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Too many fire starters ruin the b-b-q (apologies for length)
So eating out galore for me this weekend and no need to cook makes me a happy girl. Unfortunately the indigestion and pain makes me cranky. It should be noted that I in no way feel the food in question is to blame for the above as I've been hurting all weekend.
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midnightoak I too had a clash with the weather but not quite as drastic as the bus incident. Saturday morning it decided to rain. The heavens opened and a bucket was tipped on Chester. However honour, Rob's birthday and promising midnightoak that I was going to get her the next Serenity comic swayed me and into town I went. K in her infinite wisdom decided it was too cold and wet and she left me to undertake the odyssey on my own. Armed with an unfortunately underpowered anti-weather baton I made my way to the shops.
I was just about to enter the subway when I started wishing for the full raincoat and galoshes experience for the first time. The entrance had a puddle guarantied to soak my shoes if the rain hadn't already obliged. My bag being material it too was getting wet and in a selfless effort to preserve it's contents I kept it under the umbrella and ignored the water dripping down my back. So arriving back with not a stitch of clothing that was completely dry I did a quick change and warmed myself with a cup of tea.
But emergencies wait for no woman and I was called on to move bbq supplies. Thinking there was no point putting dry socks in wet shoes I promptly put the wet socks and shoes back on and headed out. In a cruel twist of fate from that moment until I got home after Rob's party the skies remained clear and lacking in rain. So had I just waited a while I could have saved myself the soaking. 20/20 hindsight again.
Now it has come to my attention that lighting a bbq is an acquired skill. Just like lighting any fire you need to know your stuff as I am well aware having been taught how to cook when in the middle of the forest. Mind you I have never lit a bbq as we usually use wood not brickets and charcoal. So being aware of my weakness I allow others to try in my place.
However this self-awareness does not seem to extend to the majority of the male population notable exceptions the two sons of a fire-fighter (Rob and Sam who left well alone) and the designated bbq handler Thom who knows his stuff.
Now the bbq wouldn't light to start with, wind and bad matches partially to blame so one bright spark decided aerosol spray was the best way to go. A few tries and some time later flames did appear but were not too prepared to stay. Thom being the excellent host he was busied himself in the kitchen and the 'men' kept themselves occupied with the grill. The rest of us sane people decided to sit and enjoy the culinary delights Thom presented in waiting for the bbq.
(On an aside note I really liked the broccoli and spinach quiche and want the recipe which will go well with my other scoop of the weekend Rob's Mum's Chocolate cake. At least the quiche is better for me.)
The bbq was not progressing well under the ministrations of the not so skilled and after a bit of haggling we finally convinced them to leave well alone when they arrived with cooking oil that they wanted to put on the fire to get it going. Unfortunately this left them with nothing to do. Not good when around fire things.
Having already pointed out that cooking oil won't burn (unless very hot) they decided that my word wasn't enough and decided to test the theory. Placing a small amount on the patio they added some matches, which again refused to stay lit. So they added part of a pizza box and some eco friendly lighter gel. To no one’s surprise the gel lit, the matches and the pizza box burned but the oil remained as untouched as ever. With working flame they then decided to place this on the grill. So taking matters into my own hands I chased them away and took over. Though mainly to pile the brickets back into some semblance of a workable pile.
So Thom to the rescue when I pointed out some semblance of heat actually occurring from the grill and that we had shooed the interlopers. He worked on it a bit before returning to the kitchen where he was dutifully using the gas grill and oven in the meantime.
It was some time before the grill started to glow and by then I was the only one who had yet to eat any meat. Mainly due to lack of enthusiasm to add to my pain. However taking the opportunity I added my chicken to the grill to get that authentic smoke flavouring and waited further. For those already passed the main course marshmallows were introduced and kebab sticks brandished appearing around me as the closest person to the bbq. Deciding that such good glow couldn't be totally wasted on the mushy sweets I obtained a sausage and in true Swedish style held it over the fire using the kebab stick instead of cheating and using the grill above. Two sausages later and I was a happy bunny having fulfilled my grilling desires.
All in all the food was great and (my pain notwithstanding) it was a nice evening. Top marks to Thom for his culinary works.
Teas so far: One (yeah!) and a choco-expresso suspiciously lacking in choc hmm...
