Your Backyard Barbie Guide To Australia/Hottest 100 Day

Foolproof for good times.

On The BBQ

Prawns in shells, served with lemon. Gourmet sausages. Lamb cutlets. Marinated ribs. Corn wrapped in foil (serve with butter or go a little bit fancier and top with a bit of grated parmesan, cayenne pepper, paprika, mayo and lime). Fish wrapped in foil (with ginger, garlic, chilli, spring onion, lemon/soy sauce). Skewers (meat and/or veg) marinated in lemon juice and herbs, or honey soy/teriyaki/spicy barbecue/peanut sauce. Grilled pineapple and watermelon go well in a burger or sanga (or for dessert). Flat/portobello mushrooms and veg patties for veg alternative to meats. Tofu marinated overnight. You can bloody BBQ anything if you put your mind to it.  

Starters, Sides, Salads

For starters, puff/filo pastry triangles filled with whatever the hell you want. Also antipasto platters require no cooking whatsoever and are always a hit. Can't go past mango, avocado, chilli and prawn salad with coriander and your preferred lettuce. Roast some beetroot and carrot on the barbie (maybe pumpkin if you like) and chuck on top of some diced red onion and quinoa or brown rice; sprinkle fetta or goats cheese on top and finish with a honey balsamic dressing or a tahini-based dressing. Of course, you gotta do a potato salad; chives are a must.

Drinks

Besides the staple brewskies, cider and wine? Punch: goon'll do but splash out with some Aldi wine if you feel like a big dog, and add fruit juice, canned fruit in syrup, some soft drink if you want it sparkling. Fancy up some Solo (or homemade lemonade) by adding pitted cherries (they're nearly gone for the season!). Make your own iced tea (spike if you wish). Or just put cucumber/lemon/tomato slices/strawberries in water. Bring back Coke floats. 

Snacks N' Sweets

As many kinds of fruit on a plate as possible. Lightly salted nut mix. Homemade "Weis Bar": just layer Coles salted caramel and macadamia ice cream, mango sorbet, and vanilla ice cream. Your classic dips (homemade for bonus points) with your preferred dipping thing: bagel crisps, tortillas, chips, crackers, carrot and celery sticks. Make kale or sweet potato chips. Whizz up some fruity smoothies the day before (use coconut milk instead of cow for dairy-free alternative) and freeze them in icy pole moulds.