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"  PREP TO GET YOUR GRILL ON We expect a lot from our grills this time of year: char-broiling ribs for Memorial Day, and barbecuing chicken and fresh corn for a family weeknight meal. So, before your big 4th of July cookout, why not treat your hardworking gas or charcoal grill (pictured: Fyrkat picnic charcoal grill, $50; bodumusa.com) to some TLC? The pros at girlsatthegrill.com gave us these pointers. Deep-clean your grate at the start of the season: Fill a sink or bin with warm water and dishwashing liquid and let the grate soak for at least two hours. After soaking, scrub the grate with a stiff wire brush, rinse it, and let dry. When you&amp;#039;re done cooking your food, close the lid and keep the grill burning for 10 minutes so any leftover pieces of food can burn off. Once the grill cools off, use a brass-bristle brush to remove residue from the grate. (A crumpled wad of aluminum foil will also do the trick.) To remove rust stains, brush vegetable oil on cooking grates, then brush clean. If you&amp;#039;ve got a charcoal grill, be sure to dispose of the ashes after each use. BUILD A BETTER KEBAB Oh, the easy fun of food on a stick. For maximum flavor and minimum fuss, you&amp;#039;ll want to use just the right tool for the job. For marinated meats and veggies: A 31-inch-long flexible stainless-steel skewer flexes easily to fit in a bag or bowl for marinating. $10 for 2, broadwaypanhandler.com. For boneless chicken and pork: It can be hard to push food off a standard skewer (especially with a plastic fork!), but sliding skewers have a moving disc that helps you push food onto your plate with one controlled motion. $38 for 4; williams-sonoma.com. For shrimp, peppers, and other slippery foods: Double-pronged skewers keep food from spinning when you flip it on the grill. $2 each; crateandbarrel.com. For any food that could use a woody-smokey kick: Thread meats and veggies onto wooden skewers to infuse them with flavors of cedar, hickory, and maple. Soak the skewers in water ahead of time to prevent burning. $9 for 10; surlatable.com. Looking for recipes? Try these unusual (and unusually yummy) kebab variations. BURGERS AND DOGS AND BBQ THAT WILL BLOW THEM AWAY A cookout without these classics would be like the 4th without fireworks. Go beyond the basic with new twists on these all-American grilling favorites. NEXT: --&amp;amp;gt;  KEITH URBAN&amp;#039;S PLAYLIST Whether he&amp;#039;s jamming with his buddies or doing some easy summer listening, Keith Urban knows that every bash is better with a beat. From now through Labor Day, Keith&amp;#039;s rocking on his Summer Lovin&amp;#039; Tour, sponsored by KC Masterpiece Barbecue Sauce. Here, he shares his favorite summer songs:  * Let My Love Open the Door, Pete Townshend  * Fool to Cry, The Rolling Stones  * Wild West End, Dire Straits  * I&amp;#039;m Alive, Kenny Chesney (with Dave Matthews)  * Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way, Waylon Jennings  * Alive, Black Eyed Peas  * Highway 20 Ride, Zac Brown Band  * How &amp;#039;Bout Them Cowgirls, George Strait  * Something to Talk About, Bonnie Raitt  * Funky Tonight, John Butler Trio TABLETOP TIPS Once you&amp;#039;ve mastered the menu, you need to have a place to put all your grilled goodies. Let the party decor be as unfussy as the food. Blogger Jennifer Jafarzadeh of The Haystack Needle shares some easy ideas. Keep it simple when you&amp;#039;re hosting. Opt for disposable paper-free plates to give you more time with your guests \u2014 and save the trees. These biodegradable plates are actually made from leaves. Dress up your outdoor table with a couple yards of oilcloth fabric. Oilcloth is so easy to wipe clean and has a cool nostalgic vibe. You can buy oilcloth by the yard here. Make a fresh batch of lemonade in a large drink dispenser. Give it some kick with a little mint and lime juice. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.redbookmag.com/food-recipes/entertaining/advice/a6376/4th-of-july-party-ideas/>