The Perfect Ingredients for A Successful Cookout

By Jeff Matthews, CFP® CDFA®
Senior Financial Advisor

I love to cook and host friends. Full disclosure: my friends do not always enjoy my attitude and tone while I am cooking. With Memorial Day coming up, I thought I would share some ideas for a great cookout.

I also want to dedicate this blog to a local hero who made the ultimate sacrifice, Captain Nick Rozanski, who I will be remembering this weekend as well.
Obviously we're going to have some combination of hot dogs, brats, burgers, chicken or ribs. Most of these are straightforward to cook, but here are some thoughts.

Chicken
I don’t know who needs to hear this but DO NOT grill boneless chicken breasts. You are setting yourself up for failure as they dry out quickly. Use bone-in chicken. I prefer legs and thighs.

Burgers
As for burgers, my friend Jason and I swear by using a griddle. It prevents flare-ups and is easier to get the temperature right.

Ribs
I like to coat my ribs with Bertman’s or Cleveland mustard and then generously apply a rub. I thought this sounded odd at first too, but I took it from Chef Michael Symon and love it. I think it is best to slow roast ribs in the oven at 275 degrees for 2-3 hours without barbeque sauce. I then finish on the grill with sauce to get that caramelized outside.

Sides
On to what will really separate your cook out from all the others, the sides!

Cheese
I love a good cheese board. If you have a marble cheese board or plate, you can put it in the freezer the day before to help keep your cheese at room temperature.

Hummus
I have been on a real Mediterranean kick lately and have been making a lot of hummus. It is super cheap, easy to make, and tastes better! Once you get the process down you can vary it to what you like. Here is a Hummus Recipe I like. Note the first step in blending the tahini and lemon juice first, it makes a difference.

Salads & More
It is going to be hot out so keep your sides light and healthy. Just kidding, make some potato or macaroni salad. There are many great recipes out there and it is easy to pick one based on what you like.

Here is another idea that may sound weird but I love it. My grandmother used to make her macaroni salad with Marzetti’s slaw dressing and a little onion powder instead of mayo or other dressing.

If you are looking for a side that is on that is lighter and healthier, try this Avocado Corn Salad Recipe. Again, you can make this your own by adding some cotija cheese or adding and subtracting spices and ingredients.

Lastly, this is a fun Bomb Pop Drink idea my friend Matt brought to last year’s celebration. This one is kid friendly; Matt’s is most certainly not.
Enjoy your friends and family this Memorial Day and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Oh and for the love of God, do not grill boneless chicken!

As an advisor and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with over 15 years of experience, Jeff aims to help improve the financial wellbeing of his clients. He develops a plan to help reach your goals by understanding what is uniquely important to your family and you, such as sending your child to college, reaching your ideal retirement or creating a financial legacy that will live on for generations.

The use of the CDFA® designation does not permit Wells Fargo Advisors or its Financial Advisors to provide legal advice, nor is it meant to imply that the firm or its associates are acting as experts in this field. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark, and the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. The Arlington Group Investment Consulting, LLC is a separate entity from WFAFN.