Many of us get tired of winter – the cold dark days, the gray landscape, and the feeling of being enclosed. Here’s a fun idea to help you get out of the blases of winter. Have a barbecue party! Here are some ideas to help you move on. BBQ and picnic traditions vary from family to family and region to region, so adapt these ideas to appeal. you crowd.
- Serve foods on the grill (obvious!). You really can BBQ outdoors in winter, even in the coldest climates, but you may not want to. First, it will take someone to stand out in the cold to grill, and second, the food will get cold on its way from the grill to the house. Instead, consider using your rotisserie or indoor grill for “broiling.” Or buy pre-cooked barbecue foods at your grocery store, discount retailer, or local restaurant. If your group is small, you can even grill hot dogs on sticks in the fireplace.
- Decorate for a picnic. Use a checkered tablecloth and place some random seashells on the table. You can buy shells at craft stores if you don’t have any lying around. Use casual dinnerware or paper plates, and don’t forget extra napkins!
- Serve side dishes that you usually have only in summer or that you normally serve with picnics. This varies greatly from place to place and from group to group. In the Northeast, you can include macaroni or potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob (available in the frozen food section), and lemonade.
- For dessert, think of “s’mores” (graham cracker, toasted marshmallow, and candy bar), ice cream, fruit tarts, or whatever calls you “summer.”
- For drinks, beer always goes well with barbecue, but serve whatever you and your guests like.
- Turn up the thermostat, just for this couple of hours, and invite your guests to wear short sleeves. Children in particular will enjoy being able to wear shorts or a sundress in the dead of winter.
- Put on some summer party music. Go retro with The Beach Boys: Nothing says summer like “Surfin ‘Safari.”
- Place photos of summer scenes, beaches and sun. Or have the children make suns out of yellow construction paper and place them throughout the party area.
- Most adults will be more comfortable at a table, but will have blankets laid out for the children to have a picnic “on the floor.”
- Invite guests to bring a favorite picnic recipe to share, or steer the conversation to your guests’ favorite memories of a summer picnic or barbecue.
- Keep it simple and easy. Remember that the atmosphere you are looking for is “laid back and carefree”. Consider asking your guests to bring side dishes, drinks, or desserts, as they would at a family picnic in the summer.
- Enjoy this summer while you wait for spring to arrive!
