New Jersey Grillers Score Above Average In Barbeque Survey
There’s nothing like the smell of a barbeque cooking in a Jersey backyard. On second thought, maybe the taste would rank a bit higher on the enjoyable scale.
Not unlike our neighbors throughout the country, we love some good backyard barbeque. When friends and family are there to enjoy it with us, it’s the best.
When our kids were younger, every year we’d have our July fourth barbeque and tent event. All of our friends and our kids’ friends’ families would arrive around noon on the fourth of July, and stay until noon the next day. A sea of tents would be scattered throughout our yard.
Tent Event 2016
I’d get multiple propane tanks filled and ready to handle the demand. The grill would be on constantly throughout the day for lunch, dinner, and then breakfast the next morning.
Kids celebrate 4th of July 2015
New Jersey’s Barbeque Ranking
According to a new survey by Casino.org, we here in New Jersey love to barbeque. Maybe not as much as some other states, but we love a good cookout for a variety of reasons. You’re not alone. Four thousand Americans were asked a variety of questions about their fondness of grilling in the yard, and the results were almost entirely positive responses.
The average respondent says they’re planning to grill more than ten times during the warmer months. The poll also revealed we spend more than ninety bucks every time we light up the grill. That translates to more than one thousand four hundred dollars a year.
Forty-five percent say they have barbecues for the social aspect. It’s simply a reason to spend time with friends and family. About the same amount of people in the barbeque, the survey said nice weather on the weekend is a good enough reason to message out some invites and fire up the Weber.
It’s not a surprise that most Americans, about sixty-five percent, say the fourth of July is their favorite day of the year to barbecue. July Fourth weekend was especially enjoyable this year because it was a four-day weekend. Memorial Day, Labor Day, Saturday, it’s all a good day to grill.
One of the things that most of us agree on is what we’re putting on our plates at the cookouts. The survey revealed that the ideal barbecue plate includes a hamburger with ketchup, corn on the cob, and potato salad on the side.
There’s a feeling of pride knowing that New Jersey was rated above average when it comes to outdoor cooking. However, Mississippi, Louisiana, and South Dakota scored the highest.
Plant-Based BBQ: 5 Savory Meat Alternatives For The Grill
Grilled Veggies
The star of the show at a vegetarian BBQ is often the assortment of grilled vegetables. The vegetables are typically marinated or brushed with flavorful sauces or herbs before being cooked on the grill. A yummy veggie to throw on the grill would be zucchini with a drizzle of Italian seasonings, olive oil, and lemon juice. Another option would be grilled garlic mushrooms with a bit of garlic and balsamic vinegar or grilled cabbage with a tandoori marinade.
Jelena Danilovic/ Getty Images
Veggie Burgers
A vegetarian BBQ often features a variety of veggie burger options. These burgers can be made from ingredients like black beans, lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, or even grilled portobello mushrooms. They are typically served on buns and topped with condiments, such as lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and vegetarian-friendly sauces.
BackyardProduction/ Getty Images
Planted Based Sausages & Hot Dogs
To mimic the classic BBQ experience, plant-based sausages, and hot dogs are popular additions to a BBQ. These meatless alternatives are made from ingredients like soy, tofu, seitan, or vegetables and are grilled until they’re charred on the outside.
jenifoto/ Getty Images
Grilled Tofu & Tempeh
Tofu and tempeh are versatile plant-based protein sources. You can marinate and grill them at BBQs. Tofu can be marinated in a variety of sauces or spices to add flavor. While tempeh, a fermented soybean product, has a naturally nutty taste.
fenlio/ Getty Images
Grilled Fruit Desserts
Fruits like pineapple, peaches, watermelon, and bananas are often grilled to bring out their natural sweetness and enhance their flavors. They can also be served as-is or paired with a scoop of vegan ice cream. A fruit that would go perfectly on the grill is pineapple. You can create a rum-glazed pineapple if you’re feeling ambitious. Just marinate your pineapple in dark spiced rum and brown sugar before putting it on the grill.
ALLEKO/ Getty Images
