Gransnet forums

Chat

Blooming barbecues!

(83 Posts)
kittylester Sun 08-May-16 18:25:54

In our house doing a barbecue is seen as 'men's work' so why do i end up running round like a blue tailed fly doing the buying, the salads, bringing plates, cutlery out into the garden, clearing up all the bowls, implements etc in the kitchen and taking everything back inside whilst praising DH to the hilt for his prowess. I manage all the above every flipping night but in the kitchen! confused

He is always very complementary about my offerings but usually just sits at the kitchen table having a drink and chatting!

NfkDumpling Mon 09-May-16 06:23:06

BBQs are the best place to cook kippers. Shares the wonderful aroma with the neighbours and keeps it out of the house,

Mamie Mon 09-May-16 06:01:15

Why make it so difficult? We have had four barbies this week, tuna steaks, monkfish kebabs, veal chops and lemon chicken. We stick the fish or meat in the marinade a couple of hours before, make a salad or get some of last summer's ratatouille out of the freezer, light the barbie which is just outside the kitchen and sit on the terrace with a glass of wine while it cooks. grin

Parsleywin Mon 09-May-16 00:21:31

I'm with Phoenix. I like to cook faff-free inside and eat outdoors - so long as the whole neighbourhood isn't using that stinky aviation fuel or whatever it is to start their bbqs, before charring dead animals and sharing the pong! One man's meat ... is another woman's cue to go back inside to eat! wink

rosesarered Sun 08-May-16 23:01:07

I know it's a faff, but I love BBQ's. DH does the cooking ( really well) and I make all the other bits and bobs, the rest of the family bring drinks and puds and it's just lovely.???????????⚡️⛈☔️

Indinana Sun 08-May-16 22:50:18

I really CBA with barbecues either. All that traipsing in and out with cutlery, crockery, salads and so on. And then bringing it all back indoors again. And we always end up with far too much food - why does my DH think that a barbecue means 4 or 5 different types of meat? We never have that much in a meal cooked in the kitchen confused

Anya Sun 08-May-16 21:28:44

Oh kitty that's just how it is at our house....and I have to supervise DH's efforts or we too have the famous 'black on the outside but raw within' offerings.

By the time everyone is poisoned served all I can manage is to nibble at the salads as I'm too wound up to eat.

Jalima Sun 08-May-16 20:33:33

but without the tinnies at that time in the morning wink

Jalima Sun 08-May-16 20:33:00

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

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 08-May-16 20:32:17

that was to j

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 08-May-16 20:31:48

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

baubles Sun 08-May-16 20:31:43

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!

Jalima Sun 08-May-16 20:29:53

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

Jalima Sun 08-May-16 20:28:12

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.

phoenix Sun 08-May-16 20:26:00

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 wink

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 08-May-16 20:09:21

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

Rain tomorrow. hmm

tanith Sun 08-May-16 20:06:15

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..

Maggiemaybe Sun 08-May-16 20:01:37

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

Ana Sun 08-May-16 19:59:11

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

phoenix Sun 08-May-16 19:57:38

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!

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 08-May-16 19:54:25

Only joking!

jinglbellsfrocks Sun 08-May-16 19:54:12

Fried eggs?

Thingmajig Sun 08-May-16 19:50:44

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. sunshine

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! smile

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!!! grin

kittylester Sun 08-May-16 19:44:49

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.

suzied Sun 08-May-16 19:41:34

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!

Alima Sun 08-May-16 19:41:03

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.