COOKTOP COVE
Use mustard or ketchup to spell out burger preferences
Being in charge of the grill at a summer party is a big responsibility for even the most seasoned grill expert. Keeping your guests’ cooking preferences can be a challenge. Instead of trying to remember it all, turn to the condiments to keep your grilling organized. Ketchup and mustard bring the flavor but are also a simple way to mark each patty with its doneness factor. Consider writing an “R” in ketchup on those patties cooked rare and “W” with mustard for those that are well-done.
COOKTOP COVE
Secure a bottle opener directly onto the cooler
There’s nothing more frustrating at a summer party than picking up a bottle of a preferred beverage only to find there’s no way to pop the top. Instead of endlessly searching the drawers for a long-lost opener, make sure one is always handy by connecting it to the beverage cooler with a piece of string.
COOKTOP COVE
Keep drinks cool with frozen water balloons
Keeping every party guest set with a drink in hand requires plenty of coolers and often, multiple bags of ice. Try replacing those heavy, bulky and budget-unfriendly bags with frozen water balloons instead. Available in surplus numbers at any local party store, water balloons are a fantastic and cost-effective way to keep drinks colder for longer. Fill as many as you need and freeze them the night before the party. When it’s time to bring out the drinks, simply place the frozen balloons in the bottom of the coolers and let them do their job. As an added bonus, frozen water balloons add a fun summer decoration to the coolers as the drinks disappear.
COOKTOP COVE
Make it easy for guests to label and track their glasses
A summer party with a long list of invited guests is bound to be fun, but keeping track of myriad cups that look exactly the same can be confusing. Solve the problem by creating a selection of personalized clothespin labels that keep drinks organized. Purchase a variety of decorative tapes at a local craft store and add a length to each side of a clothespin so each has a different design or hue. On arrival, your guests can choose the one they like and clip it to the top of their cup as an easy-to-identify label.
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