warmer, drier weather means it s time to dust off the BBQ, clean up the garden furniture, mow the lawn and start claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate ing with regards to’concerning’with respect to all those lazy summer days and planning lots of fun filled garden parties. Us Brits love a barbecue, so much so that there s now a whole week dedicated to it yep National Barbecue Week (27th May 2nd June) is a thing and of course it ties in nicely with a Bank Holiday weekend hooray!

Whether you prefer to keep it casual and relaxed or go all out and create a banger of a barbecue, one thing s in/with regard to’concerning’regarding sure and that is if you want your guests to enjoy themselves as well as being able to enjoy it yourself it s ALL with regards to’concerning’with respect to the planning.

We ve put toacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure her our top tips to help you host a brilliant BBQ this summer:

Get Your Guest List Right

Most of us possess’own’nurse friends that fall into different categories: work friends, old school friends, neighbours, parent friends, gym friends, running friends, cycling friends, the list goes on. Then of course there s family too: your side, his side, immediate, extended. And just because you are friends with these individual , does not mean that they will all acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure on with one another. Unless you re planning a barbecue to mark a intensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully special occasion, like a enormous’vast’massive’tremendous birthday in/with regard to’concerning’regarding example, we would intense’fierce’exquisite ly recommend that instead of having one large gathering, you claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate with regards to’concerning’with respect to hosting several smaller ones instead. That way you don t need to misgiving’fret quite so much with regards to’concerning’with respect to eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullyone acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ting on as chances are they ll know each other already and you can enjoy quality conversation rather than making small talk with odd’peculiar rs. Another benefit of hosting smaller gatherings is that it makes it easier to fit eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullyone comin/with regard to’concerning’regarding tably in your garden without having to ask individual to bring chairs with them and it also decrease’lessen’cut’allay s the cost of feeding them all!

People are usually grossly busy over the summer months so it is worth giving plenty of notice. However, sometimes the spontaneous barbecues can be the most memorable, just ask individual to bring some food and drink with them so that it takes the pressure off of you to arrange eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullything at such short notice.

Work Out Your Menu

Few burgers, pack of sausages, simple right? Well yeah you d claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate , but come on you can do better than that, plus what if any of your guests are veacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure arian!?!?

To host a brilliant barbecue you need memorable food and that involves a little bit of preparation bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding ehand. With so many of us being time poor these days, online shopping is the perfect solution. However, you can t always guarantee the quality of the meat you re buying and it s even harder if you re looking in/with regard to’concerning’regarding organic, ethically and sustainably manufacture d meat. Tailor-made meat boxes, like the Graig Farm meat box, select the best cuts on the farm and deliver straight to your door, making your life a whole lot easier.

So that s the meat sorted what with regards to’concerning’with respect to the veacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure arians?

Don t fob your veacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure arian guests off with some limp lettuce leaves and a cardboard veggie burger in a bun. There are tonnes of veacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure arian products in the shops these days and if you re really not sure what to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure , then simply ask them. Halloumi and feta can be wrapped in foil and placed on the barbie alongside the meat, which makes the chef s job a bit easier. Or what with regards to’concerning’with respect to some chunky veacquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure able kebabs or some pulled jackfruit burgers, both of which are suitable in/with regard to’concerning’regarding vegans too.

Aim in/with regard to’concerning’regarding approximately 2 3 barbecued items per head and make sure you possess’own’nurse plenty of salads and sides too. Things like coleslaw, potato salad, pasta salad, dips, corn on the cob and garlic bread always go down well and don t in/with regard to’concerning’regarding acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure the crisps . you can never possess’own’nurse too many crisps!

As in/with regard to’concerning’regarding dessert, keep it simple. You can t go wrong with ice creams in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the kids (homemade if you can be bothered, but there is no shame in scooping from a tub of Tesco s finest 😉 ) and a fruit salad or pavlova in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the adults.

Timing Is Eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullything

The beauty of a barbecue is that you can be sociable while you cook, but the last thing you want is in/with regard to’concerning’regarding your guests to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure narky because the food s taking ages to cook. Remember it takes at least 10-15 minutes to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure a barbecue warmed up properly and then you may possess’own’nurse to cook in batches depending on what you re cooking and how much you can fit on the grill at any one time. It s always a rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent idea to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure the kids fed first and then the adults can relax with their own food once the kids possess’own’nurse eliminate’remove ed their plates and run off to play. While your guests are waiting make sure there are plenty of crisps and veggie sticks etc. in/with regard to’concerning’regarding them to nibble on and of course always make sure they ve got a drink. Some food can be prepared in advance, in/with regard to’concerning’regarding example salads can be made the night bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e and stored in the fridge until you need them. Trickier meats like chicken, which needs to be utterly cooked through to shun the unwanted food poisoning of your guests, can be cooked in your main oven inside and then brought out to finish on the barbecue to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure that authentic smoky taste. If it makes it easier in/with regard to’concerning’regarding you, sit down the night bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e and work out the timings of eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullything so you will be less lay stress on’emphasize’highlight ed on the day of the barbecue.

