Smokers Another way to get that trademark charcoal flavor is with a smoker— the grill of grills for barbecue enthusiasts. If you opt for a smoker, make sure you plan well in advance of your party, since smokers are the original slow cooker! The long wait is worth it, however — the lengthy low and slow smoking method delivers an absolutely mouthwatering flavor that your guests won’t have every day! Myriad recipes abound online, whether you’re smoking a pork shoulder or a whole coho salmon, so get researching and start practicing your technique well before Memorial Day — your household won’t mind testing the results!
Wood Pellet Grills If you want to add smoky flavor to your Memorial Day spread but don’t want to mess with charcoal, go with a wood pellet grill. Combining the flexibility and flavor of a charcoal grill and smoker with the convenience of a gas grill, wood pellet grills are all the rage, and understandably so. The grill’s large metal bin, or “hopper” heats up and ignites wood pellets, which create heat and smoke and add distinct deliciousness to your food. With the grill’s thermostat, you can set the heat on this electric grill to a precise temperature and let the grill do the rest — it will automatically add wood pellets and ignite them as needed, so you can tend to your guests while the grill cooks up delicious fare. While definitely a more expensive grill (some models even feature Wi-Fi), they are worth the splurge if you’re looking to seriously ramp up fun and flavor for your holiday shindig.
which guidelines will be in place at your gathering, whether you’ll be providing hand sanitizer and disposable masks, pre-made plates of food, or whether they’ll need to bring anything. Make it fun, like an ‘ugly picnic blanket’ party —whoever brings the ugliest blanket wins a bottle of wine! Remember that Memorial Day is about celebrating the ones we’ve lost and the ones we’re lucky to have in our lives — remind your guests that you care! Food and Drink. If you’re staying on the safer side, opt to make pre-made food plates or containers for your guests. A good idea is to pre-assemble containers with your barbecue side dishes — salads, chips, baked beans, etc. — and serve your guests your grilled dishes one by one. You can also pre- make large batches of cocktails such as sangria, martinis, or family-friendly drinks like punch or lemonade and keep several glasses chilled and ready to serve. Use disposable plates, cups, utensils, napkins and bags, and have trash cans readily available. Better yet, ask people to bring their own drinks and vessels, and you’ll cover the rest.
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