tequila lime shrimp barbecue

This post is sponsored byBrawny® via AOL Media.  

We’re already back at the grindstone with all things school, but that also means we’re enjoying cooler nights in the back yard. We’re rounding down on those final days of summer, and the weather is cooling off just a bit. To celebrate, we decided to have a little impromptu back yard barbecue the other night.

I ended up snapping a few photos before some friends arrived on the scene, but we thought it would be a super simple, more-than-burgers kinda soirée a-la entertaining for the evening.

It’s really kinda easy once the chopping is all done, with just a few simple steps, and it’s definitely one of our faves: tequila lime shrimp barbecue {tacos}. Can any more fun ingredients be in one recipe? We don’t think so.

Just throw in a few key ingredients and set it up a-la bar style, for guests to come and go as they please. Done. No fuss. I think we can all use a little less fuss.

Here’s what ya need:

• 1 1/2 lbs shrimp(tail removed) • 1 white onion • 1 red bell pepper • 1 green bell pepper • 1 yellow bell pepper • fresh limes • 3 TBSP tequila • 3 tsp salt • 3 tsp black pepper • 3 tsp garlic salt • 1 TBSP minced cilantro

Plus all the fixins: • soft tacos • cheeses • sour cream • avocados • guacamole •  tomatoes • salsa • spinach

Simply mix the tequila and 3 TBSP of lime juice in a bowl. Then add the shrimp, mix them and let them marinade. Mix all the other spices together and set aside.

Next slice the veggie goodness to your liking, fire up that grill, and cook until softened and sweet.

While those are cooking, place your shrimp on skewers, sprinkle your dry spices over them and when those veggies are almost cooked to your liking, add those shrimp, until pink and curles. A little blackened makes them that much better.

 

If you guys have guests over often, you know what a mess it can be sometimes… before and after. Brawny®, that brand with the giant helper guy in his plaid shirt {Can we totally hire him for help around the house? Why does his jawbone vaguely remind me of Jon Hamm when I see it from a certain angle? Am I the only one?} Is our total go-to, fave.

Backyard shenanigans with a giant tree, with two dogs, and three kids and real life {and should I keep going?} are no joke. So sometimes, just like any outdoor space, it takes a little prep work before people come over and think you’re totally nasty for having a tree and plants and stuff. The nerve.

Before and after. Tada! Messes are no biggie… and you can pick a size to fit your cleaning needs. Between this and Jon Hamm, clearly it’s the little things.

Once they’re ready, set everything up haphazardly on a back yard table, and gather around for good conversations, great laughs, and quality entertainment in the form of littles and pups and everything in between.

It’s a great way to wind down the final summer hours.

Laid back is how we’d like the rest of our year to feel. ;}

And in case you think we were kidding about theBrawny® stuff, just keepin it real: After we shot these photos, a giant spider appeared. Giant. Like, as in, the size of my head, seriously questioning if we live in Australia giant. The kind where I throw something at it and run. Our neighbors thought we were being murdered in the back yard by the mere pitch of my scream. He was a total party crasher. He was all, Tequila, suckas!

He was so large, he could have easily swallowed a few shrimp before bedtime.

And when we came inside to clean up the outdoor soirée carnage, it turns out I’d hit the spigot on our laundry detergent {the kind I totally had sitting out for decoration in an old water container on the countertop} when fishing out our table cloth. So for hours, it was on, flooding the countertops with glorious smells while we celebrated cluelessly in the back yard. We walked in, musing at how clean everything smelled, and then it dawned on us. We’d made a disaster of a mess in the laundry room when I left something sitting against the detergent. And so there it was.

That’s probably karma for decorating with laundry detergent in a water container, I guess.

Cue: A huge mess forBrawny®. And us. Good times.

As it turns out, said paper towel Jon Hamm hero can handle both gargantuan venomous spiders the size of my face {after I throw things at it and scream for Jamin to save me} and the huge mess that ensued on our countertops.

From prepping for parties to cleaning up disasters: I’m a giant fan.

You can check great out more great uses for Brawny® and make sure to Stay Giant!

As always, let us know if you try the recipe.

It’s the perfect low maintenance go-to for get togethers!

We’d love to hear. Have an inspired day!

Compensation for this post was provided by Brawny®,via AOL Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Brawny® or AOL. For our full disclosure and giveaway policy please visit here.