kid-friendly, pantry-friendly, crowd-pleasing.
• Honey Garlic Wings with Cucumber‑Tomato Salad
• Sweet and savory baked wings paired with a cooling cucumber-tomato salad—perfect for hot weather and simple grilling.
• New Leaf BBQ Chicken
• One-pan BBQ thighs roasted with sweet potatoes and broccoli in a smoky homemade glaze. Fewer dishes, more flavor.

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Pro Tips for Cooling Nourishment This Weekend

💧 Hydrate with intention: Add a pinch of sea salt, cucumber, or citrus to your water

🥬 Keep it raw & fresh: A simple chopped veggie board with hummus or tahini hits the spot

🥚 Snack smart: Try pasture-raised hard-boiled eggs, grass-fed beef sticks, or watermelon + sea salt

🍗 Protein = power: Anchor your meals with clean protein to feel grounded, full, and clear-headed

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New Leaf Table = Long Weekend Made Easy

This Labor Day, let New Leaf Table do the heavy lifting. We’ve got:

• Done-for-you weekly menus
• Easy, step-by-step recipes
• Click-to-cart Whole Foods grocery lists
• And zero pressure to be perfect.

Just show up, follow the plan, and enjoy your meals—and your people—with heart, health, and joy.

Because wellness isn’t about doing more.

It’s about simplifying and enjoying!

Now get out there, soak up that sunshine, and enjoy every bite

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Love,

Chef E

Founder, New Leaf Table

www.newleaftable.com

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