The lighting for your outdoor party will only matter if barbecue carries on into evening; regardless lighting is something that is nice to think about as it adds so many ambiences to your backyard setting. There are outdoor solar-powered lights available and other lighting options in several designs. Luminaries, candles, miniature white lights strung between trees or along your patio, or some lovely white paper lanterns hanging from your trees can make your patio extraordinary.

Bug control is a must at your outdoor party. Burn citronella candles to help keep a variety of bugs away. If yellow jackets are a nuisance in your yard, traps are available from your garden center or nursery. Remember to cover food, especially meat and sweet drinks on table to protect from bugs.

A few other nice additions to your party might be; gift bags for any children attending party, you can fill bags with fun ideas found at dollar store like glow sticks, crayons and little notepads etc., it’s a nice idea to keep children occupied; patio heaters are excellent if it starts to cool down in evening, or for unexpected cooler days; flowers in planters or hanging baskets will further add to appeal of your yard; lastly a nice variety of music sets mood and adds a nice overall feeling to your party.

Planning meal is probably biggest challenge to your party. You’ll want to know in advance if any of your guests have any special eating preferences, allergies, dislikes. You can always go with standard burgers, veggie burgers (f there will be any vegetarians attending), steaks and salads knowing that everyone will be satisfied and full. On other hand, you might want to surprise your guests with a wonderful honey barbeque broiled steak; a simple marinade can be made with garlic, marjoram, salt, pepper, dry mustard, honey, and balsamic vinegar. The selected steak or chicken can then be kept in marinade for a couple of hours in fridge, next step is onto barbecue. Excellent side dishes might be some potato salad, a green salad and corn on cob.

In summertime cold drinks are a must. You might make some cold lemonade, and have some carbonated beverages on hand. A nice addition to any buffet table is a lovely punch (alcohol or non alcohol) with some lemon slices and fresh fruit additions. Always have lots of ice available to keep drinks cold. For dessert some cut fruit such as strawberries, melon and watermelon slices prove refreshing or a fruit salad can be nice, and of course a nice cake or some cookies is always sinful but popular. Later on, a bowl of corn tortilla chips served with salsa is well liked.

Of course your budget will determine how much you can and can’t do as far as decorating at your party. But don’t let that discourage you, it takes time to get your patio looking exactly way you want it, in meantime keep your eyes open and look for ideas. A simple picnic table and some plastic outdoor chairs work well too; a barbecue really is all about food and atmosphere created.

With some planning and right atmosphere your outdoor barbeque party will be a success. Whether your party is big or small, a barbeque is a wonderful way to get together with your closest friends and family members to enjoy summertime and some great food.

True Jamaican Blue Mountain coffees are full-bodied, moderately acidy and richly complex, though occasionally marred by a slight mustiness, which is characteristic of many Caribbean coffees.

The Jamaican coffee market has had its share of setbacks from worker shortages around turn of 20th century to complete shut down of production for two years due to hurricane devastation in 1988. Early in exportation of Jamaican coffee, Canada was largest consumer with over 60% of all coffee exports bound for this country. In 1943 Canadian government declared quality of Jamaican coffee unacceptable and stopped all importation.

In 1944 Jamaican government established Central Coffee Clearing House, where all coffee bound for export was cleaned, inspected and graded, in an attempt to raise standard of Jamaican coffee. In 1950 Jamaican coffee growers established their own governing body, Jamaican Coffee Industry Board, to improve and maintain quality and reputation of Jamaican coffee.

The JCIB successfully accomplished its goal through setting and enforcing standards for growing, harvesting, processing and marketing of its product. Today, Jamaican coffee is known for its high-quality. Annual production of Jamaican coffee stands around 6,600,000 lbs. of which about 85% is exported to Japan. The remaining 15% is distributed mostly between U.S. and U.K. gourmet specialty markets where it can fetch up to US$40/lb.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.