3 Super Easy Recipes for Your Summer BBQ

I love putting together simple and easy recipes for parties, so here are three - for those of you who aren't experts when it comes to cooking. There is one of each for you to make at your summer get-together. There is a shopping list in the beginning, that way you can simply print this out and already have the ingredients to the recipes right in front of you at the supermarket! Just cross off and eliminate what you already have at home in your cabinets, for you will not need to buy them if you already have them! These are also very affordable things to buy, so you will be savings a lot of money for these three recipes for your BBQ Party!

In this recipe trio, you will be making Deli Style Hoagie Dip as an appetizer, Sizzlin' Steak Skewers for the entree', and Double Chocolate Oreo Balls for dessert!

Shopping List for Your BBQ

Vegetables

1 Head of Lettuce

2 Tomatoes

2 Zucchinis (One of Each Color)

4 Peppers (2 Green, 2 Red)

5 Onions

Minced Garlic (Fresh Or In A Jar)

Meat

1 lb. of Turkey Lunch meat

1 lb. of Ham Lunch meat

1 lb. of American Cheese

1 lb. Bologna

1 lb. Sirloin Steak (Cubed If They Have It)

Condiments

Oil

Salt & Pepper

Sugar

Mayo

Lemon Juice

Worcestershire Sauce

2 Packs Cream Cheese

Etc.

1 Pack of Oreo Cookies

1 Bag Chocolate Morsels/Melt-able Chocolate (The Big Sized Ones)

2 French or Baguette Breads (The Smaller Width, the Better)

1 Pack of Skewers

Ready?
Okay, so now that you have everything, first things first, soak your skewers in water until you are ready to line them up with your meat and vegetables. This is a little trick done when grilling with skewers, it's done so that the skewers don't burn and go up in flames at your BBQ - good idea, wouldn't you say? Now, I always like to get all of my cutting out of the way. Save the meat for last, for sanitation purposes of course. Remember to never cut meat on a wooden board, unless absolutely necessary. This is recommended because even if cleaned very thoroughly, the meat can still be embedded in the wooden cutting board, and cause contamination to your other foods. Again, another kitchen tip of mine I have learned through cooking. First, cut your bread in miniature sized rounds. Now, for your vegetables, cut the lettuce in shreds, tomatoes in miniature cubes, then zucchini, and peppers also in 1/2 inch pieces. Now, make sure to wash the vegetables thoroughly and also wash your cutting board and surface.

Now, cut your cheese into 1/4 inch squares, and do the same with the rest of your lunch meats - it should look like a bunch of tiny square of lunch meat when you are finished. Wash your cutting board again, and now cut your steak into 1-inch thick cubes. As for the dessert recipe items, crush up your whole bag of Oreos, and divide them - 1/4 of the bag in one bowl, and the other 3/4 in another bowl. That's about as much work as you can do for now, so let's get cooking!

Now we will start with our entree since it needs to be marinated, are you ready for how easy these recipes are going to be? I am going to put them in the simplest form of English as I can!

First, let's marinade the meat. Throw your steak, 2 Tbsp. Oil, 1/2 Tsp. Salt and Sugar, 1 Tsp. Lemon Juice, 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce, and a couple dashes of hot sauce (depending on how spicy you want the steak) into a Zip Lock baggie, seal, shake, and marinade for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator, depending on how much time you have to let it sit. Remember, the longer - the better.

Now, as your steak is marinading in that delicious sauce you just made, let's assemble to Deli Style Hoagie Dip, you're going to love how easy this one is - and how many compliments you will receive from the taste of this recipe. In a large tray or mixing bowl, load up all the deli meats, 2-3 cups of mayo, (again, depending on your liking), tomatoes and lettuce, 1 Tbsp. of oil, 1 Tsp. each of salt and pepper. If you want - you can even add oregano to this recipe. I personally omit the oregano because I do not like the taste. If you do decide to add it though, go with about 1 Tsp. of oregano also - unless you like a lot of course! Mix everything together and serve with your French Bread rounds. Bet you didn't think is was that simple of a recipe, did you?

Shall we prepare the dessert, folks? I think so.. Melt your two cream cheese packages in a microwave safe bowl, so that they are soft and easy to mix with your hands, yes - you have to get a little dirty for this one, but trust me - you won't mind licking your fingers. Now, mix 3/4 of the Oreos you crushed earlier in with the cream cheese. On a tray lined with wax finger, mold balls into the size of a golf ball and lay them on your tray. Don't worry, some will look lopsided, and some will look like footballs, it's fine - just try to keep them the same size. You may need two trays, depending on the size you are making them. Now, melt the chocolate in another microwave safe bowl, and then drizzle over each Oreo ball you arranged until they are all fully covered with the melted chocolate. Before the chocolate melts over the ball, sprinkle your 1/4 portion of the Oreos over the balls. Now, whether or not your party is soon, or you have a couple hours to spare, freeze them or refrigerate them. Watch the comments you get on these things. They're so good and chocolaty, you can't have more than one! Yummy! Easy and scrumptious!

Now, pull your meat back out of the refrigerator and get your skewers, and a pan or big plate ready. Arrange steak, peppers, onions and zucchini in a rotating pattern on each stick, if you want to be cheap with the steak, go ahead and load them up with a lot of veggies. (Another wonderful tip from me, I'm just wrong, aren't I?) Now, these you just need to throw on the grill, and wah-lah!

Take a look at yourself now, you little cook, you. You've made three awesome recipes for your BBQ Party! You should be proud of yourself, you made it all with no help. (Unless you made your two year old mix the oreos and cream cheese, you cheater.) Happy BBQin'!

By TARA GANSRICH