Every American child soon learns that the first official day of summer is not June 21 — it's Memorial Day. What better way to kick off the outdoor season than by hosting a Memorial Day barbeque for your friends, family, or neighbors? While there are many ways to celebrate Memorial Day ranging from parades featuring Little League teams and baton twirlers to solemn graveside ceremonies honoring fallen veterans, most celebrations culminate in a festive Memorial Day cookout, celebrating the arrival of warm weather. Read on to learn how to plan a Memorial Day cookout with patriotic flair!
Step 1: Consider Having a Memorial Day Block Party
You may want to consider turning your cookout into a Memorial Day block party. Many busy people barely know their neighbors these days; organizing a Memorial Day block party can help you get acquainted. You can host the party in one person's yard, or apply to your town for a permit to close off the street. each family can bring their own meat to grill, and you can divide up the side dishes, paper goods, dessert, and beverages as you would for a pot luck.
Betty's Memorial Day Onion Burgers Recipe
This video posted by YouTube user bettyskitchen shows how to make Onion Burgers that are an ideal recipe for a Memorial Day cookout. Betty suggests K.C. Masterpiece barbecue sauce as an added ingredient to the mixture. The other ingredients are ground beef and an envelope of onion soup and dip mix. Betty also suggests side dishes such as her Barbecue Bean Bake and Homestyle Memorial Day Potato Salad.
Step 2: Plan Your Memorial Cookout Guest List
- Hosting an outdoor event generally allows you to invite more people than an indoor dinner party. of course, you can have an intimate cookout for just your immediate family, but consider casting a wide net and inviting friends and family that you haven't had a chance to see during the winter. If you have children, make sure you invite guests who also have children around the same age, or allow your kids to invite a few of their friends.
Step 3: Plan Your Memorial Day Cookout Menu
The grill is a central feature of any cookout, so make sure yours is big enough to handle the amount of meat you'll need to prepare. To allow you time to socialize, have the side dishes and desserts perpared ahead of time, so operating the grill will be the only last-minute task.
Step 4: Plan Memorial Day Cookout Activities
- If you live down south, you may already have your pool open and operating, so you'll be ready for water fun and games. Other great activities you may want to consider for a Memorial Day cookout include:
If your cookout continues after dark, have a supply of containers on hand for the children to catch fireflies, and make sure you have enough sparklers for everyone!
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Fast Facts
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Plan your cookout well in advance to make sure you have all your ingredients.
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Consider what dishes would go best with your meal.
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Consider a "potluck" cookout to ease the burden of hosting.
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Use simple but festive decorations
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Make sure you have enough propane/charcoal for your grill
