Why impromtu BBQ? Here's four gold star reasons why

Summertime and the grilling is easy.

One of the most excellent things about living in Florida year-round are the increased chances for an impromptu BBQ. Growing up in Southeastern Pennsylvania, BBQs were a big 'to-do' with lots of planning and hours of cooking because the opportunity for outdoor eating and gathering were few and far in between. For eight months out of year Florida weather is not too hot and not too cold supplying a conducive environment for outdoor cooking, so here are four gold star reasons to take advantage of impromptu BBQing at a moment's notice.

A few weeks back I was intrigued by the yellow tomato basket nestled between the grape and vine ripened red tomatoes at my local Publix. Not knowing what to expect, I bought just one to see what this mystery vegetable, er-fruit was all about. One doesn't't really know what to expect when an ingredient is brand new to them so when an opportunity such as impromptu BBQ arises to show off a fancy find, I see dig in with two heels. Almost anything can be cooked on a grill or over an open flame so use these BBQs for more exotic dishes than your standard hot dogs and hamburgers. Pleasantly surprising yourself and your guests with something new gets the first gold star for grilling on a whim.

Two dishes are missing from the photo above of my most recent impromptu BBQ: cold pasta salad and an amazing yellow layer cake with fudge icing. Both dishes were prepared by hand and brought to the BBQ by dear friends of mine. Artists and musicians collaborate, so why can't cooks? We too can create symphonies and masterpieces-they just don't last as long!  Everybody knows that food prepared by someone else always tastes better. The more diverse the menu, the better for everyone sitting at the table to share a meal and that's why gold star number two goes to impromptu BBQs.

Whether eating your own food or someone else's, its not only important to eat for taste but it is also important to eat for health. When putting together an impromptu BBQ while at the store, be sure to pick up lots of veg. Grilled vegetables are an awesome alternative to salad and it really pretties up the grill with lots of color and shapes. In our eight-dish (we joked that we invented BBQ tapas because we ate each dish hot and ready off the grill) meal, four were vegetables alone and two others incorporated vegetables along with two proteins and a bit of carbs-not counting the cake of course! Grilling doesn't have to surmount to heartburn and belly-aches so that's gold star number three.

With three such stellar reasons for gold stars, what could possibly constitute a fourth? The almighty dollar. Would you believe that five of us prepared and demolished the following for only $50:

1. chicken/pineapple/green pepper skewers
2. portabello marinated mushroom caps
3. grilled yellow tomato slices
4. grilled asparagus
5. grilled corn-on-the-cob
6. cold pasta salad
7. smoked kielbasa subs with sauerkraut
8. and that heavenly layer cake and fudge frosting

This meal was bigger than a meal, it was a feast. Eight plates for five people at $10 a piece is a steal. To eat well and to not have to spend a fortune is a glorious skill to craft in this crazy thing called life. So whether you're heading to one of Central Florida's many gorgeous parks or natural springs for a nature day, having a pool party to cool off, or just getting together with friends to cook over an open flame an impromptu BBQ brings food, friends, fun together for a low cost.