No summer is complete without a bbq (or seven!). But if you don't know how to barbeque, you might be feeling a little left out-- or just tired of doing a few simple hot dogs on a wimpy portable grill. Want to know how to bbq with the best of them? It's really not that hard... just get some meat, a six pack of beer, and some great barbecue sauce. Oh, and the fire extinguisher... just in case.

Step One: Choose a Type of Grill

Already have a grill and just want to know how to barbeque? Skip on ahead to step two.

Okay, now that we've gotten rid of the "already grilled" population, let's talk about grills. When choosing a barbecue grill, you basically have two options: charcoal and gas. Each type of grill has its upsides and downsides.

Charcoal Grills:

Up-sides: Charcoal grills are cheaper and more transportable that their larger, gas-fired cousins. They also give barbeque foods a richer, more authetic barbeque flavor. Which is, of course, what you're looking for. This is the right kind of barbeque for truly die-hard bbq chefs (who probably aren't reading this anyway, as they already know how to barbeque).

Down-sides: Charcoal grills are messier, more dangerous, and more difficult to use. With charcoal, you have to light up ahead of time and really watch out for sparks-- they go everywhere. To regulate the temperature of the fire, you have to turn the coals and move things around; it can get pretty complicated, and generally takes longer to cook the food. They can also make an ashy mess... if you've ever dumped one over, you know what a pain it can be to clean up.

Gas Grills:

Up-sides: Anybody could figure out how to barbeque on a gas grill; they're pretty easy to use. You don't have to bother with charcoal and lighter fluid. You don't have to babysit the coals, making sure they're lit just right and heating evenly. Temperature is adjusted with a turn of a knob, and the heat is clean, even, and easy to regulate. As a bonus, most gas grills come with accessories, like extra racks and burners, that you won't find on a charcoal grill. And compared to charcoal grills, clean up is a breeze. A good choice for newbie or amatuer barbecue chefs.

Down-sides: The only real down-side to using a gas grill is that it's not as authentic. Sure, you're cooking outside, but you don't have that same smokey barbeque smell that comes from a charcoal fire, and the flavor really ins't comparable. It's sort of like having a nice gas stove outside instead of in your kitchen. Another little downside is that you have to store dangerous propane tanks around, and always keep track of your gas levels.

Step Two: Choose Some Barbecue Recipes

Got your grill purchased and all set up? The next step in how to barbeque is figuring out what to make. While many people think barbecue is limited to meat smothered in a rich bbq sauce, the truth is that anything can be barbecue-- what the word really refers to is something cooked over an open flame. So you can make anything you like! The most popular choices are:

• Chicken (Whole or Pieces)

• Turkey Legs
• Ribs (Beef and Pork)
• Steaks
• Pork Chops
• Beef Brisket
• Burgers (Beef, Turkey, or Veggie)
• Hot Dogs & Sausages
• Fish & Shrimp
• Veggie and Meat Kabobs
• Veggies (Corn, zucchini, mushrooms... you name it)

Nothing really new there, right? The real "juice" behind these meats and main ingredients is in how you prepare them-- there's no end of ways to make a simple ingredient taste original. Some of the most popular ways to flavor meats and veggies for the BBQ are with:

BBQ Rub Recipes: These add flavor and tenderize the meat. There's a huge variety of types and flavors of bbq rubs, from poultry rubs to rib rubs and everything in between. Want to know how to barbeque using a bbq rub?

BBQ Marinade Recipes: While die-hard barbequers don't generally use them, marinades can be great for some recipes. They add tons of flavor and, depending on ingredinets, can really tenderize the meat.

BBQ Brine Recipes: These are used most often when putting meat in a smoker. A simple salt brine adds flavor and tons of moisture to the meat.

BBQ Sauce Recipes: Of course, the famous sauce! You can make your own bbq sauce at home, or buy one...or branch out and try new, untried bbq sauces from different regions in America.

Of course, you can skip traditional barbecue flavors and go for something completely different. A light salmon brushed with lemon, parsley, and olive oil. A grilled pizza. A simple steak. Traditional Turkish lamb kebabs. The sky's the limit.