welcome to the Great American Barbecue!

everything you need from drinks to dessert for the perfect BBQ!  {and a $130 Amazon giveaway to help you plan!}

The Great American Barbecue - Everything You Need from Drinks to Dessert for the Perfect BBQ

So excited to be at this virtual BBQ with some of my favorite blog friends! The Great American Barbecue is a virtual potluck hosted by 13 fabulous bloggers to bring you wonderful picnic recipes and ideas. I have been drooling and pinning away just looking at these, and now I’m ready to throw another party! We’ve taken all the work out of planning a fabulous BBQ for you including drinks, appetizers, meats to grill, side dishes and desserts.  We even included an easy DIY utensil caddy and a fun outdoor activity for the kids. If that’s not enough, we’re also giving away a $130 Amazon Gift Card at the end of the party so one lucky winner can buy any remaining supplies you might need to throw your party!

My good friend Angela and I brought the main dishes, and everything looks amazing. I hope you enjoy!

Refreshing Drinks to Welcome Your Guests

Whether your guests arrive from across town, out of town or from the house next door, the first thing a good host always does is offer them a cool, refreshing beverage.

Make Ahead Lemon Berry Slush - One Krieger Chick
Make Ahead Frozen Lemon Berry Slush {adult and kid versions}

Brought to you by:

Ariean from One Krieger Chick

Ariean from One Krieger Chick

Get more great ideas like this when you follow her on:
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Google+ / Instagram

Fresh Fruit Ice Cubes - Oh My! Creative

Fresh Fruit Ice Cubes

Brought to you by:

Susan from Oh My! Creative

Susan from Oh My! Creative

Get more great ideas like this when you follow her on:
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Google+ / Instagram

Get the Party Started with Appetizers

With a beverage in hand, your guests will need something to munch on while the main dish is cooking on the grill.

Bruschetta with Whipped Feta and Grilled Crostini - This Silly Girl's Life

Bruschetta with Whipped Feta and Grilled Crostini

Brought to you by:

Dana from This Silly Girl's Life

Dana from This Silly Girl’s Life

Get more great ideas like this when you follow her on:
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Google+ / Instagram

Rosemary Parmesan Focaccia - The Grant Life

Rosemary Parmesan Focaccia

Brought to you by:

Kelley from The Grant Life

Kelley from The Grant Life

Get more great ideas like this when you follow her on:
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Google+ / Instagram

The Main Event – Fresh from the Grill

What would a barbecue be if you didn’t have meat to throw on the grill? For the Great American Barbecue, we’ve got two fabulous options for you!

Fall Off the Bone BBQ Ribs - Handmade in the Heartland

Fall Off the Bone BBQ Ribs

Brought to you by:

Angela from Handmade in the Heartland

Angela from Handmade in the Heartland

Get more great ideas like this when you follow her on:
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Instagram

Chipotle Lime Chicken Skewers with Avocado Ranch - Color Me Meg

Chipotle Lime Chicken Skewers with Avocado Ranch

Brought to you by:

Meg from Color Me Meg

Meg from Color Me Meg

Get more great ideas like this when you follow her on:
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Instagram

Perfect Potluck Side Dishes

A barbecue always needs a few great side dishes to accompany the main meal. We’ve got pasta, potatoes and a green salad all ready for the making!

Easy Macaroni Salad: Classic Summer Potluck Recipe - Kenarry.com

Easy Macaroni Salad

Bought to you by:

Carrie from Kenarry: Ideas for the Home

Carrie from Kenarry: Ideas for the Home

Get more great ideas like this when you follow her on:
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Google+

Best Strawberry Spinach Salad from Play. Party. Pin.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Brought to you by:

Britni from Play. Party. Pin.

Britni from Play. Party. Pin.

Get more great ideas like this when you follow her on:
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Google+ / Instagram

Grilled Twice Baked Potatoes from The Best Blog Recipes

Grilled Twice Baked Potatoes

Brought to you by:

Shauna from The Best Blog Recipes

Shauna from The Best Blog Recipes

Get more great ideas like this when you follow her on:
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Google+ / Instagram

Delicious Crowd-Pleasing Desserts

How many of you head straight for the dessert table when you get to a barbecue? With desserts like these, it’s easy to see why.

Oreo White Chocolate Chip Cookies from Belle of the Kitchen

Oreo White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Brought to you by:

Ashlyn from Belle of the Kitchen

Ashlyn from Belle of the Kitchen

Get more great ideas like this when you follow her on:
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Google+ / Instagram

Strawberry Lemonade Bars from Made to Be a Momma

Strawberry Lemonade Bars

Brought to you by:

Katie from Made to Be a Momma

Katie from Made to Be a Momma

Get more great ideas like this when you follow her on:
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Instagram

Serving Your Guests in Style

Once you’ve got the food prepared and set up along your buffet, you’ll need to make the silverware easily accessible for your guests. Here’s an easy way to do that with something you already have on hand!

Upcycled Utensil Caddy from View from the Fridge

Upcycled Utensil Caddy

Brought to you by:

Katie from View from the Fridge

Katie from View from the Fridge

Get more great ideas like this when you follow her on:
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Google+ / Instagram

A Fun Activity for the Kids

No detail has been spared as we planned the perfect barbecue for you. We even have a fun game for the kids that’s easy to make!

Tin Can Toss Game from Crafts by Courtney

DIY Kids Tin Can Toss Game

Brought to you by:

Courtney from Crafts by Courtney

Courtney from Crafts by Courtney

Get more great ideas like this when you follow her on:
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Google+

Enter to Win an Amazon Gift Card

We’ve tried to think of everything from drinks to desserts for the perfect Great American Barbecue, but now’s your chance to win a $130 Amazon gift card so you can buy all the supplies you need.

The Great American Barbecue - Everything You Need from Drinks to Dessert for the Perfect BBQ

Giveaway Rules:The prize has been sponsored by the hosts of the Great American Barbecue. No purchase necessary. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM ET on September 2, 2014. All entrants must provide a valid e-mail address and be 18 years old. The giveaway is open worldwide. One lucky winner will be randomly chosen from among the entrants and notified via e-mail. The winner has 48 hours to respond via e-mail to claim the prize or another winner will be selected. The $130 Amazon gift card will be issued via e-mail by Carrie at Kenarry: Ideas for the Home. The hosts and their immediate family members are not eligible to win. Odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Please read the complete terms and conditions on the Rafflecopter form. If you have any questions, please contact Carrie at ideas at kenarry dot com before entering the giveaway. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What’s your favorite dish to bring to a backyard barbecue?