BBQ Family Cookouts

There is nothing like the gathering of families during the spring and summer months for a BBQ or cook-out.

The table is always set out with many side dishes like potato salad, chips, cookies, pies, macaroni and cheese and any other popular sides that your family cooks. Although, if you are on a budget, then it can be expensive trying to cover costs of meat, drinks, plates and silverware, desserts and all of the side-dishes. Since the entire family is coming, everybody can help pay or bring assigned items for the cook-out.

When you are planning your cookout, think about the types of side-dishes that your family makes or you would like to see at the table. Write down everything on a piece of paper and suggest names next to the items. Make phone calls or send invites asking people to call and tell you what they are bringing. Or like most families, sometimes everybody has their own “specialty” that the family knows them for. If your grandma makes everyone’s favorite potato salad, then let her bring it. Busy working mothers and fathers can be responsible for bringing bags of potato chips, plates or even soda. This way, they won’t feel pressured to have to cook something at the last minute.

If you still feel that purchasing all of the meat is expensive, ask everybody to bring a package of hamburger, chicken or pork chops. Or perhaps, have some of those bring what they would like to eat, and then the “chef” will prepare it for them. Meat can be expensive-especially when fuel prices are high-or if a person’s hours have been cut-or worse-laid off from a job. The idea is to make the cook-out fun and special. It should not stress families out if they do not have the money to help buy food or drinks for the cook-out. For those who find their budgets tight, ask that they come over to help set up and decorate, or stay later for clean-up.

Once the cook-off is going on-or even after it’s over, leave out a “donation bowl.” This can cover the cost of another cook-out. Decide when the best time is for everyone to gather again, and stash the funds in the “donation bowl” somewhere in a safe place for next time. This will help cut the cost of any money that family members will need to spend at the next cook-out. With all of the help from members of your family, planning the budget for a cook-out should never be stressful again.

Have some inexpensive fun at your house tonight — Grill out! If you have a CharBroil Gas Grill and you want to keep it working in tip top condition, visit our site all about CharBroil Gas Grill Parts for information on the best deals and sources for all the parts and accessories you need.

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This video gives you a very detailed demonstration of a Solaire Infravection Gas Grill. They highlight all of the features of the grill, and show you exactly how it performs, by cooking some of your favorites.

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This video teaches how to BBQ a Steak, Roasted Potato Wedges and Crimini Mushrooms.

In this video you can see how I grill hamburgers on my Weber Go-Anywhere charcoal grill. This time I used indirect heat. I think, though, that this grill is a little small for this. Next time I’ll try moving the coals to either side rather than just to one side, and I’ll leave the middle without coals for the veggies. The charcoal is Kingsford Briquettes mixed with random cheap-o charcoal, prepared in a charcoal chimney. The beef is fresh (bought from my butcher an hour earlier) and seasoned with salt and pepper. Half is mixed with some diced onion (my burger-buddy hates onions). The grilled onion is sliced and then one side is brushed with olive oil and the onion is placed oiled-side down on the grill. After a minute, the other side is oiled and the onion is flipped. Be careful, as it’s very easy to accidentally burn the onion or knock it into the fire (as shown). The idea is to saute the onion in its own juices and with a little olive oil, not to char it. It’s delicious like this. I screwed this up this time, and forgot to brush the first side with oil, which is why you see me flipping the onion so fast. The mushrooms are simple Champignons, brushed liberally with olive oil. Delicious. The mushroom flavor is so strong like this. The cheese is a local Gouda. The buns were generic, bought at the supermarket. In regards to why I filmed this… Why not?

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