The sun is shining, the ribs are marinating, the flags are fluttering, and, across the country, families are readying their backyards for the cookout of the year.Of course, with just a few short days to prepare, you may be wondering how to best pull off a 4th of July party that’s befitting for the big day. Never fear: a quick, easy (and most importantly, glamorous!) party to celebrate our nation’s founding is just a few steps away.
Choose Your Cookout With Care
Quick-cooking barbecue fare is the heart and soul of a crowd-pleasing backyard bash. Who likes sitting around as the afternoon wanes, waiting for the huge rack of ribs or three-inch ribeyes to come off the grill? Never fear–instead, choose quick-cooking cuts such as thin pork chops or pounded chicken breasts, to keep the queue moving with piping-hot entrees for everyone. Since these cuts are a little less forgiving than their weightier counterparts, make sure to keep an extra-careful eye out for doneness, and consider a dunk in juice-preserving brine beforehand. Many summer vegetables, such as eggplant slices, cobs of corn, or zucchini planks also cook up in a snap. If you’re going the traditional burger route, shape the patties in petite 3- to 4-ounce portions as opposed to thick half-pounders. Not only will you get extra mileage out of your ground beef, but hungrier guests can stack them as high as they like — who doesn’t love a classic American double cheeseburger?
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