***Disclosure: I received payment and/or product samples to facilitate my post. As always, all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
Summer in the Cleveland, Ohio suburbs is absolutely PERFECT, in my humble opinion. The weather is generally nice and warm without being too unbearably hot, and tons of families choose to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Hey, can you really blame us? We also have to endure winters with temps that have been dipping down into the -40° range! So when summer arrives, it's definitely something to celebrate!
One of the ways my family loves to take advantage of gorgeous summer days is by firing up the grill for a good, old-fashioned BBQ. After all, what's better than ice cold drinks paired with burgers, dogs, steaks, or even grilled chicken or veggies? Add to that family, friends, and some killer tunes, and you have the perfect recipe for summer fun.
One of the ways my family loves to take advantage of gorgeous summer days is by firing up the grill for a good, old-fashioned BBQ. After all, what's better than ice cold drinks paired with burgers, dogs, steaks, or even grilled chicken or veggies? Add to that family, friends, and some killer tunes, and you have the perfect recipe for summer fun.
I'd love to share 5 great tips to help ensure your Backyard BBQ is not only a complete success, but quite possibly the envy of the whole block!
1. Invest in outdoor dinnerware. (Trust me here, especially if you have kids!)
Normal dinnerware is generally made from glass or ceramic, and this can equal disaster for those outdoor soirees. Luckily, there are some absolutely gorgeous dinnerware and serving pieces made specifically for outdoor use. These are typically made from melamine or acrylic, which means they're both durable and VERY hard to break. Dropped a cup or plate? No problem! When choosing to use outdoor dishes, you won't be stopping the party to clean up sharp shards of glass.
Normal dinnerware is generally made from glass or ceramic, and this can equal disaster for those outdoor soirees. Luckily, there are some absolutely gorgeous dinnerware and serving pieces made specifically for outdoor use. These are typically made from melamine or acrylic, which means they're both durable and VERY hard to break. Dropped a cup or plate? No problem! When choosing to use outdoor dishes, you won't be stopping the party to clean up sharp shards of glass.
2. Make BIG Burgers for the adults and sliders for the littles.
Kids often have eyes that are bigger than their stomachs. At least in MY home this is the case. My kids often want to eat the same things as the grown-ups, but their appetites just can't handle adult serving sizes. Rather than wasting 3/4 of a burger, I make sliders for the kids. They LOVE these mini-burgers, and they enjoy topping them with their favorite veggies and condiments. If you're not into ground beef, you could certainly substitute with ground chicken, turkey, or even a blend of beans and spices for a crave-worthy veggie burger. Get creative! Cooking out should be fun!
Kids often have eyes that are bigger than their stomachs. At least in MY home this is the case. My kids often want to eat the same things as the grown-ups, but their appetites just can't handle adult serving sizes. Rather than wasting 3/4 of a burger, I make sliders for the kids. They LOVE these mini-burgers, and they enjoy topping them with their favorite veggies and condiments. If you're not into ground beef, you could certainly substitute with ground chicken, turkey, or even a blend of beans and spices for a crave-worthy veggie burger. Get creative! Cooking out should be fun!
3. Make Mealtime Ideal for Mingling
When we BBQ, we often find ourselves scrambling to find enough table room for everybody, especially if we are entertaining guests. One way to combat this issue is by offering guests more portable options for their meal, such as classic burger baskets and liners, as well as a self-serve beverage station. This allows people to easily wander our property with food in hand, chatting it up while enjoying their meal. Not to mention, burger baskets are adorable and have such a summery, retro feel.
When we BBQ, we often find ourselves scrambling to find enough table room for everybody, especially if we are entertaining guests. One way to combat this issue is by offering guests more portable options for their meal, such as classic burger baskets and liners, as well as a self-serve beverage station. This allows people to easily wander our property with food in hand, chatting it up while enjoying their meal. Not to mention, burger baskets are adorable and have such a summery, retro feel.
