1. The Meat.
Your first, and probably the most important, decision is deciding what type of meat you're going to grill. Are you going to keep it simple with hamburgers and hotdogs? Or do you want some nice juicy steaks or chicken kebabs? You can really grill just about anything you want. Be sure to keep in mind your guests. If you have a lot of children coming, they're probably going to want hotdogs. The grown men are probably going to prefer steaks. Depending on how large your party is, you could have a wide selection of items for people to choose from.
2. Condiments.
Once you've decided what types of meat to serve, don't forget your condiments. Ketchup and mustard are usually the most popular among BBQ guests. BBQ sauce is also a good option. If you have hotdogs, some people might want relish. If you have steak, you might want some steak sauce. For hamburgers, you may want to have lettuce, tomato, onion and cheese - and don't forget the buns! Be sure to grab some salt and pepper too.
3. Utensils.
Not only will you need paper plates, plastic silverware and napkins for everyone to eat with, you're going to need items to prepare the food. You'll want some type of platter to put the cooked meat on. You'll need tongs to move the meat around on the grill, and possibly grilling gloves. If you're using a charcoal grill, you'll need charcoal, lighter fluid and matches. You may also want some aluminum foil to cover the meat once it's done cooking.
4. Side Dishes.
Popular side dishes for a BBQ include potato chips, baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, grilled corn on the cob, and grilled mushrooms, peppers & onions. Watermelon is also a popular treat for the occasion. For dessert, something easy like cookies is best. You could ask each of your guests to bring their favorite side dish to share with the group.
5. Drinks.
Once you've got the food established, be thinking about drinks. Bottled water is a must-have, especially in the summer heat! If you have children there, you might consider juice boxes. Canned soda is also an option for everyone. You'll want to decide if you want alcohol at your BBQ, and if so, do you want to keep it simple with beer or have other options for your guests. No matter what types of drinks you choose to serve, your going to want coolers full of ice to keep everything nice and cold.
6. Other Essentials.
If you're going to be outside in the summer heat for a long period of time, not only is it important to drink a bunch of water, but you're going to want to re-apply sunscreen all day. You also may want some bug spray, especially if you're having a BBQ in the evening. Other ideas are outdoor games/toys for the kids to play with. This could be a jump rope, hula hoop, jacks, etc. Maybe you want a deck of cards for the adults to play a game too.
Summerset Inn Resort hopes you have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! If you're staying with us this weekend, be sure to take advantage of our lakeside picnic area. For all your summer trips to the lake, come back and stay with us at our waterfront resort at the Lake of the Ozarks. Our accommodations range from one bedroom up to five, to fit the needs of any size group. We hope to see you soon!
Summerset Inn Resort & Villas
1165 Jeffries Road Osage Beach, MO 65065
573-348-5073
Email:info@summersetinn.com
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