How to Host a Successful Backyard BBQ

Those sweet summer breezes have returned. Our pools are opening, our sweaters are put away in the attic, and our favorite TV shows have ended. Considering the lack of indoor activities, there is no better time to host a barbeque.

While that may sound quite terrifying at first, we’re here to tell you that the only thing to fear is fear itself – and mosquitos bearing West Nile Virus, but we have a solution for that too!

Hosting the perfect summer barbecue is simpler than you think. The first step, other than procuring a barbeque, is to invite your family and friends, and estimate the amount of people you will be cooking for. Now take that number and add about five more carnivores.

Here are some other BarbeCUEs:

CUE NUMBER ONE: Be Prepared.

A common cause of barbeque-phobia is not having enough food to satisfy everybody’s needs. Pretending as if you are cooking for more people will ease your stress and possibly even save you from cooking dinner the next night.

           

CUE NUMBER TWO: Healthy doesn’t have to be Hellish.

To set your get-together apart from the rest of the field, consider healthier alternatives to traditional high calorie options. Instead of potato salad with mayo, opt for fruity summer salads or grilled vegetables. For your meat options, stay away from fat meats, like ribs and pork chops, and instead grill up seafood, flank steak, or boneless chicken breasts.

           

CUE NUMBER THREE: Relish Today. Ketchup Tomorrow. 

There is more to a party than just feeding your guests. Making sure they are happy and entertained is also part of your hosting duties. The first key is to make sure they are comfortable. Citronella torches can be an easy way to spruce up your backyard and keep the mosquitos away in the process. Now that your guests are not busy swatting bugs, they will be ready to play games. (Whether these games involve alcoholic beverages or not is up to you.) Your local super store sells a plethora of inexpensive entertainment options, from badminton to board games.

With these BarbeCUES, there will be no mis-steak-ing that you are the Heisenburger of barbeques.

Virginia Homes has been building new homes in Central Ohio for 60 years.  Visit www.Virginia-Homes.com for more information or call (614) 764-1953.