Step1
Although barbecues are casual, send your invitations a week or two in advance of the event. Consider presenting start and end times and letting people know when the main meal will be served ("Party from 3 p.m. until late; we'll eat around 6.").
Step2
Plan your menu. While traditional barbecue fare tends toward hot dogs, hamburgers, and potato salad, there's no reason you can't grill shrimp brochettes, bell peppers and eggplant, lamb shish kabobs, or cilantro-and-lime-marinated chicken, either. Just make sure you can prepare everything ahead of time with a minimum of fuss. You want to enjoy being outdoors, too.
Step3
Plan your drinks. If it's hot, everyone will be drinking something most of the time. For nonalcoholic drinks, be sure to have fresh cold water, then consider a variety of sodas, juices, and iced teas. For alcoholic drinks, beer is standard, but wine and festive punches, such as sangria, are great too. Keep your overstock drinks cool in extra storage ice-chests.
Step4
Prepare some snacks for guests to eat while waiting for the main meal - nothing too fancy or filling. Try homemade salsas or a vegetable platter with garlic mayonnaise (aioli) for dipping. See Related eHows for recipes.
Step5
Provide ample party supplies like plates, cups, napkins, utensils and place them where they're easily accessible. People will only notice if these are missing - and then it won't be nice. Make sure paper plates are sturdy.
Step6
Provide enough picnic tables and chairs for everyone. You'll also want tables for the prepared food, for the drinks, and for the uncooked food and utensils, next to the grill. Cover the picnic tables with plastic or cloth tablecloths, both for looks and easy clean-up.
Step7
Remember how long it takes to fire up the grill; also plan out how long it will take to cook all the food you're planning, especially if it won't all fit on the grill at once.
Step8
Have some party games prepared for the event. Volleyball, badminton and horseshoes are traditional barbecue games and are relatively easy to set up.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Treat your yard ahead of time for any kind of bugs. Make sure to get the grass around tables and under chairs. Cleaning dog poop is a MUST before cook outs.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Citronella at all four points. Major bug area here
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 If you're planning on eating outside be sure to have some of the tables and chairs under shade trees, erected tarps, screen porches and the like in case of inclement weather.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Cut off the ends of the pepper, and cut in half the long way. Remove seeds (they are what is hot!) fill each half with cream cheese, and wrap each half with half a slice of bacon. Use toothpick to secure. Grill on barbeque till bacon is done.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Guests love to bring something to a barbecue - so plan ahead to give an answer when they ask what they can bring. Make a list and say "How about A or B?" When they say A, then cross it off your list.