Nicholas knows good food

Nick Roberts

Thursday, 17 July 2008

We've been having a barbeque everyday this week. Not so much to do with the weather but more to the fact the kitchen's gone dysfunctional and there’s a three foot hole in the floor. You don't need the details. So what better time to grab the subject of barbeques by the tongs and sit back and reap the rewards

Lamb, feta and mint burgers, Thai bean burgers, halloumi and vegetable skewers, steaks, chicken, tuna, sausages, pineapple chilli salsa, tzatziki, potato salad. coleslaw, barbequed mushrooms, courgettes, aubergine, peppers and asparagus, bean salads, corn on the cob, strawberries and chilled watermelon. All washed down with beer and jugs of Pimms. Mmm!

You can make a barbeque as easy or as hard as you like. Make burgers and marinate vegetables and meat skewers the day before (I like to keep it simple with just some garlic, olive oil and thyme) as well as making your more substantial salads that aren't going to wilt. If you're worried about meat not being cooked through you can always cook burgers, sausages and chicken in the oven beforehand and just finish it off on the barbeque to get the charcoal flavour without the worry of a nasty tummy or having to re-lay the patio to dispose of the bodies of your guests.

I have also been known to drag visiting family in a force ten gale on a Sunday morning to have barbequed bacon baps on the beach - just because the sun was shining and we could. The possibilities really are endless.

It has almost turned into the quest of the Holy Grail to find the ultimate sausage. Easy now; I know what you are thinking, but having tried "award winning, farmers markets, simply" you name it, it has to be said the Sainsbury's Taste The Difference really are the best and amongst the cheapest. But if anyone has stumbled across anything they think is better please let me know, maybe there could be a prize in it or maybe if you make your own I'd be interested in giving them a go!

So what are you still at you computer for? Get out there and get that charcoal burning.

Until the next time munchkins!