As
midnightoak I too had a clash with the weather but not quite as drastic as the bus incident. Saturday morning it decided to rain. The heavens opened and a bucket was tipped on Chester. However honour, Rob's birthday and promising midnightoak that I was going to get her the next Serenity comic swayed me and into town I went. K in her infinite wisdom decided it was too cold and wet and she left me to undertake the odyssey on my own. Armed with an unfortunately underpowered anti-weather baton I made my way to the shops.I was just about to enter the subway when I started wishing for the full raincoat and galoshes experience for the first time. The entrance had a puddle guarantied to soak my shoes if the rain hadn't already obliged. My bag being material it too was getting wet and in a selfless effort to preserve it's contents I kept it under the umbrella and ignored the water dripping down my back. So arriving back with not a stitch of clothing that was completely dry I did a quick change and warmed myself with a cup of tea.
But emergencies wait for no woman and I was called on to move bbq supplies. Thinking there was no point putting dry socks in wet shoes I promptly put the wet socks and shoes back on and headed out. In a cruel twist of fate from that moment until I got home after Rob's party the skies remained clear and lacking in rain. So had I just waited a while I could have saved myself the soaking. 20/20 hindsight again.
Now it has come to my attention that lighting a bbq is an acquired skill. Just like lighting any fire you need to know your stuff as I am well aware having been taught how to cook when in the middle of the forest. Mind you I have never lit a bbq as we usually use wood not brickets and charcoal. So being aware of my weakness I allow others to try in my place.
However this self-awareness does not seem to extend to the majority of the male population notable exceptions the two sons of a fire-fighter (Rob and Sam who left well alone) and the designated bbq handler Thom who knows his stuff.
Now the bbq wouldn't light to start with, wind and bad matches partially to blame so one bright spark decided aerosol spray was the best way to go. A few tries and some time later flames did appear but were not too prepared to stay. Thom being the excellent host he was busied himself in the kitchen and the 'men' kept themselves occupied with the grill. The rest of us sane people decided to sit and enjoy the culinary delights Thom presented in waiting for the bbq.
(On an aside note I really liked the broccoli and spinach quiche and want the recipe which will go well with my other scoop of the weekend Rob's Mum's Chocolate cake. At least the quiche is better for me.)
The bbq was not progressing well under the ministrations of the not so skilled and after a bit of haggling we finally convinced them to leave well alone when they arrived with cooking oil that they wanted to put on the fire to get it going. Unfortunately this left them with nothing to do. Not good when around fire things.
Having already pointed out that cooking oil won't burn (unless very hot) they decided that my word wasn't enough and decided to test the theory. Placing a small amount on the patio they added some matches, which again refused to stay lit. So they added part of a pizza box and some eco friendly lighter gel. To no one’s surprise the gel lit, the matches and the pizza box burned but the oil remained as untouched as ever. With working flame they then decided to place this on the grill. So taking matters into my own hands I chased them away and took over. Though mainly to pile the brickets back into some semblance of a workable pile.
So Thom to the rescue when I pointed out some semblance of heat actually occurring from the grill and that we had shooed the interlopers. He worked on it a bit before returning to the kitchen where he was dutifully using the gas grill and oven in the meantime.
It was some time before the grill started to glow and by then I was the only one who had yet to eat any meat. Mainly due to lack of enthusiasm to add to my pain. However taking the opportunity I added my chicken to the grill to get that authentic smoke flavouring and waited further. For those already passed the main course marshmallows were introduced and kebab sticks brandished appearing around me as the closest person to the bbq. Deciding that such good glow couldn't be totally wasted on the mushy sweets I obtained a sausage and in true Swedish style held it over the fire using the kebab stick instead of cheating and using the grill above. Two sausages later and I was a happy bunny having fulfilled my grilling desires.
All in all the food was great and (my pain notwithstanding) it was a nice evening. Top marks to Thom for his culinary works.
Teas so far: One (yeah!) and a choco-expresso suspiciously lacking in choc hmm...
no subject
Don't you just love them. I have finally found one worth having...
Isn't it wierd how people dismiss the 5 years of bush trail experience one has when bbqs are mentioned...and then fail miserably so you have to do it anyway...though wood IS easier I grant you.
Must remember to bake tunnbröd before you visit so you can bring grillkorv...except we don't have a bbq sigh...what to do?