Back Yard Summer BBQs

For many people, summertime means one thing only: the kickoff of BBQ season. The warm summer weather gives us a chance to take our cooking to the backyard and the perfect reason to invite friends and family to gather together. There seems to be something about grilling food over an open flame that somehow makes everything taste better; plus it's just more fun cooking outside. Here are some simple ideas to make your backyard BBQ one to remember.

On the more practical side of things, one thing that must be considered is pest control. Nothing can make an outdoor event more miserable than invasion of ants, mosquitoes or any other unwelcome creatures. Use plastic containers with lids or some form of covering to keep ants away. A good defense against moquitoes is to light a few citronella candles or torches and place them strategically throughout the backyard; this really will help keep them away and prevent your guests from unpleasant bites.

When most of us think BBQs, it's most likely that grilling meats and savory side dishes are the first things to come to mind. However, don't forget about planning your drink menu; your guests will be sure to appreciate your careful planning in this area.

If you are expecting wine drinkers, Pinot Grigio and Merlot are two good choices that will likely please most palates. In addition, you may want to offer a few beer selections and maybe even a mixed drink such as margaritas or daiquiris. Using seasonal summer fruits in a drink recipe is always a crowd-pleaser and will make your event that much more festive. Don't forget to have plenty of non-alcoholic options such as soda or iced tea, and be sure to have diet or sugar-free options on hand as well.

Deciding what to grill for the main course should not be a complicated decision; keeping it simple makes things easier for everyone. Hamburgers and hot dogs usually get the job done; if you are itching for more of a variety consider marinating some chicken breasts or grilling up some delicious beef and vegetable kebabs. Whatever you decide on will surely turn out tasty and flavorful, one of the beautiful things about BBQ'ing is that food just tastes better grilled over an open flame and it's pretty difficult to mess it up.

As your guests begin to arrive and settle in, make sure to have plenty of snacks available for munching and accompanying that first round of drinks. These in no way need to be anything fancy, in fact a few bowls of chips or pretzels and maybe even a fresh vegetable tray with dip will do the trick. Another BBQ favorite that you might want to consider adding to the spread is sliced watermelon. There is nothing that says summer more than a big juicy bite of perfectly ripe watermelon.

Lastly, no barbecue would be complete without all the tasty traditional side dishes such as baked beans, macaroni and potato salad. You can even suggest that each guest bring their favorite selection to share with the rest of the party.

With a little bit of planning and preparation, you can be sure that your backyard BBQ will be the event of the season. Make the most out of the summer and get started planning your own gathering today.

Byron Jonas always erects shade canopies for his backyard barbecues. There is nothing like instant marquees to remove the heat out of the Australian summer.