Blooming barbecues!

We talked about it the other night and have come to the conclusion that it is too much faff for just us,

C'est la vie, Kitty
<gives gallic shrug>

Hear hear kitty (or is it 'here here'?)
While I was having my endoscopies on Wednesday (therefore unable to prevent him) DH escaped into B&Q and bought a new gas barbecue so is now keen to use it. I don't mind eating out doors but am not a fan of the BBQ, which is usually cold food by the time I get it.

Charred offerings on the outside and raw on the inside, I usually accept some salad and a bun and avoid the aftermath. Not saying that everybody has this experience, I must know some dodgy cooks.

Hate the smell, hate the discomfort of sitting outside and I have never ever been given anything I wanted to eat at a barbecue.
Charred vegeburger in a stodgy roll anyone?

Lamb chops are gorgeous barbecued. Just about the only things that are. Although sausages can be quite nice delicious.

I like barbecues if someone else is having one, but they are a bit ott for just 2 people. The only thing I don't like about them is the smell of whatever some people use to like them, that and the smoke. The last time our neighbours had one we had to shut all our windows because of that. It does seem to be the case that the blokes get to do the actual cooking whilst poor wifey does all the work. C'est la vie as jeans said.

We had a lovely BBQ this weekend - the meat eaters had lamb fillet kebabs marinated in some chilli sauce, marinated squid, sausages of different types, grilled haloumi and garlic mushrooms for the veggies, puy lentil and feta cheese salad, potato salad, avacado and cherry tomatoes, crusty bread, plenty of water, beer and wine. And very little leftovers!

We've just had spicy spatchcock chicken, Jersey royal potatoes in parcels and coleslaw and it was all delicious - cooked through (temp checked) and not charred. But, I feel as though I've run a marathon. I think the trick is to get him doing them regularly so it becomes more common place.

We had our first bbq of the year tonight with DD and DGD to help with the eating. Sausages, burgers (homemade) and Chinese pork loin chops.

We gave away our huge gas bbq before moving here and went back to the coals so now have a big kettle and a tiny kettle bbq's. Our first summer of retirement was gorgeous (2 summers ago) and we cooked and ate out most of the time. Last year was awful so we're hoping for better things this year!

I think the trick is to cook more than just the normal (British style) bbq food ... we noticed in Australia that they cooked everything on the barbie, and why not!!!

Fried eggs?

Only joking!

To do one is way too much faff, moving bowls of stuff from kitchen to eating area etc, really CBA.
Also seems to make more mess and washing up than one would expect.

Don't especially enjoy them at friend's houses either, especially if a lack of a decent table means trying to eat on laps!

However Mr P and I have often eaten outdoors in good weather, but prepare food in the kitchen in the usual way then just trundle outside!

That's the best way to do it IMO, phoenix!

Yes, we do that too, phoenix. Best of both worlds!

We do BBQ just for us or family we keep it up the end of the garden so as not to annoy the neighbours. I love eating outside and can be found on any warm morning eating breakfast out there..

We ate Sunday roast dinner in the garden today. Got the table and chairs out. Haven't done that for ages.

Rain tomorrow.

So glad it's not just me!

I have no problem with eating outside, in fact very much enjoy it, completely understand jings pleasure at eating Sunday roast al fresco.

I also enjoy breakfast (toast/croissant type) outdoors, but don't feel the need to set a load of charcoal on the go in order to achieve it!

I don't mind the smell of neighbours barbeques, in fact it often prompts me to grill a sausage or 2, just as a small snack until the next meal

I am with you there kitty

DH says 'Shall we have a barbecue tonight, give you a break from cooking?'
Not it doesn't, I spend ages in the kitchen preparing the salads, rice, jackets etc while the cavemen men sit outside with a beer!

I noticed that a couple of Australian homes we visited have folding windows from the kitchen to outside, rather like the bifolding doors you can get here. They are wonderful for opening up and passing food through from the kitchen to outside instead of going all the way around - however, impossible to find over here.

We could cook fried eggs on ours jings as it has a flat plate. DH can do onions on there if he wants them.

I really CBA with BBQs but like Phoenix & Maggiemaybe I do enjoy eating outside so we also do the cooking in the kitchen and take the food out. Much less faff!

Yes. Even as I typed I thought someone would have a way of doing it.

that was to j

not that we ever have, but Aussie SIL has cooked the whole big breakfast on the barbie, including the eggs.