Get the Right Meat

Summer grilling is John's favorite pastime.  The barbecue was one of the first things he moved into the house (well, into the back yard.)  And he's gotten pretty particular about what he eats and how he grills it, and getting great product at great prices is really essential to hosting a successful summer party.  Did you know you can order meat online?  Yep!  He found out about this meat delivery service and now John is obsessed with Fareway Meat Market.  It's really high quality meat at a value price, and he refuses to get anything at the local grocery store anymore.

Everything is hand-cut and high quality, We got the Date Night Bundle, which included two 10 oz. Iowa Pork Chops, two 8 oz. America's Cut Boneless Pork Chops, and two 12 oz. Beef Ribeye Steaks.  We also got a pound of Butcher's Blend Ground Beef and four Premium Steak Burgers.  For this particular dinner, he grilled up the ribeye steaks and the burgers.  John's biggest tip on the grill?  Don't keep flipping!  Just cook things once per side.

Include Sides and Snacks

While the grilling is usually the main component of backyard get togethers, sides and snacks can't be overlooked.  We grill tons of vegetable kebobs and corn cobs, and guests often bring different salads and desserts.  I also like to make sure there are things to snack on before the main dishes are grilled up.  Chips are essential for snacking, at any event you host.  But popchips are great in particular for healthy snacking.  Popchips contain only real ingredients and are never fried, making it a great lighter option in the summer heat.

I think the barbeque was the universal favorite with it's hint of smoke, but I liked the zesty jalapeño cheddar since I prefer a little spice.  We served them all plain but it would be easy to make dips to match each flavor.  I'll keep it in mind for next time.

Don't Forget a Variety of Drinks

Everyone's first thought goes straight to the booze but you have to provide things to actually hydrate your guests in the heat.  So important to keep everyone safe!  Water is great of course, but I like to provide options, and iced tea goes so well with summer.  Particularly sweet tea, and Southern Breeze Sweet Tea has made that easier than ever.  It's cold brew tea, so you just steep a bag in cold water for 5 minutes, and then add ice.  Done!  Really, that's it.  The sweetener is already in the tea bag, and it's zero calories.

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