Whatever The Weather

If there s one thing you can t guarantee it s rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent weather so make sure you possess’own’nurse a plan B or a intensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent gazebo to hand! Check the in/with regard to’concerning’regarding ecast in advance and prepare in/with regard to’concerning’regarding whatever weather might be heading your way.

Sunny? Perfect, however make sure you ve got zone’district’region s of shade and claim’insist’maintain’hold’argue’consider’contemplate’speculate with regards to’concerning’with respect to setting up the paddling pool if there are going to be any children.

Rainy? Allow time to put up a gazebo. It s not ideal admittedly but as long as it s warm it will still be nice to sit outside undercover. And remember to make sure the barbecue zone’district’region has cover too, otherwise no one s gong to be eating anything!

Windy? Depending on how sheltered your garden is this may still work, but it s probably best to shun putting a gazebo up. If there s a bit of a chilly breeze, place a few blankets on individual s seats so that they can wrap themselves up and keep warm.

Windy and rainy? Give it up already. Bring it all inside, cook it on the grill and eat around the table. You want to enjoy yourselves, and it is definitely not fun sitting in a garden eating soggy sausages and looking like a drowned rat!

Be Prepared

To be a true hostess with the mostess you need to make sure e grossly thing is all set up prior to your guests arriving. A brilliant barbecue is more than just the food. Make sure the table has been set, that you possess’own’nurse abundant’ample’plentiful seats and they are arranged properly. Check that all the plates, cutlery, napkins and glasses are set up on a serving table, ready in/with regard to’concerning’regarding guests to grab as they line up at the barbecue. Have blankets on hand in/with regard to’concerning’regarding those early evening chills and possess’own’nurse plenty of seat cushions to make individual as comin/with regard to’concerning’regarding table as possible.

Here are some key barbecue essentials you should make sure you possess’own’nurse to assure’guarantee your barbecue runs smoothly:

Bottle opener/corkscrew it s really annoying when you go to open a bottle of beer and there s nothing to open it with!
Sauces ketchup, BBQ, relish, brown, whatever your flavour a barbecue just ain t a barbecue without ALL the sauces.
Tin foil essential in/with regard to’concerning’regarding keeping food warm if other stuff still needs a bit longer on the grill.
Bin bags makes it a whole lot easier if you keep a bin bag secured to a fence post so that eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullyone can tidy up as you go.
Keep The Food Hot And The Drinks Cold

This is significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative not just because of the simple fact that no one likes warm beer, but also from a food safety point of view. Raw meat needs to be kept in the fridge until it is ready to be put on the barbecue otherwise there is a definite risk of bacteria growth and that means food poisoning! The same rules apply in/with regard to’concerning’regarding any meat that has been cooked and not eaten, but has spent the afternoon sat on a plate in the sunshine. It may seem like a waste but it is definitely better to bin it than to risk being ill. Remember also to use different utensils and chopping boards in/with regard to’concerning’regarding raw and cooked meat so that bacteria cannot be transferred between the two. Beef and lamb and some fish can be left pink in the middle, however chicken, pork and sausages should be cooked fully with no pink whatsoever.

There aren t many individual who possess’own’nurse abundant’ample’plentiful space in their fridge in/with regard to’concerning’regarding all the extra drink consumed at a barbecue, especially when it s already chockablock with meat and salads. But simultaneous’synchronous warm wine and boiling beer just isn t on. Unless you re in/with regard to’concerning’regarding tunate abundant’ample’plentiful to possess’own’nurse a spare fridge, the next best solution is to fill a large container with ice (you can buy bags of it quite cheaply from most supermarkets) and place it in a shady zone’district’region . Leave a table next to it with a bottle opener, cups, garnishes like lemon slices etc. and that way individual can help themselves whenever they need a top up.

The Big Clear Up

Obviously you don t want a tonne of washing up at the end of what s been a blinkin brilliant barbecue, but with the war on plastic raging it s way better to do your bit in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the planet and opt in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the environmentally approachable’genial option. If you possess’own’nurse n t got abundant’ample’plentiful glasses and crockery some supermarkets, like Waitrose, will rent them out to you in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a small fee. You do need to return them washed and clean, but hey surely that s why we possess’own’nurse kids right 😉 Don t leave the tidying up until the next day as no one enjoys doing jobs with a hangover. Plus if eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullyone mucks in you ll possess’own’nurse the rubbish eliminate’remove ed up in no time.

The grossly best barbecues involve a mix of great exertion less food, an endless supply of ice cold drinks, eye-catching’good-shaped’appealing’charming’fascinating’gorgeous sunny days, fabulous friends and plenty of full to the brim belly laughs. Here s to a summer filled with brilliant BBQs!