Entertaining Fire Up an End-of-Summer Backyard Firepit Party Build a campfire, fire up the firepit, or heat up your grill. Then throw these recipes on the rack for a laid-back, end-of-summer hangout. By Caitlyn Diimig, RD Caitlyn Diimig, RD Caitlyn Diimig, RD, is a registered dietitian and food editor for Dotdash Meredith and Allrecipes magazine. Whether editing complex health information into easy-to-understand stories or developing 30-minute delicious recipes for dinner tonight, she makes leading a healthy lifestyle achievable through food. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Published on August 6, 2021 Close Photo: Brie Passano Load up the cooler with seltzer and cold beer, and pull up a seat around the fire. Read on to get party tips, recipes, and essential gear for an easy backyard party to say so long to summer. Good-Looking Grill Courtesy of Target Buy Now The Revolver Fire Pit from Fire Sense lets you stoke the fires with style. The steel 14x24-inch wood-burning firepit includes a grill rack and removable wooden top that lets it double as a table when the pit is not in use. Buy It: Revolver Fire Pit, $260; target.com Recipes to Try Sheboygan Grilled Brats Brie Passano While some soak their brats in beer prior to grilling, a true Sheboygan brat is grilled first and then soaked in a beer-butter batch. This adds a little extra flavor and helps keep them warm while you cook up sides. To make this kid-friendly, omit the beer soak and serve straight from the grill. Do them up as doubles and serve on semmel rolls for true Sheboygan flair. Peach and Berry Salad Brie Passano Cardamom adds interest to this simple and summer fruit salad. Make it up to six hours ahead of time and store in the fridge. Grilled Veggie Skewers Brie Passano If you're using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes before adding vegetables to prevent the skewers from burning. Cheesy Campfire Potatoes Brie Passano Foil packets make for great flavor and easy cleanup. To ensure the potatoes cook through and don't burn, slice them very thinly (a mandoline slicer makes it easy) and flip the packets every five minutes. You can add a little ranch dressing for extra oomph. Gooey Tortilla S'mores Brie Passano A TikTok tortilla trick helps contain the goodness. Pick up the August/September 2021 issue of Allrecipes Magazine to get step-by-step instructions. DIY S'mores Station Brie Passano Set out marshmallows, chocolates, nut butters, jams, sprinkles, and bear-shaped and rectangular graham crackers, and let guests customize their Gooey Tortilla S'mores. Tips for Firepit Cooking When cooking on a firepit or campfire, it's helpful to create two heat zones by banking embers or coals to one side for higher heat and scattering them more sparsely on the other for lower heat. The Grilled Veggie Skewers, Cheesy Campfire Potatoes, and Gooey Tortilla S'mores recipes for this party are cooked over medium heat, while the Sheboygan Grilled Brats need medium-low. To gauge the heat level, hover your hand 5 inches over the grate. If you can leave your hand there 5 to 7 seconds, that's medium heat; about 8 seconds is medium-low. 7 Tips for Hosting a Safe and Festive Firepit Party Get the Look Small & Mighty Courtesy of Amazon Buy Now Cue up the tunes with the waterproof Wonderboom 2 portable speaker. With a 13-hour battery life, you can keep the party going all night. Available in five colors. Buy It: Ultimtate Ears Wonderboom 2, $118; amazon.com Reusable Refresh Courtesy of Amazon Buy Now Line laps and wipe spills with My Drap cotton reusable napkins. Sold in perforated rolls of 50, these paper towel alternatives can be washed and reused up to six times before recycling. Available in three sizes and 27 colors. Buy It: My Drap Cotton Cocktail Napkin, from $18; amazon.com Party Proof Courtesy of Target Don't worry about breakage or spillage with these 10-inch melamine and bamboo plates. The stylish raised edge keeps sauces from spilling over. Available in orange, blue, or pink Buy It: Melamine Bamboo Plate, $3 per plate; target.com This article originally appeared in the August/September 2021 issue of Allrecipes Magazine. Related: 15 Best Summer Grilling Menus How to Grill BBQ & Grilling Recipes Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit