With the summer months fast approaching (and some great weather on the way, hopefully!), many of us are starting to get our barbeques out. There’s nothing better on a sunny day than eating al fresco (or, outdoors in English) with your best friends. But hosting a BBQ yourself isn’t the easiest thing in the world – it’s not as simple as it looks. Here is a handy little guide for you to look at, if you want to host a BBQ that’ll be the highlight of everyone’s summer.
So before the guests arrive, you’ve got to prepare a few things. Make sure your BBQ still works beforehand, and have a backup plan for if it rains heavily. Get out all your cups/paper plates/napkins so you know what equipment you have, and whether you need any more. Disposable equipment is great because it means you don’t have to wash it up after a long and fun day. Give your kitchen and public areas a good clean the day before, and make sure everything looks neat and tidy. Get out some garden chairs before your guests arrive, so they can immediately lounge in the sunshine. All fairly simple stuff so far, right? Remember to ask your family if you need any help lifting heavy objects!
Now you’ve got your equipment all accounted for, it’s time for the most important part – food! Dig around in your freezer and cupboards and make a list of things you already have, like frozen chips. Make sure everything is within its sell-by date, as you don’t want people getting ill. Then, make a list of the things you don’t have, that you need to buy. This includes burgers, burger buns, sauces, drinks and of course desserts. A little sweet treat at the end of a big meaty meal can really be the icing on the cake (bad pun alert)! If you like cooking, bake something for your friends, as nothing beats good home-cooking.
You’ve got your food and your equipment. Now what? Remember you may have to defrost things like chicken breasts the night before, so set yourself a reminder to get those out. If you want to marinade them to give them flavour, make up a sauce and wrap the chicken in little parcels to put in the fridge overnight. Prepare your salads, crisps, dips and cold snacks in the morning and put clingfilm over them, so you can get them out as soon as you need them. Arrange in a nice little buffet, complete with sauces and your disposable cutlery and crockery. This way people can pick and choose what they want from the buffet, and leave out the stuff they don’t, without having to ask the host and feel rude. Same goes for dessert – keep in clingfilm wrap, or in the fridge until the last minute. Then let people dive in and eat what they want. The host should always consider the needs of their guests before their own!
You should be fully prepared now, and ready for when your guests arrive. See part 2 to find out how to make others feel completely comfortable in your home!
Image from: http://www.meetup.com/RichmondGiftEcon/events/125946532/
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