A backyard barbecue with family and friends is a typical enough occurence that they don't spark that much excitement anymore. Now, brats, burgers, and steaks are nothing to scoff at, especially if cooked to perfection. But if you feel like your cookout menu is looking a little outdated, it probably is. Why don't you spice it up a little with a bit of bizarre bbq?

Tofu

Go wild and drop meat altogether on your next barbecue with some tofu. Tofu is a great low-fat, protein alternative that can be quite flavorful when grilled. Just marinade it in your favorite barbecue sauce and cook it with low, indirect heat for 20 minutes. After cooking, add another drizzle of your marinade. Now, does this look bland to you?

Cake

You’ve probably heard of using your grill to bake your cake. But have you ever grilled a piece of cake? As bizarre as it sounds, it definitely makes for a delicious dessert. This is the signature dessert of The Daily Meal Staff Writer, Kent Whitaker, who recommends that you try different ingredients and make it your own. Just brush a bit of butter on both sides of a 1-inch thick slice, grill it over medium heat for 2 minutes on each side, and top it with your favorite ice cream and fruit.

Bananas

Grilling fruit isn’t that much out of the ordinary since most of us have probably encountered grilled pineapples in kebabs. But bananas? Well, if you love bananas foster or banana split, you’re going to love this. Slice a banana lengthwise with the peel still on and grill it over medium heat cut side down for 2-3 minutes. Then, flip it over and put some chopped dark chocolate, honey, or a combination of brown sugar and cinnamon and let the banana cook for another 5 minutes. Serve with some nuts and ice cream or Greek yogurt.

Oysters

Fresh, broiled, or baked – oysters always taste great. But did you know the easiest way to eat them is when they’re hot from the grill? Just clean up the oysters then chuck them onto a grill to cook over medium high heat. No need to shuck the oysters at all because the heat will do that for you. In about 2 minutes, the oysters will begin to open. Once the oysters open, transfer them to a plate and let them cool. Discard those that don’t open; you definitely don’t want to eat those. After a minute, pry the shell all the way open and serve with a sprinkle of lemon juice and a bit of butter. Yum!

Romaine Lettuce

It isn't normal to cook lettuce in a stove so cooking it over a grill definitely smacks of bizarre. But you'd be surprised at how delicious your salad will taste with it. Slice a head of romain lettuce lengthwise and season the cut sides with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Place cut sides down on a grill and let it cook for 1-2 minutes over medium high heat. Once you have gorgeous grill marks, remove from the heat and serve with some cilantro-lime vinaigrette or red wine vinegar plus pieces of bleu cheese.

How about you? Got any interesting ideas on how to kick up your backyard barbecue menu?