Fire Up the BBQ Grill

Memorial Day weekend is the traditional beginning of summer activities such as camping, swimming, boating, and outdoor cooking.

Whether you're cooking in the woods, on a beach, or in your own backyard, there are many advertising cookbooks to help you turn out the perfect outdoor meal.

The food companies seasonally publish cookbooks and booklets with recipes using many of the foods and ingredients usually associated with outdoor cooking: hot dogs, hamburgers, beef, pork, sausage, chicken, fish, mustard, mayonnaise, buns, marinades and barbecue sauce. Some of the popular outdoor summer desserts are cakes, pies, ice cream and fruit.

The companies that produce charcoal briquettes, aluminum foil, paper plates, plastic wrap and plastic food storage containers issue pamphlets and leaflets with recipes and serving ideas.

Today's outdoor cook has a wide variety of equipment choices:

Traditional barbecue pits
Gas or charcoal grills
Portable grills and stoves
Smokers
Fryers

The manufacturers of outdoor cooking appliances usually provide a recipe book along with the owner's manual and many offer full-length cookbooks associated with their brand name.

Backyard barbecues were very popular in the 1950's. Some of the vintage cookbooks from that era have plenty of ideas if you want to plan a retro 1950's party or a Hawaiian Luau. After you've planned your menu, you can shop at party stores for the theme decorations and matching serving ware.

Get out of the kitchen and light the fire. Summer's here!