Rachael Ray

Who doesn’t love a backyard barbecue? Seriously, I don’t think you could find one person who doesn’t. It’s not just the food, although, who could turn that down? It’s the relaxing chill-out factor that barbecues impart. When you can hang out with your family and friends, take your shoes off and stick them in the grass, graze on food all day and bop around with a cocktail to some fun music.

So I am excited to post my first BBQ/Outdoor party planning tips of the summer.

Setting the Table

No need to set up the table for in informal buffet style BBQ, what I like to do is get a bunch of cloth napkins, sometimes I even use inexpensive bandanas because I LOVE the colors that they come in, I can get them for $.99 each (sometimes cheaper) and once they get too tattered they make fun rags.

Try this super easy napkin fold to tuck your silverware into little rolls which you can set up in a basket at the front of your food assembly line. I prefer to use real silverware, they are not that big of a deal to throw in the dishwasher and it saves the environment. If you use plastic try to rinse them and recycle them, if possible.

- Put the napkin face down in front of you

- Fold the napkin in half diagonally

- Flip the napkin so the longest side is facing you, then stack the silverware and place it on the inner edge of the long side

- Fold both of the sides in and over the silverware

- Tightly roll the silverware into the napkin

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- Ta Da!

Centerpiece

For a large gathering there is really no room on the table for fancy and elaborate centerpieces, instead every square inch of the table is usually crammed with trays of delicious foods. So go create a centerpiece that is fun but functional.

I like to put my condiments on a tray that can be easily picked up and moved around. You can nestle in some flowers in simple glasses. Then put that tray in the center of the table and surround it with other essentials.  I love to put out candy (make sure it doesn’t melt easily), surprise, surprise, everyone loves candy! And in clear jars,like mason jars they can look great.

The Vibe

Try to include color whenever possible. Nothing says fun like bright summery colors and when you go bold people respect it, even when they think it’s a little crazy.

For the tablecloth I usually use a piece of oilcloth, like a vinyl tablecloth these are super durable, easy to wipe off or hose down and then you can fold em and store them, easy as that but they come in awesome outrageous patterns. I buy them right off the bolt at the fabric store and cut them to size (I don’t even worry about the unfinished edges, no one notices!0. When I store my vinyl tablecloths I usually put a little dash of baby powder in with them. I find that this keeps them from getting sticky and gross while they are waiting for next summer.

Try a piece of good ‘ol craft paper if you don’t want to use a tablecloth, I like to secure it to a wood table with thumbtacks, that way folks can draw until the food is ready. Hunger really kicks your creativity into high gear!

If you are having an inter-generational gathering, lil’ kiddies to grandmas and grandpas, one thing that I love to do is set up a bunch of classic games, it’s a great opportunity to show kids that you play games without being staked out in front of the TV. If you’ve got a lawn, set up horseshoes, croquet, even badminton.  And if you have a large-scale gingham or checkerboard tablecloth you can even play chess or checkers right on it, all you need are the pieces!

Then bring some cool prizes and award a winner at the end of the BBQ. After a couple of cocktails watching grandma try her hands at horseshoes is always a hoot.

Check out more of Backyard BBQ Party tips in the June/July issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray, I even have a recipe online for my favorite summer cocktail, Vodka Watermelons!

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photo credit: Michael Edwards