Come summertime, nothing seems more appropriate than to gather the family around the barbecue for some tasty home cooking. If it’s your turn this year to host the event, you may be a little overwhelmed in terms of where to serve the food and what to serve it on, let alone what to actually cook. There is much more to planning such an event than setting a few patio chairs along the circumference of a table and calling it a day. For instance, you may unknowingly subject your visitors to blistering heat if you don’t position the table correctly so that it is out of the suns way. If the patio table happens to be situated too close to your pool, guests might complain that the kids are splashing water on the food and whatnot. If you take the time to organize yourself and consider each aspect of the event, it is unlikely that you’ll disappoint come the day of the event.
The first order of business when planning a barbecue is to check the state of your outdoor space. Does the lawn need to be mowed or do some overgrown shrubs need to be brought under control? How about the pool? Could it use a quick cleaning? The most important part of this process is verifying the condition of your patio furniture. It may have been allowed to sit in the rain during the winter, so chances are good that it has accumulated quite a bit of dirt and grime. Give it a good cleaning with your garden hose. If you see that some rust has begun to develop, a quick touch up to the paint job may be in order. Don’t forget the seat cushions! They might benefit from a ride in the washing machine or a quick blast with a pressure washer. Check the manufacturer’s directions. Finally, check to make sure the umbrella is functioning as needed and give it a good cleaning.
Now that the outdoor space is ready, you need to assemble supplies to serve the food and beverages. A cooler is a must it to keep the drinks at an optimal temperature, so lug yours out of the basement or purchase a new one. While some might like to serve their guests with conventional tableware, we strongly recommend disposable dishes and cups. These make for very quick cleanup and won’t cost you a fortune if dropped or otherwise abused. You can even use plastic or paper plate holders to provide any flimsy plates some added support. Walmart plate holders (or other holders from discount retailers) should work just fine. If you visit your local party supply store, you should be able to find a diverse selection of plates, utensils and napkins to choose from.
The final step in the process is to check where your cooking hardware stands. If you’re using a charcoal grill, you might need to stock up on some briquettes in preparation for the event. If you have a gas grill, your propane tank might need a refill. In both of these cases, a good washing of the cooking grate with detergent is in order. Fire up the grill before the event to ensure you don’t have any unwanted mishaps on game day.
Related entries:
- Summer Grilling TipsWhen the sun comes out and the summer clothes come on, it’s time to bring out the BBQ. Is there anything better than a great BBQ? The flavors are smoky and the meat runs with tasty juice. A great BBQ with friends and family is something that defines summer as...
- Portable Gas GrillsGas grills have become more popular than their electric or charcoal grill counterparts in recent years, for a number of reasons: Easier setup and quicker cleanup than a charcoal grill, Quick on/off heat, Easy temperature control, Reduced flare-ups [...] ...
- Outdoor GrillsOutdoor grilling is a popular way to cook and with summer time here it's time to bring out your favorite grill. Of course if you don't have a grill yet that could be a problem. Buying an outdoor grill can enjoyable simple experience or a very arduous one. It may...
- Outdoor Grill FeaturesOutdoor grill features can be confusing at first but once you grasp the basics it becomes a lot simpler. It’s understandable if you have a hard time choosing an outdoor grill when you do not comprehend what you are reading. While the language used when describing outdoor grills might seem...
- What Is Outdoor Grilling?Grilling outdoors has been around longer than recorded history and will probably be practiced until the end of man. There’s nothing quite like grilling a nice juicy steak in the great outdoors and then getting to enjoy it in the peace and quiet of nature. Grilling is a great way...
- Does The Type Of BBQ Grill You Use Really Matter?For most people the BBQ is an item that sits in the corner and gets used on weekends and even then only when the sun is shining and the game is coming up. So does it really matter if you use a round BBQ from your local big box store...
- Should You Leave The Shell On When Grilling Shrimp?A question that I see posed often is should you leave the shell on when grilling shrimp? This usually comes up when a new grill user reaches into to their fresh shrimp only to realize that the shell is still on. Not to worry the answer is simple. Yes you...
- Choosing Your First Outdoor GrillMany people have trouble choosing an outdoor grill but that doesn’t mean it needs be difficult. Selecting an outdoor grill is actually not hard at all once you know what kind of grill you want and understand the different grill features. The more you understand about grills and their diverse...
- Weber Spirit E-310 LP Gas Grill, BlackA no frills outdoor grill, the 2009 Weber Spirit E310 Gas Grill is simple in its design and does exactly what it's made to do quite well. It has been 2 years since Weber brought back the Spirit series of grills and the E310 continues their tradition of [...]...