6 Tips for Throwing the Ultimate Summer Barbecue

6 Tips for Throwing the Ultimate Summer Barbecue

Its BBQ season, and what better way to kick off a great summer than to host a backyard bash and grill some great food? Its an opportunity to get friends and family together, enjoy the beautiful summer weather and enjoy delicious food with half the work. Okay, perhaps not half the work, but definitely double the fun! Keep reading for some tips on throwing the ultimate summer barbecue.

Start Planning

6 Tips for Throwing the Ultimate Summer Barbecue | Bob's Red Mill Blog The planning process doesnt have to be long and involved, but sitting down and getting some idea of what you want to do for your barbecue should definitely be a priority. Consider what food you want to provide, who you want to invite, what kind of decor you want to have and brainstorm some games or activities to keep everyone busy. Maybe you want to throw a western-themed BBQ, or you want to have an island-style BBQ with a homegrown tiki bar. Your shindig can be as fancy or as laid-back as you choose. Games might be things like horseshoes and hacky sack, or if you have a pool, maybe some pool games like volleyball or chicken. Decide well ahead of time what you want and dont want, then go from there.

Start Inviting

6 Tips for Throwing the Ultimate Summer Barbecue | Bob's Red Mill Blog Once you decide the basics, like who you want coming, you need to let them know. You can make it super casual if you want. You can go old school and give someone a call, or text invite them. Or you can create an event on social media. Social media events are nice because everyone can see whos attending, determine whos bringing beer and banter back and forth before the BBQ formally kicks off. If youre asking for everyone to bring a dish, you can coordinate that within the group too and make life infinitely easier. Dont forget to let everyone know whether its BYOB or if youll be providing.

Start Prepping

6 Tips for Throwing the Ultimate Summer Barbecue | Bob's Red Mill Blog Whether youre a carnivore or prefer your food fare meatless, most of your food will be cooked outside on the grill. However, that doesnt mean you cant have everything prepped and ready to rock ahead of time. Recipes like our Grilled Millet and Butternut Squash Cakes require a bit of prep and pre-cooking, which can be done in advance. Make platters of food that are ready to be cooked and cover them until its time to fire it up. Chop up veggies ahead of time, make side dishes and salads, mix up any drinks or party punches, and if theres anything that needs to be cooked on the stove and not the grill, do it well in advance. Then you only have to warm it up once people start arriving. Put ice in coolers or ice bins, set out plates and cups and flatware ahead of time and fire up the grill so it preheats. You should also make sure you have plenty of chairs available for seating. Depending on how casual your barbecue is, you could even do it picnic style and spread blankets out for everyone to sit on.

Stock up on Essentials

6 Tips for Throwing the Ultimate Summer Barbecue | Bob's Red Mill Blog You want to make sure you have plenty of napkins, beer, booze, or wine, ice, (lightweight but still sturdy) plates, cups and flatware, and lots of dessert for everyone. If you plan on providing appetizers, make extra because they always run out fast. Why not try these Coconut-Hazelnut Shrimp with Grilled Peach Salsa? They make for a great appetizer or salad topper. Also, the most important thing plenty of gas or charcoal for the grill. Otherwise youll have a lot of hungry people on your hands and might find your grill peters out of juice right as theyre getting hangry. Scary! And inconvenient, because then you have to run to the closest store so you can top up. So think ahead and make sure you have enough fuel for your fire.

Get Lit

6 Tips for Throwing the Ultimate Summer Barbecue | Bob's Red Mill Blog Your backyard can get dark the later it gets. Make sure you have plenty of lighting available. You can put out tiki torches to help fight off mosquitos, and you can hang twinkle lights or white Christmas lights all through the trees and along your porch or home. They even have timed lights available nowadays that will come on automatically whenever the sun goes down. Lots of options, but the key takeaway is, dont leave your guests in the dark!

Have a Blast

6 Tips for Throwing the Ultimate Summer Barbecue | Bob's Red Mill Blog Once your guests start arriving, the party is on. Crack open a beer, start throwing food on the grill, crank up the music and start mingling and socializing. Make all of your guests feel welcome and let them know where they can find things like drinks, snacks or even the bathroom. If you have a special spot designated for purses and personal items, let your guests know as they arrive. Before you know it, drinks will start flowing and the aroma of delicious food will start to fill the air. Summer barbecue in full force!  
Bob's Red Mill
July 15 2019

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