Summer Barbeque Menu and Recipes

Summer afternoons and evenings are often spent with family and friends, swimming, fishing, barbequing. I have a great barbeque menu planned, that doesn't include old standbys like hamburgers and hotdogs! If you prepare in advance and chose the right kinds of foods, you'll be able to relax and enjoy the party with your guests!

The day before, you can make BBQ Pulled Pork for sandwiches. In a crock-pot or slow cooker, add I chopped red onion, five chopped garlic cloves, two teaspoons chili powder, one tablespoon of tomato paste, two tablespoons Dijon mustard, one cup of apple cider vinegar, one teaspoon paprika, two teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, ¼ cup dark brown sugar, I teaspoon of molasses and one bay leaf and stir to combine all ingredients. Add a 3-4 pound pork roast to the crock-pot with the sauce, then fill the crock-pot with beef broth, with enough just to cover the meat. Cook of low for 8-10 hours or on high for 5-7, making sure meat is cooked through and tender enough to shred easily. This is the perfect "cook-ahead" addition for any barbeque, simple serve with rolls and extra sauce for dipping.

Chicken breasts, wings, thighs and drumsticks are also a great barbeque dish. Wash and clean your chicken the morning of your party, allowing it to dry thoroughly on paper towels, covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator. Immediately before grilling, toss the chicken with a light amount of olive oil and generous seasoning of salt, pepper and paprika. Grill until cooked completely through, about 12 minutes.

On the side, you can grill fresh corn on the cob and/or baked potatoes. Leave the husks on the corn and wrap in aluminum foil and grill for about 20 minutes. Peel back husks, sprinkle with salt, pepper and butter and enjoy. For baked potatoes, make fork holes in potatoes before wrapping in foil and grilling for about an hour. Potatoes will be super soft and creamy, and you can provide toppings such as sour scream, bacon bits, shredded cheese or just butter and salt. Another great side is Baked Beans and I have a fabulous, easy recipe. Simply wash one pound of uncooked navy or canellini beans, and add them to a large stockpot, covering them with lots of cold water. Cook slowly, over low heat, for an hour and a half. Next, transfer the beans to a large shallow casserole dish with the cooking water, then add salt, pepper, one tablespoon of onion powder, one cup of sugar and one cup of ketchup. Cook at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for about five hours, stirring and adding more water, sugar, ketchup and seasoning as needed. These are the BEST baked beans ever and they're fairly easy!

Pasta salad is the perfect BBQ salad. It's not made with mayonnaise, so it stays good longer when out in the warm sun. Simply boil a pound of penne or rotini pasta, toss with your favorite Italian style dressing, add some fresh chopped tomatoes, peppers, onion and carrot, along with some black olives and cubed fresh mozzarella cheese. Toss together and serve chilled or at room temperature. Another good salad option would be a simple cucumber salad, which is just sliced cucumber, chopped tomatoes and seasoned rice wine vinegar. Again, this salad contains no mayonnaise so it can handle warm temperatures nicely.

Dessert can be a simple fruit salad made with berries, pineapple, melons and apples, all tossed together with a little bit of lemon jice to prevent the fruit from browning. Serve this simple fruit salad over angel food or pound cake and add a dollop of shipped cream for a favorite summer dessert.

Be sure to offer a variety of beverages such as soda, iced tea, lemonade, beer, wine or other alcoholic drinks and maybe some juice boxes for the kids. Napkins, paper plates and cups, ice and trashcans are also necessities for a great party. Throwing a barbeque doesn't have to be time consuming, just plan accordingly and you'll pull it off without a hitch.