There is nothing like gathering friends and family together to enjoy a barbecue. Summertime begs for you to join in this outdoor cooking delight. Here are some basic things you need to grill like a pro:

Food for the Grill
What do you want to cook?  Meat eater and vegetarian can find some great choices this time of year.  Corn, cauliflower, eggplant, beef, fish, chicken…it’s all great on the grill. Concentrate on preparing one thing and making it great rather than dealing with an assortment that will need different temperatures and times on the pit. Especially being a beginner, keep your barbecue choices to a few select food items.

Side Dishes
You will need fixings and side dishes to make your meal complete.  Baked beans, potato salad, and garlic bread are traditional favorites that you can make yourself or purchase at a local deli or grocery store. Many guests love to help. Enlist them to bring a side dish and don’t forget dessert.

The Sauce
Battles rage among family and friends about the best barbecue sauce to use for the perfect flavor.  Choices range from sweet to spicy, tangy to fruity, and tomato or veggie free…whatever your palate desires, you can find a sauce to suit its demands. Check out local farmers and craft markets to find delicious homemade sauces. Cannot decide on one for the whole group? That’s okay. Get a variety of sauces and hold an impromptu tasting.

Cooking Surface / Techniques
Are you using an electric grill, charcoal pit, or gas grill?  Consider your surface and make certain you have the correct type of tools and surface accessories you will need as you cook.  Aluminum foil, a few shallow pans, and cooking spray are three things that just about any outside cook find handy to have available to them.

Safety
Make certain that you have water for extinguishing any stray flames and hot pads for handling things right off of the grill. Prior planning will help keep you incident free.

Cleaning Up
Make sure you have trash bags, grill brushes, and mild cleansing detergent to get your grill back in good shape.  Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can wait to clean up the mess the next time you grill by burning off any residue left behind. Experts agree it’s best to let the grill surface cool and wipe down before the next use.

Friends and Family
Make sure you’ve invited a variety of people that will make your cookout fun and interesting. Bonding can occur over the grill as you share cooking techniques and preferences on the type of food you prepare. If you are like most people in the South, before you’ve finished the meal being shared that day, you are already planning what you will be barbecuing in weeks to come.

If you are looking for a place to live that has grill ready areas and space that allows for versatile outdoor living, check out The Garden Apartments in Lafayette, LA. One, two, and three-bedroom units are available and move-in summer specials can help you relocate with ease.

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