Select the Right Sides
Be careful not to choose anything that can’t stand up to the sun since it’ll save tons of time (and stress) to prepare these beforehand and leave them out for friends to graze on throughout the meal (which, judging by the cocktails you’re serving, may last quite a while). A crisp salad complements flavorful meats well and leaves everyone with room for dessert. Try the Mexican Papaya Salad for a little south-of-the-border zest, or Adelaide’s Super Summer Salad, with fresh greens, a hint of citrus, and garbanzo beans. Or serve some Cool Cucumber Soup for a fresh twist on the side dish.
Simplify the Sweets
Until I come up with a dessert that I can actually make on the grill (because grilled pineapples just won’t cut it and cakes refuse to take shape), my outdoor sweets have fresh, fruity flavors and are easy to eat with my hands, or a plastic fork at the very most. It’s another part of the meal that works best prepared ahead and simply set out on colorful plates for guests to peruse at their own convenience. A plate of The Best Lemon Squares holds up well, especially with its sweet, buttery crust, and Cool Strawberry Peach Bananas is a fresh and creative take on the tried-and-true strawberry shortcakes, plus everyone constructs their own—always fun. Can’t do without a little patriotic kitsch? The all-natural Stars and Stripes White Cake is easy, homemade, and undeniably patriotic.
Go with a Theme
Speaking of summer kitsch … everyone loves a theme party. Simple approach: try a potluck. Send out invitations asking guests to bring their favorite beverage and one side to go with whatever you’re grilling. Be specific to avoid a getting a gallon of German potato salad, like “Bring a dish that hails from your ethnic heritage.” (You’re out of luck if all your guests are actually German.) Get more potluck-planning ideas here: Be a Barbie Doll: Grilling and Chilling. A more thematic approach: A Revolutionary Fourth of July!, a creative way to be patriotic, celebrating the French-American alliance that helped win both World War II and the Revolutionary War. This one’s extra great because all your red-white-and-blue decorations still apply.
It’s daunting to tackle new techniques (especially in a backyard full of guests). I’ve found that keeping it simple works best—choose just a couple of recipes, stick to Safe and Tasty Barbeque Grilling techniques, and ask your invitees to bring whatever you don’t feel like making. That way, even if your grill burns all the food to a crisp, guests will still have plenty to eat … and they’ll be almost too cheerful to notice after all that killer sangria.
