For many people, summertime means one thing only: the kickoff of BBQ season. The warm summer weather gives us a chance to take our cooking to the backyard and the perfect reason to invite friends and family to gather together. There seems to be something about grilling food over an open flame that somehow makes everything taste better; plus it’s just more fun cooking outside. Here are some simple ideas to make your backyard BBQ one to remember.
Probably not the most enjoyable part of the BBQ planning process, although a very necessary consideration, is bug control. With a few simple tricks you can help prevent your backyard BBQ from turning into a bug bonanza. If you have an outdoor covered area, this is the best place to set out any food items, keeping them covered as much as possible with plastic wrap or protective lids. You may also want to invest in a few repellent candles or torches; these can really be quite effective for keeping mosquitoes at bay.
In terms of menu planning, consider first which beverage options you will be offering to your guests. Although the grill might be getting all the attention during the BBQ, having a nice assortment of beverages available will keep your guests happy, especially on those really hot summer days.
Make sure you have a wide variety of options, including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices. Wine and beer are always standard; step your BBQ up a notch and offer several choices so that all of your guests will find what they like. You may even want to consider whipping up a batch of frozen cocktails such as margaritas or daiquiris. Throw in some seasonal fresh fruit and you will surely become the hit of the party.
One of the advantages of the BBQ is the variety of foods that you can prepare with simple ingredients and still get extremely flavorful results. Especially if you are expecting a large group, keep the main entree simple; burgers, hot dogs or sausages and even chicken breasts are generally enjoyed by all. If you want to cater to the veggies in the crowd, consider purchasing a few soy-based grilling items such as veggie patties or tofu dogs.
As your guests begin to arrive and settle in, make sure to have plenty of snacks available for munching and accompanying that first round of drinks. These in no way need to be anything fancy, in fact a few bowls of chips or pretzels and maybe even a fresh vegetable tray with dip will do the trick. Another BBQ favorite that you might want to consider adding to the spread is sliced watermelon. There is nothing that says summer more than a big juicy bite of perfectly ripe watermelon.
Nothing accompanies a BBQ better than all the delicious traditional side dishes such as coleslaw, potato and macaroni salad and baked beans. Whether you decide to buy them pre-made or make them from scratch, these dishes are a must-have for any successful backyard BBQ.
With a little bit of planning and preparation, you can be sure that your backyard BBQ will be the event of the season. Make the most out of the summer and get started planning your own gathering today.
Byron Jonas invariably uses shade canopies for his backyard barbecues. There is nothing like instant marquees to remove the heat out of the Australian summer.
Back Yard Summer BBQs
For many people, summertime means one thing only: the kickoff of BBQ season. The warm summer weather gives us a chance to take our cooking to the backyard and the perfect reason to invite friends and family to gather together. There seems to be something about grilling food over an open flame that somehow makes everything taste better; plus it’s just more fun cooking outside. Here are some simple ideas to make your backyard BBQ one to remember.
Probably not the most enjoyable part of the BBQ planning process, although a very necessary consideration, is bug control. With a few simple tricks you can help prevent your backyard BBQ from turning into a bug bonanza. If you have an outdoor covered area, this is the best place to set out any food items, keeping them covered as much as possible with plastic wrap or protective lids. You may also want to invest in a few repellent candles or torches; these can really be quite effective for keeping mosquitoes at bay.
In terms of menu planning, consider first which beverage options you will be offering to your guests. Although the grill might be getting all the attention during the BBQ, having a nice assortment of beverages available will keep your guests happy, especially on those really hot summer days.
Make sure you have a wide variety of options, including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices. Wine and beer are always standard; step your BBQ up a notch and offer several choices so that all of your guests will find what they like. You may even want to consider whipping up a batch of frozen cocktails such as margaritas or daiquiris. Throw in some seasonal fresh fruit and you will surely become the hit of the party.
One of the advantages of the BBQ is the variety of foods that you can prepare with simple ingredients and still get extremely flavorful results. Especially if you are expecting a large group, keep the main entree simple; burgers, hot dogs or sausages and even chicken breasts are generally enjoyed by all. If you want to cater to the veggies in the crowd, consider purchasing a few soy-based grilling items such as veggie patties or tofu dogs.
As your guests begin to arrive and settle in, make sure to have plenty of snacks available for munching and accompanying that first round of drinks. These in no way need to be anything fancy, in fact a few bowls of chips or pretzels and maybe even a fresh vegetable tray with dip will do the trick. Another BBQ favorite that you might want to consider adding to the spread is sliced watermelon. There is nothing that says summer more than a big juicy bite of perfectly ripe watermelon.
Nothing accompanies a BBQ better than all the delicious traditional side dishes such as coleslaw, potato and macaroni salad and baked beans. Whether you decide to buy them pre-made or make them from scratch, these dishes are a must-have for any successful backyard BBQ.
With a little bit of planning and preparation, you can be sure that your backyard BBQ will be the event of the season. Make the most out of the summer and get started planning your own gathering today.
Byron Jonas invariably uses shade canopies for his backyard barbecues. There is nothing like instant marquees to remove the heat out of the Australian summer.
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