Father’s Day BBQ

Father’s Day is on June 18th and the perfect day to entertain in the backyard. Even if you do not have an “outdoor kitchen,” moving the party outdoors is easier than you think. Create a functional and fun space for family and friends and a great celebration to honor Dad with these five simple ideas.

The Prep

Before the party comes to the planning. Planning out your BBQ will help ensure that when the time comes, you will actually be able to enjoy the party instead of stressing about what needs to be done.

• Choose a simple menu: The classics are there for a reason. Keeping the menu simple will prevent you from being in the kitchen the whole party or spending too much time on food prep. People don’t expect gourmet meals at a BBQ,  they will just be happy with a burger and chips!
• Check your tools: Before the party, it is important to make sure you have all the tools and equipment ready. This includes things like grilling tools, fuel, enough dishes and serving utensils for the food, plates, napkins, etc. Nothing puts a damper on a party more than not being prepared.

The Food

The most important part of your BBQ party is, of course, the food! As mentioned, your menu does not have to be fancy and extravagant. Simple, classic menus are perfect. Just make sure you have plenty of options. Here’s some ideas.

• Make it a potluck: One way of making sure you have plenty of variety and enough food to go around is to make your party a potluck. This way, you do not have all the burden of providing all of the dishes, and your guests will get to show off their favorite dishes as well. Suggest that everyone bring a side or dessert, and you take care of the main course.
• The grill: Burgers, burgers, burgers! A classic at BBQs, and for good reason. The standard beef patties are a must at any BBQ party, but have some other options available as well. You can make flavorful and delicious burgers out of ground turkey, fish, or various forms of veggie burgers. You can even throw in hot dogs and sausages for even more options for your guests. With the grilled food, also make sure to have plenty of condiments! Create a condiment bar with a variety of options so you guests can build-their-own-burger and customize their meal to their liking.
• Side dishes: The grill might be the main feature when it comes to food, but your meal is nothing without the side dishes. There are dozens of options when it comes to what sides to serve, but again think of the classics when deciding. Some options include veggie trays, fruit salad, meat and cheese trays, potato salad, macaroni salad, chips, corn, and deviled eggs. Again, making your bbq a potluck will help with creating an array of side dishes. Even if you make your own, many of these can be made in advance, so you won’t have to worry about them on the day of the party.
• Desserts: After all this delicious food and party fun, guests will want to finish the night with some sweetness. Choose desserts that give that summer-y feel. Some suggestions include fruit skewers, homemade fruit popsicles, cupcakes, brownies, and cookies. If you have a place for a fire, you can even create a DIY smore’s station. It is both fun and delicious!

The Drinks

What party is complete without drinks? When planning your drink station, take a few things into consideration, including what type of drinks you will serve and what options you will have for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinkers. Also, plan your drink station ahead of time, either with self-serve pitchers or buckets filled with ice for bottles, so you don’t have to spend your party playing the bartender.

• Water: Water on its own seems a little boring at a party, but it is highly necessary. If you don’t want to offer plain water, just add some fruit slices to the pitchers. The fruit will slightly flavor the water, and it will make the pitcher look beautiful as well!
• Sangria: Sangria is a delicious party option, and easy to make ahead of time. For a summery feel, choose white wine over red, and add fruits like peach or anything citrus. It is both delicious and refreshing.
• Help-Yourself Bar: An easy way to provide drinks to your guests is having a beer station with a variety of bottles and brands to choose from. This way, guests can choose what they want and you don’t have to worry about being the bartender. There are a lot of classy and fun ways to create a bar station, like a tin bucket or wagon filled with ice, so it can even serve as part of your decor.

For kids, have options like sparkling soda in fun glass bottles or pitchers of Shirley Temples. It will make the kids feel like they have fun drink options too rather than just being limited to water.

The Atmosphere

Namely, the decor and the fun! Once you have your food and drinks all figured out, you can get started on the details.

• Decorations: One of biggest elements to pull your party together is the decorations, but you can keep these simple. Fresh flowers or plants or even bright throw pillows on the patio furniture will create a festive, fun feeling.
• Games: Many of your party guests will probably spend the majority of the time just conversing and having a good time with each other, but it is important to have some options for entertainment as well. Cornhole is a popular and classic backyard game and easy to play, even for those who have had a few drinks. If you really want to bring back the childhood-party fun, you can even go for a water balloon fight! Just make sure not to hit someone that isn’t planning on getting wet.
• Music: The tunes are an essential part of any party. Choose your perfect playlist, set speakers up in the party area, and jam away! Just make sure the music doesn’t overpower the volume of the conversation. You still want your guests to be able to talk with each other!

Grilling Area

It’s important to have both a cooking and prep space. Move the grill away from the living and dining areas in order to reduce smoke. Be sure to have a prep table next to the grill. This makes it easy to handle and plate food. Decorate the table with bright-colored linens, and mason jars of fresh-cut flowers. A lantern can add additional lighting at night. Also, include necessary cooking utensils, spices, and serving platters.

Perfect Father’s Day BBQ Sauce

Here is a recipe for a simple homemade BBQ sauce that is great on pork, chicken, and even tofu.

Homemade BBQ Sauce:

BBQ Sauce – Yields (2) cups

• 2 cups Ketchup
• ½ cup Water
• 1 Tbl Turbinado Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 2 Tbl Orange Juice
• 1 Clove of Garlic – chopped
• 2 Tbl Spicy Brown Mustard
• 1 Tbl Worcestershire Sauce
• ¼  teaspoon Sea Salt
• 1 Tbl Soy Sauce
• ¼ teaspoon Ground Pepper

• Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a boil
• Reduce heat and simmer for (7) minutes
• Let cool before serving

Father’s Day is about celebrating the men that help shape many lives. Show love by sharing a great homemade meal in your new outdoor dining room.

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