One of the things I love about summer is the chance to attend or throw BBQ dinners. They're casual, comfortable, full of good food, usually good company and there's no real WRONG way to do one if you decide to host one. As long as you have a grill, food, and someone able to use both at the same time... You're golden! My girls and I got my husband one of those big barrel shaped grills for fathers day. It's huge, heavy, has shelves and even a convenient little temperature gauge on door to let you know when you're good to start cooking... He loves it and he is THE cook when it comes to grilling.. Well this grill chef of mine decided it would be a good idea to host a BBQ dinner tonight (2 days ago he decided this..) and it's Friday.. I get that the summer season is coming to a close and it would be nice to get a few friends together and cook out so I said sure why not.. My husband mans the grill... that his what HE will do to contribute to this night.. I mean that's the basis of a good cook out.. THE FOOD! If the food gets charred, is undercooked or is simply NOT GOOD... Yikes... That's what gets remembered as a bad BBQ... And yes, even though all he has to do is cook, that is what will be remembered... Meanwhile... Here is what I have the joy of doing... Moving the picnic table and chairs in a comfortable spot, confirm the people on the invite list, move the grill up from the basement (we live in the city and it's a NICE grill that someone probably wouldn't feel bad about taking.. precautions..), make a grocery list, BUY the groceries, prep the food, get ice for drinks, take out all the necessary table trimmings such as utensils, plates, napkins, sauces and other condiments, sides, etc., put the fan outside.... Yeah... Then he will take the already ready food, cook it, serve it, people will love it, get stuffed and thank him for all the work he has done... HA! Yesterday I took the liberty of moving the outdoor furniture so it would be one less thing I would have to screw with today and this morning I took the baby out to go get all the groceries... There will be a few people that I myself have never met meaning that I don't know what they like and don't like so it's either go minimal.. TRY to go safe.. or just get EVERYTHING. As I went around the store loading my cart with water, Pepsi, Mt. Dew, Coke, Sprite (that clueless yet usually safe variety), different salads, beer, hot dogs, buns, two giant packs of chicken, bottles of BBQ sauce, paper plates, napkins, wet naps, 18 ears of corn, chips, and pies, all I could think to myself is that if people bailed and decided NOT to come tonight... I just might go to jail! I struggled to make the last few turns seeing as my cart was so overloaded and HEAVY. The highlight was that my baby was sitting and smiling very happily taking all kinds of compliments from various people.. That little joy lasted until I made it to the checkout... yikes. Again, if they decide to not show... they better plan on staying IN for a while... I finally make it home, unload all of the crap from my car and decide I've earned a little bit to just SIT down and enjoy some lunch... I feed the baby, eat my lunch, get her ready for a nap and go out to where everything still sat in bags on the counter... There was SO much to do... I say there was like I actually did it already... I have not.. I decided to write this out first... ;) So with all of this stuff out in the open now, I will go and take care of everything and proceed to get ready for tonight... I will post onto this one once it's all said and done.. We will probably get a joint "Thanks guys!" but.. we'll see... Wish me luck and happy Friday!!!! -Super Mom
After the BBQ..........
After I took care of everything and an hour had gone by, I started to prepare the chicken and corn. My husband made it home about 45 minutes before the cook out was supposed to start. Everything was ready to go and it was up to him to start the grill and start cooking once we got closer... He told me that this thing was supposed to start around 6... 6 came.. then 6:15.. 6:35.. People started showing up here and there and the last guy staggered in around 7:15. It's a good thing I had everything READY! :/ My husband started cooking, everyone was around talking and starting with drinks and it was finally kicking off after hours of getting ready for it. The food was delicious and it was good to finally relax and enjoy it all. Best of all... once the compliments started, my wonderful husband didn't hesitate to say that he only cooked and it was me who did EVERYTHING else.. Awe... I must say, after all that.. it was nice to receive a little thanks! The scattered conversations, random shots and quite a few laughs lasted a few hours which I have to admit made it worth all the trouble. For the most part anyway. ;) I guess I'd be willing to do it all again. Not anytime SOON of course.. But maybe some day! Have a fun Saturday!!! Who knows, I could be back with a new story later! :) -Super Mom
Sounds about right! If only the cook could help with prep! Cleanup is almost as much fun!
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