| I'm never more delighted than when I get invited to a | | | | bricks that radiate the heat to cook the food so the |
| barbecue cookout at a friends house, not only | | | | simple tips for gas:- |
| because it's the way of cooking that I prefer but also | | | | 1. Give it time and gas on full whack to get the coals |
| because it's a great opportunity to have a chin wag | | | | up to temperature. |
| and a glass of "pop" with folks that I maybe only get | | | | 2. When the coals are hot and you're ready to cook, |
| to see once or twice a year. | | | | turn the gas down just to maintain the temperature in |
| I'm really fortunate to be part of a great bunch of lads, | | | | the coals and keep them well away from the food. |
| one group from my school days and another set from | | | | Despite me saying be patient, gas is still wonderfully |
| university and everyone gets on really well together. | | | | quick and convenient to have a barbecue but never |
| We all live in different areas of the country so it's | | | | should it be instant. Anyway, why hurry? |
| difficult to keep the contact and a barbecue cookout in | | | | For charcoal barbecue grills there's a certain knack to |
| the summer sure helps. It keeps all the kids outdoors | | | | preparing the fire:- |
| as well which saves on the clearing up! | | | | 1. Pile up the charcoal to get it all burning at the same |
| Friends for over twenty years, barbecue parties every | | | | pace |
| summer yet still no one can cook a decent grill. I'm | | | | 2. Coals are ready when they are white (not black) |
| delighted to attend but as I turn up my eyes suddenly | | | | 3. Before cooking, spread the coals out and don't |
| dilate with horror seeing chicken wings dowsed in | | | | worry, they will still give off heat. |
| flames and worst of all, one of my friends expecting | | | | 4. Start off with the food rack on its maximum height |
| me to eat them! | | | | and bring it down gradually. |
| It's probably no wonder that as soon as I turn up I | | | | 5. If you're cooking on a kettle, remember to reduce |
| wrestle the tongs off him and get the whole food rack | | | | the aperture of the bottom draft. |
| far away from the grill for a good 15 minutes and let | | | | Not only does it take patience to get the perfect BBQ |
| everything settle down. | | | | but it also takes time and experience - some of my |
| The flames appear because the coals are not ready, | | | | friends clearly haven't mastered it after 20 years! So |
| fat starts to drip and up it goes! The more flames, the | | | | please don't give up, it really is worth the effort when |
| more fat and the more fat, the more flames. Food | | | | you get it right. |
| black on the outside, raw on the inside. Have you been | | | | One final tip whilst you're in training - put your food in a |
| there? Well here are my recommendations so that | | | | barbecue basket. If you do get some flames you can |
| you never have to go there again. | | | | lift large quantities of food simultaneously off the grill |
| Whether it's a charcoal or gas barbecue grill it's all | | | | without too much hassle. |
| about patience and the preparation of the coals. In a | | | | So now you have the barbecue smoker recipes for |
| gas grill, the flames heat up the lava bricks and it's the | | | | success enjoy your BBQ this summer! |