Summer may be winding down, but it’s not too late for a backyard barbeque. Everyone loves a good cookout, but when it comes to being king of the grill, you will need some serious skills to be the best. Here are some tips to serve the best barbecue your friends and family have ever tasted!
The Meat
The number one thing that you need to get right when hosting a barbeque is the meat, and my advice here is to go big or go home. That’s right, going the extra mile and preparing a good old-fashioned American barbecue will always impress your guests, and will usually leave you with a pile of tasty leftovers that can be used later in the week for sandwiches.
One barbecue staple is beef brisket, which you can serve as is with BBQ sauce or cook for longer to create delicious Burnt Ends like the ones at afeastfortheeyes.net. Of course, to make brisket properly you need to marinate it and then let it cook in the oven, or on a covered grill for a nice long time to really let those flavors develop.
The longer you cook your brisket the more time it will have to create a tender and juicy inside with a crispy outer crust. Of course, achieving this perfect but delicate mix of textures can be tough. Products like butcher paper that you can get from sites like tenderlicious.net can help achieve this. Just don’t forget to sear the brisket on both sides to create that tasty outer crust, before you put the brisket in the oven or on the grill.
Other great options for grilling include thick-cut steaks, bratwurst, or pork tenderloin. If you decide to go with the classic hamburger and hot dog combo, provide your guests with a table full of fun and innovative toppings to dress these up. Go beyond the classic lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and mustard. Give guests the chance to add some exciting toppings like crisp slices of bacon, jalapeno slices, BBQ sauce, and caramelized or fried onions. Cream cheese is a surprisingly good addition to a hot dog that will melt slightly with the warm hot dog and provide a sweet contrast to other toppings with a bite such as jalapenos or onions.
The Sides
No barbeque is complete without a range of delicious sides to accompany your main dish. What you provide is, of course, up to you but homemade coleslaw and baked BBQ beans like the ones described at foodfolksandfun.net are always a good start. Collard greens are another delicious option as well. I fell in love with these while living in Orlando. They are traditionally made with ham hocks as seen in this recipe from Southern Living, but a vegetarian-friendly version could also be achieved by substituting vegetable or olive oil and vegetable stock for the ham hocks or bacon fat and chicken stock, respectively.
You can also include corn on the cob which can be cooked directly on the grill or steamed in a big pot until deliciously tender and served with a small
Don’t Forget Dessert
Since barbeques are usually organized as a celebration of some kind. Whether it’s a summer holiday or someone’s birthday, it only makes sense to round out the meal with a little something sweet.
One dessert that is perfect for barbecues is a platter of cupcakes. You can make them the day before, saving you both time on the big day and freeing up the oven for roasting the brisket or baking that macaroni and cheese. A variety of cupcake recipes can be found at iambaker.net. Be sure to store them in a cool, dry place until it’s time to serve. Another well-loved favorite to serve with barbeque is Mom Mom’s Cherry Cheesecake. It’s the perfect pairing of silky sweet cheesecake that is cut with the slight tartness of the cherries. You can always serve up a slice of Nani’s Ginger Cake or set out a plate of some delicious Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons.
You also can’t go wrong with a nice dish of ice cream. Create a little sundae bar filled with various toppings, such as hot fudge or caramel sauce, fresh fruit, sprinkles, or chopped nuts. Don’t forget the whipped cream and cherry! You can buy a tub of ice cream, but it is more fun to make some ice cream with your guests. Ice cream makers are quite affordable and you’ll be surprised how easy it is to freeze your own batch of ice cream. For more information about freezing your own ice cream, click here.
Of course, for those that are looking for something a little less indulgent, you can always throw together a beautiful fruit salad. Simply cut your favorite summertime fruits into bite-sized pieces and toss together. Serve with a little dollop of some fresh whipped cream.
This is a contributor post, which has been reviewed and edited personally by me before being published. Links to external reviews are meant to provide additional ideas to readers and do not reflect my personal opinion or review of products.