Easily one of the reasons I love a summer in the Berkshires means I will be spending 99% of my time outside (or at least as close to that as possible). Which then means I have to find a way to make sure I’m outside as much as possible! Justify every single thing I’m doing to make sure I’m outside.
And BBQ is, of course, at the top of my list! Cooking is one of my absolute favorite hobbies, dear reader, and getting the chance to do it outside as much as possible is a top summer goal of mine.
(Quick side note: if you want great summer recipes, go check out Carla Lalli Music’s YouTube channel. Great recipes and advice always, but the grilling ones are just out of this world. I have been a fervent patreon subscriber of hers for years.)
So without further adieu, let’s talk all things backyard BBQ for any of your upcoming outdoor soirees or even just a quiet weeknight dinner with friends or family.
2022 Backyard BBQ Checklist
Candles, Illumination, The Bugs!
Illumination is going to be one of the first things you want to make sure you have squared away for any backyard bbq. Not just this time of year means beautiful finds on outdoor candles, but practically you’ll want an inviting environment for your friends coming to the bbq long after the sun goes down.
There’s also the benefits of citronella candles and warding off bugs (even though more recent research says otherwise). But if you want something with more of a punch, an all natural bug spray could be a great option (and this brand in particular, Living the EO Way, is available at The Shop!).
Backyard BBQ Means Backyard Beverages!
Okay, I promise I’ll get to the bbq part of a bbq, but we have to mention drinks! Especially when throwing an outdoor shindig together, there’s nothing quite like a cool beverage in the cool Berkshire early evening air as you watch the sun go down.
And days like that, at least for me, call for something incredibly refreshing. For example, the Juicy Lucy from Bright Ideas Brewing up in North Adams is perfect for those warmer days leading to cooler nights.
The Best Meat, Everytime
Noooow let’s talk actually grilling food. And if there’s one thing that you want to make sure is on your list this year, if there’s one thing I can for sure call a 2022 backyard bbq checklist essential, it’s a good meat thermometer. One that you can invest in, and that even isn’t asking for a lot monetarily.
And I do mean 2022, because this is the 21st century! Gone are the days where we needed to go by cheats with making sure our food was cooked. In the words of The Six Million Dollar Man, we have the technology!
Good Housekeeping released a great list on meat thermometers this year, but I would absolutely recommend the Meater wireless meat thermometer. With the use of an accompanying app, this thermometer can give you the perfect temperature read anytime for whatever you’re cooking.
And isn’t a paid plug for Meater, I’m just a foodie! This whole list is just a couple of favs in the Berkshires of what I love when making sure I’m having my best summer yet. Of course, I encourage you to do the same. What are some of your backyard bbq favorites?
