Check It Out: Celebrate summer with barbecue

What’s the best way to celebrate June graduations, the kids getting out of school and Father’s Day?

With a good old-fashioned barbecue, of course!

Whether you want to try something new or stick with tried-and-true favorites, you’ll find a tempting array of outdoor cookbooks at the Newport Beach Library. Dig into these selections for mouthwatering recipes to make your summer sizzle:

“500 Barbecue Dishes: The Only Barbecue Compendium You’ll Ever Need” by Paul Kirk: Packed with more than 500 recipes, this volume also covers essential barbecue techniques. Learn how to select and maintain a barbecue grill, which fuel sources to use, which cuts are best for the grill, and approximate cooking times for different meats and vegetables.

“Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ Book: Recipes and Secrets from a Legendary Barbecue Joint” by Chris Lilly: Chris Lilly, executive chef of Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q, gives the lowdown on low-and-slow cooking. This regional cookbook includes award-winning secret family recipes for traditional barbecue glazes, sauces, dry rubs, slathers, seasonings and more.

“Emeril at the Grill: A Cookbook for all Seasons” by Emeril Lagasse: National television personality and chef, Emeril Lagasse, serves up 158 party recipes that are sure to please the most discriminating of palates. Impress your guests with grilled smashed potatoes, New York strip with Stilton-walnut butter, cilantro-tequila chicken and other can’t-miss crowd-pleasers.

“The Barbecue Queens’ Big Book of Barbecue” by Karen Alder and Judith Fertig: Who says only men can barbecue? Ladies who want to step up to the grill will find everything they need to plan and create a complete outdoor meal from start to finish. This comprehensive guide has more than 350 grilled and smoked recipes with suggested side dishes for each main course.

“Wood-Fired Cooking: Techniques and Recipes for the Grill, Backyard Oven, Fireplace, and Campfire” by Mary Karlin: Chef instructor Mary Karlin presents more than 100 globally inspired recipes that use a variety of hardwood and live-fire cooking methods. Both novice grillers and seasoned pros will appreciate the author’s extensive review of wood-fire equipment and cooking techniques.

“Barbecue Nation: 350 Hot-Off-the-Grill, Tried-and-True Recipes from America’s Backyard” by Fred Thompson: Author Fred Thompson traveled coast to coast to compile secret barbecue recipes from backyard cooks across the nation. Feast on Gentleman Jack country pork ribs, grilled oysters Rockefeller, Lorenzo’s Cuban burgers and other regional dishes. All of these savory recipes are deceptively simple to prepare.

“Seven Fires: Grilling the Argentine Way” by Francis Mallmann: South American television star and venerated chef, Francis Mallmann, presents seven different cooking techniques for live-fired cuisine. Grilling enthusiasts who want to perfect the art of cooking with flame will find more than 100 recipes in this sophisticated cookbook. Enjoy caramelized endives with vinegar, salt-crusted striped bass, burnt oranges with rosemary and other wood-fired dishes.

Visit any of the four Newport Beach Public Library locations to choose from a wide selection of outdoor cookbooks. Or go to the library’s website at www.newportbeachlibrary.org to place holds on these and other innovative barbecue guides.