Tips To Help Celebrate National Barbecue Month
I have been compensated by Reser’s. All opinions are mine alone.
May is National Barbecue Month and marks the beginning of peak grilling season! Here in the Pacific Northwest, a little bit of sunshine gets everyone dragging out their grills from storage. Let’s talk about a few tips to help you gear up for summer grilling and celebrating one of my favorite food holidays!
But first, did you know there is a difference between ‘barbecue’ and ‘grilling’? If you are from the South, you know the answer to the question is…
Barbecue is low and slow; slow cooking, indirect heat, i.e. large cuts of meat. Grilling is hot and fast; high temperatures used for cooking meat quickly, i.e. hamburgers and veggies.
People who are serious about barbecue are quick to correct that barbecuing is not grilling. While you can throw meat and veggies on your outdoor grill, and invite the neighbors over for a barbecue, true barbecue cooking involves hours of work to get to the end product.
Whether you are barbecuing or grilling, take one more thing off your to-do list with Reser’s Deli Salads. Made from scratch using farm-fresh ingredients and time-tested recipes, find them in the deli section of your local Safeway, Albertsons/Safeway or Winco. They are ready-made sides for all your summer entertaining needs, just open and serve. But I won’t tell if you if you dish it in a bowl and pass it off as your own.
Check out the Garden Pasta, a zesty side salad with mini penne pasta, red bell pepper, sun dried tomatoes and shredded cheeses in a vinaigrette dressing. It is a great pairing with our tray of my favorite type of barbecue, Texas style barbecue! Growing up in Houston, it is my only acceptable type… 🙂
- Instead of a tablecloth, protect your table from messy spills with butcher paper. I’m all about one less thing to clean up.
- Line a large baking pan with parchment paper to absorb grease and sauce.
- Our pulled pork, dry-rub ribs, pork steak cuts and sausage are served with traditional garnishes of sliced pickles, onions and bbq sauce on the side.
- Don’t forget the rolls or sliced white bread, and baked beans, all must-haves.
- Grazing table style lets guests help themselves and cuts down on cleanup.
- Lined food baskets and wood utensils also means less dishes to wash and more time eating.
The Cheddar Bacon Pasta Salad is another tasty option; a creamy pasta salad guaranteed to be a BBQ favorite with real sharp cheddar cheese, onions, carrots and bits of bacon. My boys said it reminds them of potato salad.
Nothing says summer more than a DIY lemonade bar! Flavored drinks are always a crowd pleaser and with all the options, guests will have fun mixing and matching.
- Turn themed napkins into a quick garland by hanging them on twine or yarn with mini clothespins.
- Have a few pitchers of fresh lemonade, plastic cups, straws, and lots of ice.
- Serve several fruit-based flavors of syrup like blueberry, strawberry and raspberry.
- Make things easy for drink creativity by printing simple drink recipes on lemon clip-art cutouts.
- Don’t forget the garnishes from fresh fruit to herbs like mint and basil.
It is easy to create a great summer afternoon of barbecue with family or friends and Reser’s makes it even easier with delicious, ready-made sides. Be sure and add a few tubs to your basket on your next shopping trip.
Do you have any barbecue tips that helps you save a step or two?
