What's OnThe Bar-Be

byAwolin

1.1K followers

8 years ago

Last week you called your friends to invite them to your holiday BBQ. 15 accepted your invitation. Now What. Let's see, with 15 confirmed invites 5 couples 8 kids and 1 boyfriend and 2 girlfriends for a grand total of 31 guest if my math is correct.

Great, half the battle is won because you know how many guests are coming. Let’s make a menu. Will start with drinks both non-alcohol and alcohol. Since you know your friends and what they drink, this should be easy, but you may still my want to make a specialty drink like pineapple margaritas. OK, Drinks are settled next the appetizers. This is a hard one so let’s stick with the favorites. Oh,You can call everyone and request they bring some of their own, so will just make one. Appetizers are decided.

Salads are next. Let’s see, 3 salads should be enough. Hey, this is getting easier you say to yourself with a smile, but we are just beginning. Next hamburgers and hot dogs, ribs and chicken. Let’s make a menu.

• Alcohol -margarita mix (pineapple), vodka, beer, wine, soda, water, punch for the kids.
• Prosciutto wrapped Italian Bread Sticks
• Macaroni Salad, Tossed salad, Olive, tomato and cucumber salad
• Hamburgers (fresh patties) and buns, hot dogs (no nitrites, low sodium) and buns
• Skinless Chicken (legs, breasts and thighs)
• Baby back ribs
• Check the condiments
• Two 8 oz. A bottle of Italian dressing (do not use creamy Italian dressing)
• One 8 oz. A bottle of lemon lime dressing
  

  

OK, let’s assume the shopping list is complete. Now it’s time to start preparing. What’s first?

Tip: Start a day before the party. Cook the macaroni first because it will be OK for the 24 hours or more.

1. Prepare all vegetables for salads (chopped celery, onions, carrots, etc.)
2. Make BBQ sauce and keep in the reefer so the flavors marry.

BBQ Sauce recipe:

• I buy a couple bottles of your favorite BBQ sauce
• Ad 2 oz. Of bourbon or whiskey
• Mix well place in the refrigerator.

Next make the hamburger patties. I usually flavor my patties with powdered beef base about 2 tablespoons per pound (no salt, maybe a little pepper). Let sit overnight in the refrigerator, your guest will love the flavor.

Tip 2: This is very easy. Prepare all you serving utensils. Remember serving tongs for salads, tomatoes and onions for the hamburgers, etc. Serving spoons for macaroni salad and the like. Nothing slows the service like using the wrong utensils.

Now comes the fun part. Some people disagree with this next step, but trust me it saves time like you wouldn’t believe and makes your ribs and chicken taste outstanding.

First the ribs:

Cut them one rib at a time. Slightly season them with salt, pepper and garlic salt. Cook at 350 degrees until they are ¾ of the way done. Drain the excess fat and let cool.

Once cooled, transfer ribs into my gal refrigerator bag or bags if you have them or transfer to a clean pan. Pour half of the BBQ sauce into the bags of ribs and let sit in the refrigerator overnight until it's time to cook them on the grill.

Now the chicken:

Once again cook the chicken at 350 degrees until ¾ done, then set aside to cool.

When cooled, place the chicken in 2 separate refrigerator bags. Now pour an 8 oz. A bottle of Italian dressing into one bag (do not use creamy Italian dressing). Pour an 8 oz. A bottle of lemon lime dressing in the other bag of chicken. Let them sit overnight in the refrigerator until it’s time to cook them on the grill.

Ok day 2 the Party

Make the macaroni salad. Use chopped celery and carrots, onions (optional).

Mix mayonnaise and use about 2 and a half oz. Of pickle juice instead of vinegar. Don’t use salt because of the pickle juice.

Next, slice the tomatoes and onions for the hamburgers. Tear the lettuce and separate the cheese.

Take two tall glass stuff with lettuce, set aside. Take the Italian bread sticks from the top down, roll the Prosciutto should go about half way down. Dip in Parmesan cheese.

For the Olive, tomato and cucumber salad. Quarter the tomatoes, Slice the cucumbers and add the olives in a bowl or deep dish, mix in some of the Italian dressing, tastes great.

It's Grill Time:

guest are arriving and now it's time to put the food on the grill.

Since the ribs and chicken are mostly cooked all you need to do is just cook on the grill about 4 to 5 minutes turning once or twice while brushing on the remainder of the sauces. It would be a good idea to place tin foil under the chicken to avoid direct contact with the grill fire.

Assuming you know everything else relax for a while. All that is left, you will have done in plenty of time.

I hope this guide will be fun and make your BBQ a lot easier. Remember this is just a guide and obviously not everything you need to know or do is written here.. I hope this reminds you that planning is the key to success.