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How to Throw the Ultimate Cookout This Labor Day
How to Throw the Ultimate Cookout This Labor Day
How to Throw the Ultimate Cookout This Labor Day
Labor Day is fast approaching, and with it, plans for family, friends and fun. What better way to bring all three together than by throwing an amazing cookout? Theres no better way to celebrate a long weekend and the close of summer than enjoying the outdoors, socializing with people you love and eating great food. Its the ultimate American pastime. Keep reading for our best tips for throwing your next big Labor Day BBQ to remember.
Decide When and Where
So many places, not enough time. You can throw a Labor Day BBQ just about anywhere, but close to water of some kind is often preferred. Maybe host a BBQ near a favorite lake with a park, or do a beach BBQ. A backyard BBQ is always fun, too, especially if youve got a pool everyone can hang around and cool off in. Wherever you decide, make sure youll have enough space to accommodate everyone comfortably. Also, if youre doing a BBQ somewhere other than home, keep in mind the potential logistics of preparing and transporting food, and keeping the cold stuff cold and the hot stuff hot. Then decide on the day and the time and start sending out invites!
Go with a Patriotic Theme
Decor doesnt have to be fancy. A BBQ is typically very informal, so you can get away with a lot. Many folks try to just stick with a patriotic theme and rock the colors of the American flag. Whatever you go with, easy cleanup is the order of the day. Dont be afraid to use disposable cups, plates and flatware, if it suits your lifestyle and values. You can even buy disposable decor items, like colorful plastic tablecloths and paper lanterns for when it starts to get dark. You could also go with some kind of sports theme or outdoorsy theme, to complement the food youll be serving. Speaking of food . . .
Plan Your Menu
Once youve got all the logistics nailed down, you can start planning your menu. The dishes you choose will vary depending on how many guests you are inviting and how much work will be involved in preparing it. Trying to feed a big crowd is more difficult than feeding a handful. Think of foods that are fairly simple, go well with your theme and can feed a large number of people without too much extra effort. Youll also want to keep in mind your overall budget. 30 steaks on the grill is a lot more expensive than 30 burgers. Look for recipe ideas that are budget-friendly to help offset costs. And if youre still struggling for ideas, try one of our delicious recipes!
This dish is a great summer salad with plenty of texture and flavor. Its easy to make and works well crowds. Ingredients like cilantro jazz it up and Organic Tricolor Quinoa is loaded with protein, which will make all your vegan friends happy. You could easily double the recipe without much effort and have plenty to go around.
Is there anything that screams BBQ more than baked beans? At least when it comes to delicious side dishes. This recipe is inspired by Macedonias national dish, tavce gravce, and uses cranberry beans, along with chopped yellow onion and canned chipotles. The recipe makes 4-8 servings, but double or even triple it if youre feeding a crowd. The nice thing about baked beans is they dont even have to be hot to be tasty. Warm or even room temperature beans still taste yummy!
Is there really a soul alive who doesnt love a good plate of nachos and cheese dip? We daresay not! Nachos are a great party food, but not everyone loves animal products. This is an excellent vegan alternative, made from cashews and nutritional yeast. Its seasoned liberally with plenty of spices to give it that nacho cheese flair and can be served warm or room temperature. Pair it with your favorite vegan chips or crackers and dont forget to make extra. It will go fast!
You cant have a fab BBQ without something sweet for dessert. This light and airy vanilla cake made with organic unbleached white all-purpose flour, buttermilk and eggs is the perfect way to end a meal. Its loaded with fresh berries the adults will love and layered with homemade berry syrup and cream cheese frosting the kiddies will love. That makes it a cake for everyone! You might even want to make two, its just that good.Throwing the ultimate cookout this Labor Day doesnt have to be elaborate or complicated. In fact, the simpler the better, so that everyone can just focus on having a good time. Bon apptit!