Enjoy
a stess-free afternoon - use this BBQ party planning
checklist and have little fun for a change
So
everyone's over at your house. The yard
is packed. The food and salads - numerous,
enticing and delicious. The sun is shining,
the birds chirping, and everyone is having
a great time.
Except
you, of course. (Well someone has to barbecue,
serve, pour drinks, clear up, swat flies
and in general run the operation).
Now
for the good news - with a little planning,
everyone can enjoy the BBQ - even you.
Just
follow the steps outlined in the BBQ party
planning checklist below and you're sure
to remain stress-free:
Stage
1: About a week before
Click
box to check
Make
up a guest list, and send out invitations
(or just call everybody up)
Plan
the menu, and make a shopping list of everything
you need to buy. If vegetarians are among
your guests, plan for them as well.
If
friends and family will be attending, see
if you can allocate some of the work (Find
volunteers to make salads or prepare deserts,
for instance. This will leave you basically
free to just attend to the grill)
If you use a gas grill, check to see you have
enough (having a refill on hand is always
good policy). Likewise, if you use charcoal,
make sure you have enough.
If you need to rent or borrow any equipment,
make necessary arrangements.
Ready
to move on to stage 2 of your party planning
checklist?
Stage
2: 2-3 days before the BBQ party.
Start
preparing everything a few days before the
event. Make a list of things you have to
get:
Food
and beverages (Alcoholic and nonalcoholic,
as required)
Paper
plates, napkins and towels, and plastic utensils
if you're planning on using them. It's usually
a good idea to get slightly more than the
number of guests you've invited.
Any
special decorations, tablecloths, meats, seafood
or anything else you may need.
If
any foods you're planning can be made ahead
of time and frozen, such as snacks and mixes,
now's the time to get started.
Ready
to move on to stage 3 of your party planning
checklist?
Stage
3: The day before
Get the ice you need for the drinks
Pick
up all the perishable and last-minute items
you need
Don't
forget the condiments- mayonnaise, mustard,
relish & pickles, etc.
Prepare your salads, and call to remind your
designated salad-makers. Or just pick up prepared
salads at your grocery store.
Decorate
for the party and arrange the tables and work
area
Thaw
any frozen items
I
think you're doing pretty well so far. And
now your operation is about to enter it's
final phase:
Stage
4: THE DAY
In
the morning set out the plates, utensils,
and BBQ tools. Keep all the tools you'll need
handy so you wont have to desert your post
and run inside to get something. Accidents
can happen when the grill is unattended.
If
you're grilling any vegetables, now is a good
time to prepare them and wrap in foil, if
required. Remember that corn and potatoes
should be on the grill about an hour before
the meat.
Set
up a drinks table, and let everyone come
over and help him/herself. I like to fill
a large plastic tub with ice and canned
drinks, which is extremely efficient in
keeping people out of the house and out
of the fridge.
When
your friends start arriving, try and delegate
serving and clearing up duties. You may also
like to get some of the parents to arrange
games for the kids - this keeps the kids occupied
and out of your cooking area. To make it more
interesting, why not have some small prizes
handy for the winners?
Set
up a large trash container (or two) in your
cooking area, with a large plastic sack inside.
Encourage your guests to use them to dispose
of their paper plates and cups. I also like
to keep a couple of rolls of paper towels
handy - always useful.
Well,
how about that? Isn't it amazing what a little
party planning checklist - and a little delegation
- can do? Now you can take it easy and enjoy
yourself as well.
