Simple summer cookouts

Brat Hot Tub

Family Features -- When getting together with family and friends for cookouts this summer, keep things simple. Simple means less stress and more time to enjoy the good food and good company ... but, it doesn't mean sacrificing great taste.

Foods that have great flavor packed into them, such as Johnsonville Sausage, mean you spend less time cooking, and more time enjoying your guests' company. They're packed with flavor, saving you the time and money you'd need to get extra ingredients for your dishes. And, they're easy to cook - enjoy them hot off the grill as they are, or dress them up with one of these easy recipes.

Make sure you keep the side dishes simple, too. Fresh watermelon wedges, grilled corn on the cob, potato salad and deviled eggs are always big hits.

For more flavorful, yet simple, summer cookout recipes, visit Johnsonville.com.

Brat Hot Tub

Yield: 5 servings

1 (11 x 9 x 2 3/8 inch) aluminum foil baking pan

2 to 3 beers

2 tablespoons butter

1 medium yellow or white onion, sliced

Put pan on hot grill. Pour in beer then add butter and onions. Grill brats to juicy, golden-brown perfection. Serve immediately and place any remaining brats into steaming hot tub.

Grilling Tips

For perfect brats, grill them slowly over medium-low heat with the lid on your grill. Grill the brats for about 30 minutes, turning every 5 minutes or so.

Use tongs to turn brats and other sausages to make sure you don't pierce the casings.

If you start getting flare-ups, move the sausages to another part of the grill. This is easy to do if you don't crowd too many on the grill at one time.