Family and friends get together often for a birthday party or even an after-wedding bash. In such get-together, an ideal delicacy is a garden barbecue.
Barbecue (also barbeque, BBQ and barbie) is a cooking method and apparatus.
However, the word barbecue is also used to refer to a social gathering where food is served, usually outdoors in the late afternoon or evening. Meat, fish or other food is cooked outdoors on a rack over an open fire or on a special appliance during such gathering.
Most barbecues are held in the afternoon or early evening as the party drifts toward evening.
In organising a low cost garden barbecue, these few tips will do.
*Call, text or send invitations to your guests.
*Plan your menu, whether you want a chicken barbecue, fish barbecue, beef barbecue or turkey barbecue.
*Plan your drinks. Since it is hot, everyone will be drinking something most of the time. For non-alcoholic drinks, it is economical to have some chilled cold water and a variety of other beverages. For alcoholic drinks, beer is standard, but wine and punches such as cognac and Irish cream are still okay.
*Since most barbecues are done in the presence of the guests, you can serve appetisers while they wait. Among the economical meal to serve that purpose are small chops which include spring rolls, samosa, puff-puff and gizzard or diced chicken. Remember that the small chops are served with disposable plates.
*Most of the time, people prefer sitting on the ground to chairs and tables at a garden party.
*Meanwhile, it is also important to plan a game or other side attractions to keep people lively and joyful.
*The guests are not expected to entertain themselves with music; therefore get a professional disc jockey (DJ) ready.
Preparing the barbecue and giving it that unique touch, a lot of people do not get their barbecue right because they fail to do the most important thing: tenderise.
Tenderising is the process of making meat or fish spineless and tender; this will make it soak well in the barbecue sauce.
In preparing the barbecue sauce, ketchup, water, vinegar, brown sugar, fresh ground black pepper, onion, ground mustard, garlic, ginger and lemon juice are needed. All the ingredients are combined in a sauce pan and the mixture is boiled. The mixture is cooked uncovered with frequent stirring before applying on the meat.
While barbecue sauce is cooking, tenderise the beef, chicken, beef, turkey or pork to be used for thr barbecue, by beating it with a tenderiser.
In preparing the grill, experts always go for a charcoal grill because it burns hot, seals in juice, and adds aroma to the barbecue.
Place the grill at a view of your guest. Soak the chicken/turkey/beef/pork in the cooled sauce; then place it on the grill appropriately while you serve the small chops.
You can have a little decoration or playground if you have children around, so you do not have to bore the younger ones.