Summer is sizzling and so should your grill! America's birthday is less than two weeks away, so celebrate summer with a cookout menu of all your grilling favorites.
 

July is National Baked Beans month, my favorite time of the year. Celebrate the festivities with the help of the What to Grill Guide. Here are a few quick tips to keep the party hot and your guests cool:

• Buy plenty of ice. Use about two bags per cooler (enough to cover all bottles and cans) and estimate about one pound of ice per person.
• Quench the thirst. Each guest should drink at least one non-alcoholic beverage per hour throughout the party.
• Cover for comfort. Remember to create shaded areas and have sunscreen handy for your guests.
  
  

Add a little honey to your next meal when you serve "Barbecue & Brined Rosemary Chops with Honey Baked Beans." Marinated in a brine of ginger beer and rosemary, these tasty chops make a perfect match with the sweetness of our Honey Baked Beans. Click here for the complete recipe and visit the What to Grill Guide for the full list of delicious new menu options.

If you're looking for more cookout dishes, Duke has you covered. In fact he's unlocked the Food Network's vault that's full of grilling recipes! Visit The Food Network website to find out more about the recipes Duke is giving away!
 

With an honorary Ph.B. (Doctor of Barbecue Philosophy) from the Kansas City Barbecue Society, Rick Browne has a few tricks up his sleeve to liven up your next grilling occasion:

• Put a lid on it! Taking too many peeks at the food is the biggest mistake people make when it comes to grilling. You lose 15 minutes of cooking time each moment the lid is lifted.
• Go low and slow. The next time you barbecue, remember to be patient and cook food at a low temperature for a long time . This technique ensures that the food will retain its natural juices and flavor, grilling to perfection!
• Make it upscale. Barbecues are not just about hamburgers and hotdogs anymore. Grill all of your favorite foods, such as various seafood, fruit, vegetables and more, for tastes that are sure to surprise and please your crowd!

For more great grilling, check out all of Rick's insight and advice by visiting the What to Grill Guide.

Enjoy the summer, and as always, don't forget the Bush's Baked Beans. With ten delicious flavors, it's no wonder that 300 million pounds of them were eaten last year (that's about one pound of Bush's Baked Beans for every person in the country!)

Until next time, keep grillin' and thrillin'!

Jay Bush