Reinvent your Backyard BBQ

Reinvent your Backyard BBQ

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

filed under: food

Hosting a summer backyard bash? Celeb chef and mom Susannah Locketti serves up her top tips for creating a fuss-free warm weather menu.

	Marinate in Minutes Use large Ziploc storage bags to marinate meats or seafood. Here's a tasty one: Marinate one pound of boneless skinless chicken breasts pounded thin with the juice and zest from one lemon, 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons fresh chopped rosemary, 3 cloves minced garlic, plus salt and pepper. Or, combine two pounds of peeled, de-veined shrimp with a little olive oil, some juice and zest from an orange, crushed red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper. The marinating bags store easily in the fridge or a cooler until you are ready to grill.
	Hold the Mayo There's nothing worse than potato salad or cole slaw sitting out in the warm weather with your guests wondering of it's still OK to eat. Instead, make salads or side dishes that rely on olive oil to tie it all together. Not to mention, the dishes can be served warm or at room temperature without fear of the food going bad. I love to create trays of grilled veggies tossed with olive oil, garlic, fresh herbs, parmesan cheese and salt and pepper. Serve with grilled bread for a nice treat before the meat.
	Creative Pasta Salads Combine grilled vegetables such as red onions and eggplant with penne, olive oil, fresh chopped herbs, crumbled goat cheese and salt and pepper. You can also combine the orange grilled shrimp from above with mini shells, crumbled feta, wilted baby spinach and olives. Toss with a light dressing of olive oil, a little orange juice, chopped garlic, dried Italian herbs plus salt and pepper. Both of these pasta salads can be served, warm, cold, or at room temperature. No need to worry about the shrimp salad because your guests will devour it in minutes.
	Keeping It Cold Hate it when the punch bowl gets warm? When making the punch, do a double batch and freeze some in ice cube trays. Drop the ice cubes in the drink during your party so it keeps cold without becoming watered down. You can also make cool ice cubes with leftover citrus or fresh chopped mint. When making ice cubes, add chopped mint and lemon or lime zest to them for a refreshing surprise in ice water or mojitos. This takes seconds to do and your guests will remember it.
	Juicy Fruit A fruit buffet is a great ending to any backyard bash. Place a tray of sliced pound cake, a bowl of chopped fresh or grilled fruit, chocolate sauce and aerosol whipped cream on a table outside. Keep aerosol whipped cream cold by placing several cans in a decorative bucket filled with ice. People can help themselves to dessert leaving you time to sit back and relax. Of course, no one will ever turn away the classic sliced watermelon either. Garnish the tray with fresh mint sprigs to heighten the presentation.

filed under: food

| Bookmark | Permalink |

Email | Comments (2)

2 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

That food looks so yummy. I love how you recommend classic sliced watermelon. Yes, I will be serving watermelon since it’s the new Viagra! (TWO helpings for my husband, please.)

- Anonymous

Posted 07/02/08 03:01 PM

Very nice site!

- John356

Posted 05/17/09 09:22 PM