Are you planning a big backyard BBQ for Independence Day? I've got some great tips that will help you do more now so you can relax and enjoy the party.
First – Create a Budget
Choose the foods you want to serve and make a menu based on your budget. This will also help you create a prep schedule so you have very little to do on the actual day of the fourth.
Food ideas
- Salad – try sticking to salads that don't need refrigeration
- Meat – burgers and hot dogs or surf and turf totally up to how complicated you want to get
- Sides – bread, veggies, potatoes, and lots of chips and dip
- Dessert – keep things simple with a fruit pie (or ask guests to bring something unique)
Beverage Ideas
- Wine – my new favorite 21+ beverage choice is the Menage à Trois lineup of California Red, California White, and Prosecco they are flirty, fresh, and fun
- Soda – a variety of flavors is a must
- Water – on hot days you can never have too much cold h20!
- Ice – purchase bags of party ice so you have an endless supply
- Juice – something fun for the kids
If you want to pair your Menage à Trois Wines with the menu here are a few tasting notes you'll enjoy:
- California Red – the 2013 fresh, ripe, jam-like fruit that is silky and soft! This delicious blend with spike your curiosity and is the perfect accompaniment for grilled meats or chicken.
- California White Wine – it's undeniably fruity and unabashedly easy the blend brings together citrus and tropical fruit flavors with crisp acidity. Perfectly refreshing alone or with two companions!
- Prosecco – pop the cork and enjoy a flight with a fresh Italian, Menage à Trois Prosecco that is. This sparkler is fabulously flirtatious and delicious from the first sip. The refreshing citrus and bright green apple flavors dance across your palate in a burst of effervescent bliss that leads to a crisp, clean finish. Great with a fruit tart or share a bottle and enjoy the fireworks!
Second – Food Prep
Pre-marinade any meat you plan on grilling. Marinating infuses the meat with delicious flavors. You can also use different types of soaked wood chips to give the food more flavor when you put it on the grill.
If guests are bringing items sometimes it is easier to be specific on what they bring. A simple suggestion is bread, appetizers and desserts that way you can control the main dishes and pairing with wine.
Potato salad, coleslaw, and deviled eggs are made with mayonnaise and eggs and are common 4th of July fare. If you choose to make these, prepare them a day ahead of time and keep them refrigerated until right before the meal begins.
To prep other salad and veggies ahead simply cut them up and store them in containers in the fridge so they're easy to grab and throw together in minutes.
For dessert, rather than having something made with dairy products, try fried fruit tarts! These can be made several days in advance, kept in the refrigerator, and then reheated and enjoyed the day of the fourth.
Third – The Big Event
It is necessary to take precautions to ensure the food being served is kept hot if it is supposed to be hot or cold if it should be cold. Remember the danger zone for food is between 40 and 140 degrees.
A few things you can do first thing in the morning:
- Set the table as soon as you can to get that chore out of the way and it will make for less chaos in the kitchen when you have a house full of guests.
- ChillMenage à Trois California White and Prosecco blends
- Have the BBQ warm when everyone is set to arrive
- Decorate in a festive Fourth of July tradition
- Activities for kids – from coloring books to sparklers having a few things on hand is always a good idea
- Garbage and recycling bins set up for easy guest access
- Bathrooms cleaned and stocked with extra necessities
The more you can do before the event will mean you will have more time to enjoy the festivities, the food, and the guests! Remember to enjoy yourself and if you're going to drink be responsible!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Menage a Trois. The opinions and text are all mine.