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Have you moved into one of the new homes in Plano TX recently? With the 4^th of July coming up, you might want to celebrate your new home and our country’s independence by hosting a cookout for friends and family. Here are a few tips for throwing a successful summertime bash:

The secret to a successful cookout is in the planning. If you’re going to host a large group that includes kids, throw on a couple of hot dogs for them while you grill the rest of the burgers, steaks, chicken or fish. You might even want to feed the kids first, so you can concentrate on handling the adults’ meal.

If you don’t want to be stuck in front of your grill all afternoon, think about serving dishes that can be prepared quickly and easily. Kebabs are great for this because you can cook everything at once. Plus, kebabs don’t have to just feature the usual meat, peppers and onions. You can find kebab recipes online in a variety of cuisines, such as Caribbean, Italian, French, Mexican and Scandinavian.

While your guests wait for the main course, it’s always nice to start off with some great appetizers for the grill like buffalo wings or potato skins. Or you can prepare other appetizers ahead of time to serve while you wait for the grill to heat up. Popular choices include crab dip, salsa and nachos or mini-bruschettas with grape tomatoes, garlic, oil and basil on baguette slices.

Traditional side dishes for your 4^th of July cookout include potato salad, cole slaw or barbecue beans. If some of your guests are vegetarian or need gluten free meals, be mindful of that when you’re preparing your menu and include foods they can eat and enjoy.

When it comes to dessert, your guests were love cooling off with frozen delights like gelato, ice cream or Italian ice. Don’t forget the drinks too. Lemonade, iced tea or iced coffee drinks are all excellent summertime choices. You may also want to offer your guests a refreshing summer cocktail, a glass of Sangria or an ice cold bottle of beer to quench their thirst.

No matter what you wind up serving for your 4^th of July cookout, the most important ingredient will be the time you spend with your guests. People may not always remember what they ate, but if you were a gracious host or hostess, they will remember the time they spent with you.

If you know someone who is in the market for one of the new homes in Plano TX, have them check out West Park Villas and Preserve at Lone Star Ranch. Landon Homes is building a variety of homes with a range of lot sizes, priced from the $400′s to $650′s in the heart of Plano’s upscale shopping and top ranked school district. Preserve at Lone Star Ranch features the exclusive John Landon Executive Series of luxury homes, designed and built with an architectural flair and function that represents the best Landon Homes has to offer. Visit our website for more information.

This post was written by Landon Homes.