It's that time of year again. While the kitchen seems to be a foreign country for many men over the winter, the minute the sun comes out they can't wait to move into the garden and get the barbecue on the go. Dads' who wouldn't know a chipolata from a rump steak on a gloomy day in November, suddenly decide they are experts in the best way to marinate a burger, and can't wait to show off their cooking prowess to an appreciative audience!

Outdoor entertaining has grown in popularity over the years and we now enjoy spending many summer weekends getting together with family and friends over some fresh, healthy food and a glass or two of crisp, chilled wine or an icy cold can or tinny, as they say down in Australia.

But to really enjoy a laid-back lunch or early evening party make sure you prepare as much as you can in advance to avoid too many burnt sausages and frazzled burgers. While some may like their food plain and simple, take a little time to marinate your meat and vegetables before you cook it. It will help tenderise the food and keep it beautifully moist in the hot sun, as well making it taste delicious.

Don't leave everything to the last minute. It takes a good half-an-hour for the coals to really heat up so don't be tempted to slap on the first bit of meat immediately. When the barbecue is ready, check out the correct cooking times for the meat to avoid the familiar charred meat that is under-cooked inside which often gets served up by enthusiastic first-timers. It not only looks unappealing, but isn't very healthy on hot summer days. To avoid bacteria flourishing on half-cooked chicken hanging around in the sun only pre-cook chicken in the oven or microwave if you can barbecue it straight away. And whatever the meat, always cook it right the way through without any pink bits, whatever the demands and preferences of your guests – you don't want them to go home with an upset tummy!

Make sure you have plenty of fresh salad, which you should keep in the fridge until the last minute and bread and potatoes wedges will go down well with anyone who needs a little something to soak up the alcohol!

And with all the clever outdoor lighting now available you can make full use of your garden right through the evening on these balmy summer nights. Simple tea lights fitted into pretty coloured Moroccan lanterns or some of those oil burning torches found in the large DIY stores can be an effective way to transform a garden into an alfresco party area.

All you need now to really let your hair down and enjoy yourself is to make sure the chef loads up the dishwasher and then let Fairy Active Burst go to work putting a shine back on those mucky dishes and plates. And for once mum can enjoy the celebrations without lifting a finger herself. Let the party begin!