| ENTERTAINMENT |

Light the grill!

By Nicole Harding

If you look outside right now, chances are you'll notice something drastically different than a month or two ago.   Look closely, what do you see?   Happy and smiling people everywhere!   Winter woes melt away as the sun warms our spirits.   Summer is officially here and it's time to laugh, play and celebrate the end of your winter hibernation.   And what better way to celebrate than to invite your loved ones over for an official summer barbeque?   Recent graduations, birthdays, anniversaries and an upcoming 4th of July also serve as great excuses to indulge in the grilled foods you've been fantasizing about all winter!

Of course, the first thing you need to think about is how big you want your grilling extravaganza to be.   If you have a big yard, consider inviting more people.   Think about how much your party will cost you if you'll need to supply extra chairs, tables or eating utensils.   Plan your menu out - will you keep it casual with hot dogs and hamburgers, or are you longing to indulge in grilled shrimp and steaks?  

Typical summer BBQ foods include hamburgers, grilled chicken, steaks, seafood, ribs, potato, coleslaw, beans, and chili.   If you're planning more of a 4th of July grilling party, satisfy your appetite with grilled chicken, hot dogs, grilled corn, potato salad and good ol' American pie.   I don't know about you, but I'm feeling hungry just thinking about it!   For easy replenishing, place your food near the kitchen and have a few coolers outside for drinks and ice.

When you're busy playing the grilling king or queen, don't forget the importance of food safety.   If you want to try grilling fish steaks, make sure that the scales are bright and shiny and the flesh is firm, odorless and free of discoloring.   Many people don't know this, but ground meat deteriorates faster than regular meat.   If you've made some juicy hamburgers, make sure you've kept them cold before cooking.   Nothing will make you feel worse than sending your guests home with a healthy serving of food poisoning.   You should always marinate your food in the fridge and have two brushes handy, one for raw meat and another for cooked meat.   If you're planning on re-using your marinade as a sauce, you'll have to heat it to a boiling point to kill any nasty bacteria.   Trim excess fat from meat to prevent grease splattering and invest in a pair of long-handled BBQ tools that will keep you burn-free.

If you decide to have a professional caterer do the grilling, always try to choose one that has been personally recommended by friends or family.   If you just can't seem to find a good reference, then you will have to turn to the yellow pages.   Check to make sure that the caterer has the proper food and safety licenses and make sure to ask for a contract.   The contract should tell you the exact services they will be providing for you - will they be present the whole way through the party, or just dropping off the food?   If they're going to be at your party, will they serve the food, keep it constantly replenished and also clean up?   Finding these things out before hand will avoid any last-minute surprises and will also keep you stress-free.

What other things should you prepare for besides the food?   The first thing is the arrival of big (or little) bad bugs.   Make a point to buy a few bottles of spray insect repellent for your guests and light insect fighting candles around food and seating areas.   If you don't like the idea of having the aroma of candles or pesticides around your food, try buying a few small mint or garlic plants.   Mint and garlic plants are known to discourage the arrival of pesky flying creatures.   If you're pestered with bad ant problems, try placing ant stakes around the area you'll be in.  

The second important thing to prepare for is really, really hot weather.   Protect your guests from heat stroke by putting up large umbrellas, canopies or supplying hand-held fans.   And of course, don't be stingy with ice cold drinks!   If you really can't stand the idea of getting hot and sweaty, schedule your BBQ for either before or after midday.   Midday is when the sun is at its hottest point and gives off the most harmful UV rays.

The last thing to think about is keeping kids entertained - that way your adult guests can really enjoy themselves!   Set up sprinklers that kids can run through, have little toy squirt guns handy and keep a good supply of water balloons.   If you don't like the idea of soaking wet kids running around your yard or house, there's always the traditional potato sack race and egg toss!   Don't get too wrapped up in the mess that kids can make - the whole point of your party is to enjoy the foods you've missed with the people you love!

TIPS:  

It takes about an hour for beer or wine to chill on ice, but in the fridge it can take up to 3 to 4 hours!  

Lemon juice or tomato-based marinades can react badly with metal pans, so store your food in glass or plastic dishes.  

Nicole Harding is a Freelance Writer living in Malden, Massachusetts.   Readers with entertainment questions should send emails to nicolewharding@ gmail.com .