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"  Memorial Day weekend is here and I&amp;#039;ve got a newly cleaned-up backyard, a big birthday to celebrate, and more than 50 people coming over. What I don&amp;#039;t have is a big fancy grill or much experience with outdoor entertaining on a large scale.  Here are some recipe ideas and tips that I plan to follow which will help me cope\u2014if you&amp;#039;re hosting a party of your own, perhaps they can help you too. Prep as much in advance as possible. I&amp;#039;ll do my peeling and chopping at least the night before. I&amp;#039;ll make my marinade and place in a resealable plastic bag big enough to fit the meat I&amp;#039;ll be marinating.  Grill vegetables that can be served cold or at room temperature, such as squash, eggplant, plum tomatoes, onions, and fennel. These I&amp;#039;ll cook either the night before or that morning. This grilling guide is a big help for making sure they&amp;#039;re cooked to perfection. Make some hearty salads that don&amp;#039;t rely on greens that can wilt (or, use greens that could use some wilting).  Kale Salad: Sturdy kale is primarily a winter green, but its season extends to springtime. It&amp;#039;s delicious raw in a salad, but it needs some time to soften in the vinaigrette\u2014perfect for making ahead. Panzanella: The bread soaks up the dressing, which makes it extra delectable  Grain salads: Barley and farro stand up well to (and benefit from) a longer soak, plus they&amp;#039;re vegetarian friendly  Potato Salad: What&amp;#039;s a BBQ without that do-ahead lifesaver, potato salad? This two-potato salad is one of my favorites.  Marinate and grill some large cuts of meat (there&amp;#039;s a lot less hands-on attention necessary). I&amp;#039;ll make my go-to boneless leg of lamb.  And finally, rely on the generosity and kindness of friends to round out the menu and lend a hand whenever necessary!  For the actual day, I&amp;#039;ll follow these pointers from Good Housekeeping to keep things organized and the party stress-free and festive.  Want some more entertaining tips or have some to share? Come for a tour of the Good Housekeeping institute and talk to us in person! "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/institute/a24548/do-ahead-tips-for-outdoor-parties/>