Cooking Blog

It is a perfect sunny day, the kids are all at home, your friends are available for some fun and you just got your new pool put in. Can someone say celebration? These are the only reasons you need to throw a great backyard bash. Just hop in the car, take a drive to the grocery store and pick up some party starters for a great and relaxing afternoon. Nothing is better than great steaks, porterhouses, hot dogs, or a burger along with some baked beans and potato salad. No matter if it is the Fourth of July or just a weekend in the late summer, if it is sunny, it is a wonderful day to grill.

Get the kids to help by organizing a meal that everyone can help with making. They will enjoy having a job to do and when it is done they will be able to jump in the pool to cool down. Invite your neighbors and your friends and just enjoy a great day outside. Decorate a table with a tablecloth and candles in your backyard. Set up games such as a corn hole toss or a horseshoe activity. Adults will enjoy this and it will be separate what the kids are doing. Do this to keep everyone busy and entertained before all of the food is prepared and ready to be eaten.

Have your spouse take over the grill while the other stays in the kitchen preparing either cold foods or side dishes. Watermelon and veggies are a wonderful side as well as pasta, salads, breads, or even jell-o of some sort. For desert try to stick to lighter summer style deserts, for example light and tasty lemon bars or a jell-o mixture with fruit and whipped cream. There are a limitless number of possibilities so try to explore your capabilities in your own kitchen. Desert is a pretty open option with everybody, just try to stay away from really heavy cakes or anything with an over plentiful amount of chocolate or any robust flavor, such as coffee or cream.

As far as the entrée on the grill goes, many people like different things, but to make it easier on yourself you should ask around for everyone and their opinion and then come to a general consensus. This will make it easier for you in the grocery store as well as in the kitchen and on the grill. The most popular and least expensive items include chicken, hamburgers, and hot dogs. If everyone wants steak though, just ask everyone to contribute a few dollars to the fund so that they can have steak. Most times people will not mind paying a small amount if you are going to cook a bunch of food for them. Plus, your friends will be thankful no matter what you prepare.

The ideal grilling day is not as much of a dream as you might think and it can be very simple if you take the right precautions and plan your day well. The shopping, and preparing, and enjoying will all be so much fun if you allow yourself to relax and enjoy the day.

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Posted on Thursday, December 17th, 2009 at 3:00 am and is filed under Crockpot.
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