This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Mission®. All opinions are entirely my own.
As soon as the weather started to warm up this spring, I couldn’t wait to get our screened-in porch ready for summer entertaining. Hanging ferns from our flower stands, adding new pillows to our outdoor couches, and redesigning our potting bench were just a few of the ways that I decorated our main summer entertaining area.
Whether we’re hanging out as a family or entertaining guests during a summer barbeque, we love to turn on the music, relax on the comfortable seating, enjoy each other’s company, and snack on summertime recipes. When it comes to a summertime barbeque at home, we like to keep the menu simple (featuring Mission tortillas). Here are some of my favorite tips for a great barbeque.
5 Food Tips for Hosting a Summer Barbeque
1.) Have ingredients at the ready.
Now that the space is ready for guests, my mind immediately goes to: What ingredients should I keep in our kitchen and pantry to make simple barbeque recipes that guests will enjoy? Whether we have guests plan a visit or randomly pop in, I always want to feel prepared. Here are some of my favorite summertime recipe ingredients:
Tortillas
Let’s be honest, can every night be taco night? I love keeping tortillas on hand for easy weeknight and even weekend meals. From tacos to tostadas, you can toss some tortillas on the grill, crisp them up for added flavor, and fill them with all sorts of meats, cheeses, and veggies that your family and guests will love. Plus, you can easily fry up some tortillas and create chips.
Open my refrigerator and you’ll most likely find at least one package of Mission® Super Soft Corn Tortillas. Since pretty much everyone I know loves tacos, they are perfect for bringing my family and friends together for a meal everyone will enjoy. The product comes from Mission’s Maseca® corn flour, which is the highest quality corn flour available. The tortillas are incredibly soft and the ease of warming them up makes them versatile and easy to use in a variety of dishes and recipes. Another reason why I prefer this brand is because the corn tortillas are low-fat, with no lard and no cholesterol. Plus, they are gluten-free. The corn tortillas taste great, are made of high quality ingredients, and are versatile. What’s not to love?
You can visit the store locator on the Mission site to find Mission tortillas at stores near you, and find even more delicious tortillas recipes.
Avocados
From topping salad with avocado slices to making homemade guacamole, having avocados ready to use as a moment’s notice is a nice way to add flavor to any dish.
Canned Beans
Adding canned beans to a salad or serving them as a side dish is a great way to add some nutrition to the mix while also adding texture to the meal.
Cheese
Who doesn’t love cheese? Place chunks of cheese and wedges of cheese (be sure to include a knife for easy cutting) on a serving platter. Think about adding a mix of hard and soft cheeses. You can even add a spreadable cheese so that guests can easily enjoy.
Crackers
Serve a variety of crackers during your summertime barbeque. From breadsticks to flavored crackers, the possibilities are endless when it comes to adding a crunch factor to your serving platter. I recently came across rosemary flavored crackers that are my new favorite item to always have in our pantry.
Fresh Fruit
Add apple slices (squirt lemon juice over the apple slices to keep them from turning brown), a bunch of grapes, and/or slices of figs to a serving platter or bowl. Be sure to think colorful, rustic, and refreshing when trying to decide on what type of fruit to serve during a summertime barbeque.
Meat
We love to grill … and let’s just say the word “love” might be an understatement. We typically grill at least five nights out of the week. We have a whole shelf in our refrigerator dedicated to meat that we can toss on the grill any night of the week. From chicken to sausage, pork to steak, we love to mix up the variety every night of the week.
2.) Keep recipes simple.
As you know, I’m a firm believer that simple is best, especially during the warm summer months when you don’t want to be spending hours in the kitchen preparing food over a hot stove. Consider recipes that are easy to prepare, only require a few ingredients, and don’t require a lot of time spent in the kitchen.
3.) Keep the dining experience casual.
Create a charcuterie tray using the ingredients that you already have in your kitchen. Prepare finger food recipes that are easy for your guests to enjoy. Sitting down for a formal summertime meal might seem a bit on the stuffy side. Make the food easy to enjoy whether you’re hanging out on the porch or relaxing by the pool. Remember, simple is always best.
4.) Practice food safety.
If items need to be kept cold, be sure you place the serving platter on some ice. Store hot foods in an insulated container before serving. According to FoodSafety.gov, perishable food should not sit out for more than two hours. In hot weather (above 90 °F), food should never sit out for more than one hour.
5.) Add freshness to the menu.
As we all know, summertime is full of super hot days. Keep that in mind when considering food options. In other words, people would prefer to avoid hot soup on a hot day. Keep the menu items refreshing, light, and full or fresh ingredients to help people stay full yet comfortable on the hot summer days and evenings.
Grilled Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Mango Salsa and Chipotle Mayo
One of my favorite items to serve during a summertime barbeque are tacos since they always seem to be a big hit with guests. I recently experimented with taco fillings and came up with this recipe for Spicy Grilled Shrimp with Avocado Mango Salsa. The flavors and ingredients are perfect for a summertime barbeque and include many of the items that are normally found in my refrigerator and pantry.
- 10 Mission® Super Soft Corn Tortillas
- 1 7-ounce can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 1 lb of raw shrimp
- Salt and pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 limes
- 1/2 small head of green cabbage
- 1/2 small head of purple cabbage
- 2 mangos
- 2 avocados
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- Pour the can of chipotle peppers into a medium bowl. Take out two peppers and one tablespoon of the sauce from the can and place those into a food processor.
- Add the raw shrimp to the medium bowl of the chipotle peppers. To the shrimp bowl, add a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper. Add in the cinnamon and thyme. Toss to coat the shrimp. Allow the shrimp to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Make the Chipotle Mayo: Add one cup of mayonnaise and the juice from half a lime into the food processor with the two peppers and one tablespoon of sauce. Puree the mixture and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Slice the green cabbage and purple cabbage into thin slices. Place the slices into a bowl and toss the slices to mix.
- Make the Avocado Mango Salsa: Slice two mangos and two avocados into small chunks and place into a small bowl. Squeeze the juice from one lime into the bowl with the mango and avocado chunks. Add in the chopped cilantro leaves. Toss to coat. Season with salt to taste.
- Turn on the grill and keep it at medium heat. Place the shrimp on skewers and put the skewers on the grill. Grill for a few minutes on one side and then flip the skewers to grill the other side of the shrimp. Remove the skewers from the grill once the shrimp are fully cooked, take the shrimp off of the skewers, and place the shrimp into a bowl.
- Place the corn tortillas on the grill to warm them and slightly char them. Remove the corn tortillas from the grill and place them onto a plate.
- Assemble your tacos: Take one corn tortilla and form it into a taco shape. Place a few grilled shrimp along the bottom, top the shrimp with the sliced cabbage, top the cabbage with the Avocado Mango Salsa, and then top the taco with Chipotle Mayo.
What’s your favorite summertime barbeque recipe?
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