At some point over the holiday weekend, you likely will be around a barbecue. So before you have everyone over or head to visit with family and friends, we have some cool ideas for you to try at your 4th of July cookout or your next barbecue.
First, let's start with grilling. Forget the barbecue sauce or prepackaged Italian dressing! Here's a simple two ingredient marinade for you. Take 7Up and mix it with soy sauce. Who would have thought? This is a family recipe shared by our Associate Producer, Rachel Sweet and her family swears by it. It will give your meat a fresh salty flavor and you can add different ingredients to take it up a notch. Try things like, onion, garlic or other spices. This two ingredient marinade will give you a great start!
Next, a simple onion can take care of two things with the grill. After the grill is pre-heated, halve an onion, stick a fork in the top of it and use the cut side to clean the grill. It will take off old residue and it will also help make your grill non-stick.
Also, want to make sure your meat doesn't dry up? Grab some apple juice and a spray bottle. Throughout the cooking process, spray your meat periodically to improve color, flavor and tenderness of your meat.
You’re guaranteed to have beverages at the barbecue so we have some hacks for that, as well. First, if you want to chill a warm beverage quickly: Take a big bowl, fill it with ice and then put your beverage in the middle. Then pour salt over the ice and fill the bowl with water. Your drink should be cold in about 10 to 15 minutes. How easy is that?
Speaking of chilling, here are two other frozen ideas for your wine. Instead of using ice cubes, try using frozen grapes to keep your wine cool. Or, another option instead of using ice, try filling an ice cube tray full of your favorite wine and freeze for about four hours. Then when you pour a glass of wine use your "wine cubes" to chill your drink instead of watering it down.
And if you want to chill out with a glass of water, try this idea from our intern Diamond Henry! Pour boiling water in a mason jar with some of your favorite frozen fruit and let it sit overnight. Then when you're ready to drink it, strain the water into a glass and you have fresh flavored, infused water.
Happy barbecuing!