Plan a Perfect BBQ Party
by Carl Hoffman
As summer and outdoor activities approach,
barbecues are popular and fun events to celebrate events such as the 4th
of July, birthday parties, receptions, and going away parties. No matter
why you have decided to plan a barbeque party, the memories that will
come from it are sure to stick with your guests for many years to come,
provided that you plan ahead. Planning the perfect BBQ party is not
difficult, as long as you follow a few simple steps.
1) First, no barbeque would be complete without
guests. Plan ahead of time, checking with your potential guest for
scheduling conflicts and issues. Finding a date and time that is
suitable for everyone should not be to far as long as you everyone
enough advanced notice. Remember that not everyone will be able to come,
no matter how much notice you give them, so do not get discouraged if
you do not get as many RSVPs as your originally hoped for.
2) Be sure to check the weather for that type of
year. If you live in a climate that cannot be predicted, then you may
want to have a backup plan just incase unusual weather comes. You cannot
predict things like rain and thunderstorms ahead of time, but you can
make sure that you hold you barbeque during the time of year that will
be pleasant to your guests. A barbeque in cold weather may hold more
negative memories of trying to keep warm rather then good memories of
family and friends.
3) Purchase the type of meat that you will be
serving at your party. You will want to have a least a couple of
different kinds of meats, as everyone attending may not like a certain
kind. It is usually safe to go with pork, sausage, hamburgers, and
chicken. If smaller children are going to be in attendance, you should
consider child friendly foods such as smaller hamburgers and hot dogs.
4) Once you have the meat purchased, you will then
want to consider what type of sides dished you will serve. If you want a
completely tradition barbeque, you may want to stick with traditions
sides. Traditional barbeque sides include potatoes, potato salad, baked
beans, and coleslaw. Your traditional condiment bar should include
pickles, relish, and onions. These foods are typically severed at
barbeques because they are easy to prepare and store until the event
happens. You may want to cook other items, but any barbeque is complete
with just the items listed above. Once again, if children will be
present, you may want to consider sides for them as well.
The simplest approach to side dishes is chips and
dip. Chips and dip do not require any cooking on your part, and will
still be loved by the majority of your guests.
5) Depending on the theme of your party, you may
or may not want to purchase decorations. Festive decorations can be
found at any local party or general store. You may also consider
purchasing decorations that can be stored and reused at a different
time, such as reusable tablecloths and Tiki torches.
6) The day before you party, you will want to make
sure to thaw, prepare, and marinate the meat you will be cooking. Store
the meat stored away, soaking up the marinate until it is time for it to
go on the grill. Prepare any side dishes that you can ahead of time.
7) The day of the party, get up early and start
preparing for it. You do not want your guest arriving while you are
still cooking or hanging decorations. It should only take you a few
hours at most to prepare the area in which you will be having the party,
but the reactions from your guest will probably seem as if you have been
planning this for weeks. Try to have the grill already going by time the
guests get there as well, because the smell coming from the grill is
sure to get everyone in the mood.
About the Author
Carl Hoffman is accomplished author and expert
cook. HE has many online ventures and authored many articles on cooking,
sales, marketing, leadership and self improvement. Get great BBQ tips at
http://www.hoffyskitchen.com
and visit Carl Hoffman at http://www.cehoffman.com |
