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A barbecue is the lifeblood of any great "Fourth of July" celebration. A great barbecue is the lifeblood of any fantastic "Fourth of July" celebration. The basic rules for throwing a great barbecue are rather simple, and even a first-time griller can do a dynamite job.

1. Always over-prepare and over-buy slightly for any barbecue. It's always better to have too much food and drinks rather than too little. Silverware, dishes, cups, and napkins should also be in full supply.

2. If the food is coming potluck style, make sure you know what everyone is bringing. Nothing is worse than a barbecue with 13 different salads and nothing else. Have salads, breads, desserts, meats, and drinks all assigned to specific guests.

3. Use quality meat and provide more than one selection. Make sure you cover the main meat bases instead of just serving everyone hot-dogs. Hamburgers, chicken, and hot-dogs make a much fuller menu. Remember than no matter what you do, the meat will seem to take longer than usual, so provide plenty of snacks and appetizers.

4. Make sure you have mountains of ice to cool drinks, cool guests, and throw at friends. It will probably be a hot day and your guests will need plenty of ice and fluids to keep them going. Kids might be running around too, thirsty and always forgetting where they put that full cup they just had.

5. Everyone loves sweets, especially during a barbecue. Make sure your dessert selection is large and varied, with plenty of cool treats for the end of a hot day. Provide both indulgent and light desserts to cover every eating category, from kids to dieters.

6. Provide plenty of chairs and tables for your guests, especially for the eating portion of the night. Trying to eat while your standing can be difficult and uncomfortable, especially if you always scared that your potato salad is about to slip off your plate.

7. If the barbecue is taking place during the day, remember to provide umbrella's and other shade-creating devices to help cool down and shield your guests from the steady sun. It's always wise to have some extra sunblock handy for both yourself and your guests to use. Nobody likes to wake up the day after a wonderful party with a terrible sunburn.

8. Have fun! The more fun you have throwing the barbecue, the more fun your guests will have attending it. So make the event fun for everyone and remember to enjoy yourself.

Learn more about this author, Aysha Schurman.
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