In England you can never be sure when summer has arrived. Before going to Spain we had some beautiful weather, Glenn had renewed all our decking and rather prematurely as it turned out, I suggested our garden table, chairs and decorations be taken out of the shed ready for the summer.
Needless to say, two days later we were ankle deep in rain! We're now in mid May and fast approaching 'flaming June' and have yet to experience anything more than a bit of sunshine here and there. However, today remained dry, about the best we can hope for during a typical English summer, and the forecast for the weekend looks promising.
I long for an English summer of stultifying heat during the day leading into balmy nights, I love the dry heat of Spain! I can't remember the last time we sat in our garden here in England well into the night, by late evening there is always a slight nip in the air, the cardigans come out, the chimeneas and patio heaters are lit but after grinning and bearing it for a couple of hours we retreat indoors.
Nevertheless, all over England this coming weekend I suspect barbecues will be fired up, sausages will be sizzled and cold beers will be drunk, and no doubt I'll be participating although probably in my cardigan!
Men tend to love a barbie, it brings out their primeval side, originally barbecues were used by pirates who would impale a goat on a spit and roast it, or cowboys at Western cattle drives who would cook cheap, tough cuts of meat over a long period.
Nowadays people have electric or gas barbecues but the food doesn't compare, authentic barbecues which use wood or coals are the only way to obtain a smoky, barbecued flavour. Better still if you can put some woody herbs on top of your coals which add an extra perfumed smokiness.
How to make a barbecue
Put a couple of bricks on the ground
Place a solid, 8cm-deep roasting tray on top of them
Scrunch up some paper and place it in the tray, with some dry kindling wood
Pile some coal in and around the wood, to give you a pyramid shape
Light the paper and kindling, when the fire has burned down and the coals are white hot and ashy, place a metal cake rack on top of them
Start cooking!
As with any cooking, you are in control, don't cook food over leaping flames as it will burn on the outside and be raw in the middle. Turn food over regularly so that it cooks evenly and by creating a pyramid shape you will ensure good air circulation and therefore good burning.
'There is no real need for decorations when throwing a barbecue party-let the summer garden, in all its vibrant splendour, speak for itself.'
-Pippa Middleton
Love Donna xxxxxxx
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