Honor Dad With a Father's Day Barbecue

This June, celebrate Father's Day with a backyard barbecue. Relish time with family and friends while grilling delicious burgers and steaks. Simple 1950s decor adds a festive touch without overwhelming the natural beauty of the great outdoors.

Grilling Utensils
Using the proper utensils simplifies the grillmaster's duties. These tools also make great Father's Day gifts.

If using a charcoal grill, try a chimney starter to get the coals nice and hot with less wait time. The Weber 7416 Rapid Chimney Starter boasts two handles for a good grip and can hold enough briquettes for a 22.5-inch kettle grill.

Eliminate the guesswork and use an instant-read thermometer to grill meat to perfection. An analog thermometer with a large dial is easy to read and does not require batteries.

Barbecue forks can pierce meat and let essential juices drip away. Consider using a pair of tongs instead. The OXO Good Grips 16-inch Locking Tongs are long enough to use on the grill. The locking feature holds the tongs closed so they are easier to store.

Traditional oven mitts can be too cumbersome to use with the grill, but the Ove Glove provides heat protection up to 540 degrees. The glove design allows the freedom to use all fingers. Backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, these gloves sell for approximately $15 each.

BBQ Spices
Penzey's Grill and Broil Mini Gift Box costs $11.95 and includes BBQ 3000, Cajun Seasoning, 4/S Special Seasoned Sea Salt and Galena St. Rib & Chicken Rub. Buy one for the grillmaster and another for a tasty Father's Day gift.

Music
Broadcast a custom soundtrack by plugging an iPod or iPhone into a portable speaker system. CNET.com editors gave the Altec Lansing InMotion Compact iMT320 iPod speakers 3.5 out of 5 stars. The speaker system retails for approximately $50 and is compatible with iPhones and iPods.

1950s Diner Decor
Try a retro party theme for Father's Day. Use traditional red and white checkered tablecloths and napkins. Serve food in old-fashioned sandwich baskets lined with napkins or wax paper.

Serve ketchup, mayo and mustard in condiment bottles. The Tablecraft 3-Piece Nostalgia Squeeze Bottle Set features red, clear and yellow bottles with the image of an old-fashioned carhop printed on the front.

Tablecloths, napkins, plastic fast food baskets and condiment bottles are available in the seasonal department of many big-box stores. These versatile supplies are also suitable for other backyard celebrations, such as a Memorial Day barbecue.