It happens each year. The casual barbecue that seemed perfectly doable when you extended the invitations turns into a frenzy of shopping, chopping, and running back and forth between kitchen and backyard. Meanwhile, everyone else is relaxing — and urging you to do the same.

This time, let your schedule dictate the menu, not the reverse. Throw a sausage sizzle. The main dish is immediate and gratifying in equal measure. And you can make (or buy) the rest of the meal in advance, then pull it from the refrigerator when guests arrive.

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