Squirt guns, water balloons and the perfect steak: Ideas for backyard fun this summer

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Joining FOX 2 this morning was Jay Mahabir from Meijer, who provided us with some ideas for keeping your kids laughing all summer long and tasty tips when you fire up the grill for a backyard BBQ.

Some of the fun toys for children included squirt guns, rotating sprinklers, blow-up backyard bowling, and water balloons that allow you to fill more than a dozen at the same time.

And what's summer without the food? Mahabir said what makes certified Angus beef flavorful and juicy are the little white flecks in the meat. When the steak is cooked, they release and draw flavor into the meat. He recommends only using pepper and salt when cooking to make a great steak.

Mahabir said when it comes to burgers, 80 percent meat and 20 percent fat creates the ideal flavor.

But it's not just the meat -- kale salad, sliced watermelon, and decorated cakes make for the perfect picnic.