4. Just Add Water.
One thing we have found can be a challenge is keeping the kids away from the hot grill while it's in use. I am SUPER paranoid about accidental burns, so I always try to distract the kids and keep their attention as far away from the fire as possible. One great way to do this is to offer water play! For one, water will help kids stay cool in scorching summer heat. This can involve anything from a Slip N' Slide to a baby pool to an awesome inflatable water slide like the one seen above. Of course you will want to have an adult on "Kid Duty" to make sure that no water-related accidents occur. By adding water play, the kids will be excited and engaged, and your Grill-Master can cook in peace. It's a win-win situation.
One thing we have found can be a challenge is keeping the kids away from the hot grill while it's in use. I am SUPER paranoid about accidental burns, so I always try to distract the kids and keep their attention as far away from the fire as possible. One great way to do this is to offer water play! For one, water will help kids stay cool in scorching summer heat. This can involve anything from a Slip N' Slide to a baby pool to an awesome inflatable water slide like the one seen above. Of course you will want to have an adult on "Kid Duty" to make sure that no water-related accidents occur. By adding water play, the kids will be excited and engaged, and your Grill-Master can cook in peace. It's a win-win situation.
5. Keep Sensible Snacks On Hand.
When we BBQ, we often mingle and chat for a couple of hours before our main meal is served. We like to keep several nutritious, delicious snacks on hand for everyone to munch on. One of our absolute favorites are Fisher Nut Exactly Snack Bites.
The first snack of its kind, Fisher Nut Exactly is a combination of roasted almonds, blueberries, pumpkin seeds and whole grain popcorn, rolled into a bite sized snack that’s dipped in rich dark chocolate. Oh, and I should mention that these snacks contain absolutely no artificial preservatives.
These snacks come in a generously sized 20oz resealable package, which makes them ideal for get-togethers or even snacking on the go. These delicious, crunchy morsels are also gluten-free, which makes them a great choice for households that have gluten-restrictions in their diets.
How AMAZING does that sound?!
When we BBQ, we often mingle and chat for a couple of hours before our main meal is served. We like to keep several nutritious, delicious snacks on hand for everyone to munch on. One of our absolute favorites are Fisher Nut Exactly Snack Bites.
The first snack of its kind, Fisher Nut Exactly is a combination of roasted almonds, blueberries, pumpkin seeds and whole grain popcorn, rolled into a bite sized snack that’s dipped in rich dark chocolate. Oh, and I should mention that these snacks contain absolutely no artificial preservatives.
These snacks come in a generously sized 20oz resealable package, which makes them ideal for get-togethers or even snacking on the go. These delicious, crunchy morsels are also gluten-free, which makes them a great choice for households that have gluten-restrictions in their diets.
How AMAZING does that sound?!
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My family absolutely loves these sweet and savory treats. They have a very nice crunch, vibrant fruit flavor, and a hint of saltiness. This is balanced out by the sinfully decadent dark chocolate these babies are dipped in. Truly, these are the perfect snack. They're sure to please even the pickiest eaters, like my brood!
Fisher Nut Exactly Snack Bites in the Almond Blueberry dipped in Dark Chocolate variety is available exclusively at Costco retailers in the Midwest.
For more information about where to buy Fisher Nut Exactly, visit www.FisherNutExactly.com
You can also check them out on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions!
Fisher Nut Exactly Snack Bites in the Almond Blueberry dipped in Dark Chocolate variety is available exclusively at Costco retailers in the Midwest.
For more information about where to buy Fisher Nut Exactly, visit www.FisherNutExactly.com
You can also check them out on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions!
Enter to WIN :
I am thrilled to announce that one lucky reader will receive a Fisher Nut Exactly Prize Package that includes a 20oz bag of Nut Exactly Snack Bites and a $50 Costco Gift Card. (Membership is NOT required to use this card!)
How cool is that?!
How cool is that?!
This giveaway is open to US residents 18+ until 11:59PM EST July 16, 2015. No PO Boxes. Winners will be drawn using Rafflecopter's Random Number Generator. All entries will be verified, so play fair! I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, or Google in any way. If you have any questions, please e-mail Brandy at newlycrunchymamaof3@gmail.com Thanks for entering, and Good Luck!
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