Patio season is great! There’s nothing like enjoying a cold drink on a hot day while a cool breeze rustles your hair and takes your cares with it as it blows away. It’s also a great time to get the family together for a BBQ!
Hosting a BBQ is a lot of work; you have to get the backyard ready to host—the lawn itself can become an enormous task—along with making sure there is enough furniture to accommodate everyone, and cooking enough food to make sure everyone leaves satisfied, but it’s also a rewarding experience.
BBQs give you the opportunity to try out those new recipes you’ve been wanting to make. Maybe you’ve been trying to get everyone to go meatless and you’ve had your eye on a grilled portobello mushroom recipe you want to take a stab at, maybe it’s a pasta salad recipe you’ve been looking for feedback on.
1. Channel Your Martha
Perhaps you’ve been reading up on grilled watermelon and want to get adventurous and give it a try—a backyard BBQ gives you an audience to let your inner Martha Stewart out, and try all those recipes you’ve been wanting to take a crack at.
You can also get creative with plating. Dealing with some picky eaters? You can spice things up by assembling some of the food items into fun shapes for the kids.
It doesn’t have to be food either, you can also try out all those summer drink recipes you’ve had your eye on too. Maybe it’s a summer take on sangria, or perhaps a new twist on a classic cocktail.
2. Up Your Décor Game
While the food and drinks are the heart of the backyard BBQ, the décor can sometimes be the soul. Have you had your eye on a set of patio furniture you’ve been yearning for an excuse to buy? How about a DIY display you’ve wanted to attempt to make?
A backyard BBQ can provide just the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to buy or make that set you’ve been wanting.
Of course, a BBQ wouldn’t be complete without a few games. Whether it’s the classics, like bocce and lawn darts, or maybe a fun spin on a classic, like plastic-flamingo ring toss. Or, if it’s a hot day, maybe a good-old-fashioned water balloon fight. A fun activity to keep guests (especially kids) entertained while you cook is an absolute must.
3. Light that Fire
Finally, why not close it down with a relaxing bonfire. Have you been wanting to put in a fire pit? Maybe you have, but you haven’t had a chance to test it out. A backyard BBQ is the perfect opportunity to light it up. Once the sun goes down and everyone is ready to relax, it’s the perfect time for a bonfire.
You can put out marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate for the kids to make s’mores, and the adults can unwind with a nice drink in front of the fire (just watch out for bugs!).
