Safely Cookout This Summer

The outdoor grill is a foodie’s heaven. It’s a creative laboratory where we can spice, season, and enliven old favorites into something fresh, new, and served deliciously hot.

If you’re like us, you look forward to cookout-weather every year. However, this is no ordinary summer. “Safe cookouts” take on a whole new meaning in 2020. To enjoy what is one of my favorite pastimes and possibly yours too, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:

Minimize shared items: With the one exception of what’s on the grill, the safest option is to have guests bring their drinks and food. Ask guests to bring their plates, cups, utensils, or use disposables only. Not the greenest option, but right now it’s the safest.

Minimize contact

• Don’t hug and shake hands. Remind the kids too that it’s best to wave and verbally greet their friends

• Limit those going in and out of areas where food is prepared Be extra cautious and serve items right off the grill so there’s no shared serving platter

• Have the outdoor bin handy so guests can throw out their garbage without you touching it

• Have paper towels, no hand towels, in the bathroom.

• Ask guests to use those paper towels to turn off faucets, flush the toilet, and reopen the bathroom door.

Stay distant and masked

• Keep it small. Some day we can get back to larger gatherings. Fewer people are best this year

• Set up seating 6 feet apart. Families can stay closer but non-family needs to stay apart

• When not eating, stay masked. Have a few extra on hand if someone shows up without one

• Plan for games where you can stay socially distanced: cornhole, sidewalk chalk, etc.

• Stay outdoors as much as possible.

For that one shared item: Chuck’s Famous Sliders

Through careful trial & error, a.k.a. our family’s critical taste buds, Chuck has perfected the most amazingly tasty slider. You will need:

• For the patties: Combine an equal amount of ground beef with ground brisket. Add salt and pepper to taste. Grill to your liking.

• For the Special Sauce: 1 cup mayo, 1 tbsp Sriracha, 1 tbsp honey, salt & pepper to taste

• Kings Hawaiian Rolls

Add on options:

• Candied Bacon: Lightly coat bacon slices with brown sugar and broil on low in oven approx. 4 min each side – watch closely!

• Deep-fried avocado slices: Slice 1/2 avocado into 3-4 slices. Dip in egg & water wash. Drag in ½ Panko + ½ bread crumb mix. Deep fry to your liking.

If you make these, let us know how they turn out!