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The rain has finally stopped! The summer is tangibly close and it's never too early to be thinking about what you're going to cook on the BBQ. There's simply no need for those processed buns and frozen burgers. Make BBQing worth the wait with these 3 original BBQ ideas. Bonus drinks recipes and BBQable desserts included!

Texan Beer Can Chicken

Texan BBQ is legendary! Slow-cooked pork roast straight from the fire pit, slathered in sticky BBQ marinade, the tender meat just falls apart. It's not surprising that this recipe for super-moist chicken originated in Houston, Texas. It's a damn-sight quicker to cook too! For 'Texan Beer Can Chicken', take a can of Budweiser (the king of American beers) and drink two thirds, reserving a couple of tablespoons and leaving a third in the can. Mix the reserved beer with: 2 tbsps of tomato past, 2 cloves of minced garlic, 1 tsp muscavdo sugar, 1 tsp of mustard powder and 1 tsp smoked paprika to create the BBQ paste. Smear some butter under the chicken skin and rub all over with the paste. Stick the can of beer into the cavity of the chicken and stand it on its end on the grill. Close the lid and roast for 40-45 minutes for deliciously succulent chicken.

Drink: 'The Boilermaker'. A shot of whiskey with a Budweiser chaser.

Dessert: 'Bananamallow Split.' Half a banana, but leave it in the skin. Stuff it with marshmallow and chocolate chips and grill the skin-side down. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Carne Asada

For an authentic Mexican BBQ, load-up your BBQ with mesquite (wood chips) for an incredible smokey flavour. Take 2 pounds of beef skirt steak (a cheap cut but great on flavour and works well on the grill), marinade with a jar of picked jalapenos, the juice of 2 limes, 1 chopped onion, 4 cloves of minced garlic, 1/2 tbsp cumin, 1/2 tsp salt and a large handful or coriander (mince the stems for the marinade and reserve the leaves). Leave overnight. Grill this beauty for 6 minutes a side for medium rare. Slice the steak (slice with the grain of the meat and not against it) and serve in tortillas with guacamole, sour cream and the leftover coriander.

Drink: 'Lagerita'. Pour a bottle of Corona into a glass, rub salt round the edge and add a squeeze of lemon. Drop-bomb a shot glass of tequila into the beer and down it! Alternatively, try adding Birdseye chilli to the bottom of your beer bottle for a real kick!

Dessert: Grilled pineapple kebabs seasoned with black pepper, fresh lime juice and honey.

The Irish Burger

The Irish Burger: Take 2 beef burger patties and marinade them in half a can of Guinness, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, a handful of chopped parsley, 2 gloves minced garlic, 1 tsp of chili flakes, salt and black pepper. Leave overnight. The next day place a handful of grated Irish mature cheddar in the centre of one patty and squash down another patty on top sealing the edges to form the 'The Irish Burger!' Serve with BBQ grilled bacon, red onion chutney and mustard between two slices of toasted soda bread.

Drink: 'Black Velvet'. Fill a flute glass half way with Champagne, then fill it the rest of the way with Guinness poured over a spoon so it sits on top of the Champagne.

Dessert: De-stone and half two peaches, grill for 3 minutes a side on the BBQ and serve with home-whipped cream.

So...

Make the most of summer (it may be your last) and start thinking about the perfect venue for your office party or private celebration. A West End on the Thames boat party may just be the best way to experience London al fresco this summer. Fingers crossed on the weather front.

By Joe Couling, an online content writer for the West End on the Thames.