Since the start of June, my mind has immediately gone to the file in my brain entitled “summer barbeque plans” in search of weekend inspiration and respite from the daily 9-5 grind.

Readers: I’m planning to get a barbeque going in my humble backyard next Saturday after the World Cup starts (“the WHAT?,” say millions of Americans). I don’t know about y’all, but my latent soccer hype has been fueled by the free Panini stickers I get from my weekly 20 oz Coke Zero indulgence from Parker’s. But truthfully, you don’t have to be a soccer (football?) fan to know that food and live sport go together like Laurel and Hardy, Ford and Fiesta, and Westwin Elements and controversy.

Speaking of, I bet Westwin Elements and co. won’t be invited to any cookouts after this week’s news. Most people I saw at Tuesday evening’s packed City Council meeting seemed ready to burn down the house, to quote Talking Heads. But ultimately, the Council did decide to ban nickel refining at the old Caesarstone complex, a decision met with plenty of cheers and applause. Of course, this decision doesn’t mean that Westwin Elements will back down completely; if they want to subject themselves to another rezoning appeal (and the wrath of the general South Bryan public) they are of course welcome to do so. But I have a feeling that they might just want to take a break for the summer, at the very least.

Anyways, what was I saying? Ah yes, barbeques. What is everyone’s favorite summer dish? I’m a fan of the humble hamburger myself, although I do love potato salad and fresh watermelon as sides as well. My coworker Jada told me likes hot dogs, topped with ketchup and mustard. And my other coworker Mark, the elder statesman of Morris Multimedia (he won’t be happy I said that, lol!) said that he likes ribs.

To help me fill column space, I went to the webpage simplebites.net in search of some other popular summertime foodstuffs that folks can make while they try (and fail) to avoid mosquito bites. Some of these sounded delicious to me, others I could do without (hold the deviled eggs, please).

---- Recipes for a Retro Summer Barbeque

( simplebites. net)

Drinks

• Honey-Sweetened Peach Lemonade

• Sweet Tea

Appetizers

• Herby Ranch Dip & Crudité (fancy, oh- la- la).

• Pickled Deviled Eggs

• Mini Meatballs

Sides

• Yogurt-chive potato salad

• Antipasto Pasta Salad

• Corn on the Cob (a classic)

• Pesto Buns

• Skillet cornbread

• Iced Melon

Mains

• Sage-scented barbecue chicken • Do-ahead cider ribs • Oven-baked BBQ chicken drumstickers

Desserts

• Cherry Cheesecake Bars

• Blueberry Peach Cobbler ( need!!!!!!)

• Maple Butter Tarts (this recipe sounds absurdly Canadian, but I might try it out anyway, even though I hate baking).

Andrea Gutierrez is the managing editor of the Bryan County News.