Food for My Family

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Preparing for a Backyard Barbecue: Tips, FREE eBook and a Dutch Oven for You!

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Getting ready to grill for a group? We have you covered, with tips for preparing, a free barbecue e-cookbook and downloadable printables to keep you organized. Oh, and we may also throw in a pretty snazzy giveaway as well.

We’re getting ready to host a backyard barbecue this weekend, and we have been busy prepping, planning and playing with recipes. Hosting a barbecue can be overwhelming. In fact, any kind of get-together at your house can be a cause of stress with the cleaning, cooking and planning.

In an attempt to take control over the part that I view as most important – the food – I asked Ole for some tips on how to keep the grill area under control when inviting a large group of people over. After all, he’s the one who mans the grill area over here. So, these are Ole’s seven tips for a successful barbecue event.

    1. Don’t overdo it. Unless you have a commercial sized fridge and giant grill, keep it simple.

    2. Premix your seasoning. Don’t bring the salt and pepper shakers and secret spices all out to the grill. Mix up a small bowlful ahead of time; it makes seasoning quicker and more consistent.

    3. Go with what you know. New recipes take more time and concentration. Group grilling is meant to be social, so stay in your comfort zone.

    4. Know your fuel. If you use gas, make sure the tank is full. If you’re a charcoal griller, be sure to pick up an extra bag the day before.

    5. Tag team it. When grilling for yourself or your family you might be able to get away with doing it all yourself, but when larger groups are involved, try to have someone else take care of other needs so you can focus on the grill.

    6. Foil pans rule. Get a few foil pans lined up that can hold the meat when it’s done. There usually are a few last minute details that need to be attended to prior to serving. Don’t let the main course dry out on the grill; move it to a covered foil pan to let it rest.

    7. Provide an easy alternative. With large groups there is bound to be a few picky eaters (possibly vegetarian). Have some hot dogs and veggie burgers waiting in the wings to keep everyone happy.

In a case of perfect timing, I’ve also been working with Mandi from Life… Your Way to gather a collection of over 30 barbecue-friendly recipes from 15 bloggers to make planning easier. Download or print your copy of Backyard Barbecue Recipes today. Plus, Mandi and all her Type-A ways created six free printables to keep you organized while you’re planning your get-together!

:: Backyard Barbecue Planner
:: Dirty Dozen / Clean Fifteen Cheat Sheet
:: Freezer Storage Cheat Sheet
:: Internal Cooking Temperature Cheat Sheet
:: 3×5 Recipe Cards or 4×6 Recipe Cards
:: Shopping List or Half-Page Shopping List


Bush’s sent over a gorgeous grilling kit for our barbecue, and we get to give one away to our readers! (This is a photo of Wenderly’s grillin’ kit, photographed by her. Thanks, Wendy!)

THE PRIZE
One Bush’s Grillin’ Beans Grilling Kit that includes:

  • Emile Henry Dutch Oven
  • Rosle Barbecue Tools
  • Bush’s Apron, Can Opener and Grillin’ Beans
  • $50 Visa Gift Card

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN

1. Leave a comment. What is your favorite barbecue dish?

2. Follow @BushsBeans and @FoodforMyFamily on Twitter and tweet the following, and come back and let me know you did:

Win an Emile Henry Dutch Oven and @BushsBeans BBQ set from @FoodforMyFamily http://su.pr/56DVrO

THE RULES:

This giveaway will run until Monday, May 30th at 11:59 p.m. EDT and is open to all U.S. residents. A winner will be chosen at random using Random.org from all eligible entries. Each reader has 5 chances to win by completing the above tasks and leaving a separate comment for each entry method completed. Chosen winner must respond within 48 hours of notification to claim their prize. Good luck!

This post is sponsored by Bush’s.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  11. We love BBQ chicken with a homemade mustard sauce and of course grilled asparagus or corn on the cob!

    Reply

  16. I’m a vegetarian so I like something a little different…grilled halluomi (greek grilling cheese that is AWESOME!) and veggie kabobs. If you haven’t tried this cheese you should. They sell it at Whole Foods, speciality cheese shops, and at larger super markets.

    Reply

  29. Grilled veggies (bellpeppers, homegrown artichokes, onions, asparagus, corn cob, squash) and salmon with grilled peaches/apricots for desert. YUM.

    Reply

  55. Smoked BBQ pulled pork, all slathered with sauce – with all the fixin’s too. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

    Reply

  77. Our favorite barbecue is pastrami, smoked from brisket. We have one, now, marinating in our refrigerator.
    It is hard to wait the weeks, while it cures.

    Reply

  89. I love barbecued baked beans and grilled portabella mushrooms. I also like grilled veggie kabobs.

    Reply

  96. At this time of year, I can’t see past grilled asparagus. But onions, peppers and tomatoes are right up there, too.

    Reply

  119. Favorite grilled food is Fruit for dessert(after the grilled shrimp and tortellini kabobs)!

    Joined the Bush’s Beans community on Facebook (even tried to get Duke to tell me the recipe)!

    Joined the Food for My Family community on Facebook.

    Reply

  124. My family like it simple- ribeyes rubbed with garlic powder, salt, pepper and paprika, add a bit of Worcestershire sauce before grilling

    Reply

  125. My favorite bbq dish is pork steaks grilled with Bush’s original beans and corn on the cob.

    Reply

  131. Our family loves to do beer chicken on the grill, it is so moist and tender and then we top it off with awesome side dishes.

    Reply

  146. I like almost everything that comes off a grill. My favorites are probably salmon and corn on the cob.

    Reply

  147. Anything on the grill is good as long as it means I get to spend less time in the kitchen! But, I love hamburgers on the grill!

    Reply

  152. I love pork tenderloin on the grill with roasted asparagus – yummy! I follow Bush’s Beans on Facebook.

    Reply

  153. I love pork tenderloin on the grill with roasted asparagus – yummy! I follow Food for my Family on Facebook.

    Reply

  155. We enjoy grilled pineapple, grilled steak and grilled spinach & cheese stuffed pork tenderloin, and grilled fish tacos! 🙂

    Reply

  158. Anything my husband grills is great….I’ll bet he’d love to experiment with the Emile Henry Dutch Oven and I’d love to use the can opener on the Bush’s baked beans!! Perhaps Food for my Family on Facebook will improve my cooking skills!!

    Reply

  159. Bush’s Beans picked a great spokesman…Duke would love my Granddog Golden Retriever named Cedar…They could make beautiful baked bean recipes together!!

    Reply

  162. Awesome grill tips Shaina. Wonderful seeing you this weekend. Never enough time to catch up though. I think we are both at evo ’11 together??

    Reply

  175. We make fajitas on the grill almost weekly and you can never turn down a grilled burger! Joined FB too!

    Reply

  179. Just got my dutch oven and am making my first meal in it tonight! Looks like you all had a great time and got to eat some great food! Awesome!

    Reply

  187. Without a doubt my favorite bbq dish is bbq beef rips. Slather on some bbq sauce and grill. Easy and delicious.

    Reply

  237. My favorites are the side dishes: vegetable filled cous cous, other pasta salads, moms ambrosia, potato salad (no pickles please!), corn on the cob and all the rest. The men can have the meat, give me the beans and the veggies and I’m happy!

    Reply

  241. We have hambugers, hot dogs, my potato salad and Bush’s Beans. Duke is always invited but since it is hard for him to make it, we have Max, the family Golden.

    Reply

  254. My favorite barbecue dish is grilled corn on the cob – I make ad Mrs. Dash fiesta lime seasoning and finely diced garlic to butter to put on after it is done and it is great!!!

    Reply

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