Monday, January 4, 2010

Back Yard Summer BBQs

By Byron Jonas

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.

On the more practical side of things, one thing that must be considered is pest control. Nothing can make an outdoor event more miserable than invasion of ants, mosquitoes or any other unwelcome creatures. Use plastic containers with lids or some form of covering to keep ants away. A good defense against moquitoes is to light a few citronella candles or torches and place them strategically throughout the backyard; this really will help keep them away and prevent your guests from unpleasant bites.

When most of us think BBQs, it's most likely that grilling meats and savory side dishes are the first things to come to mind. However, don't forget about planning your drink menu; your guests will be sure to appreciate your careful planning in this area.

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.

Deciding what to grill for the main course should not be a complicated decision; keeping it simple makes things easier for everyone. Hamburgers and hot dogs usually get the job done; if you are itching for more of a variety consider marinating some chicken breasts or grilling up some delicious beef and vegetable kebabs. Whatever you decide on will surely turn out tasty and flavorful, one of the beautiful things about BBQ'ing is that food just tastes better grilled over an open flame and it's pretty difficult to mess it up.

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.

Lastly, no barbecue would be complete without all the tasty traditional side dishes such as baked beans, macaroni and potato salad. You can even suggest that each guest bring their favorite selection to share with the rest of the party.

Start the summer off right and make plans to host the best backyard BBQ ever. It is always a fun event for everyone and the summer weather makes the perfect setting for outdoor gatherings. Dust of that grill and get prepared for a festive event that all your family and friends can enjoy.

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