National BBQ Week

Found out today that May 25th to May 31st is National BBQ Week here in the UK and I for one cannot wait.

I have never shown an interest in any of the other 12 National Barbecue weeks but this year I figured, given the amount of people now finding their way to our BBQ ramblings, that I should give it a big plug.

I also thought I should share my absolute number one BBQ’ing tip!

So, here it is, drum roll please for this earth shattering BBQ revelation; use baskets for cooking your food… there it is. Can you cope with the excitement?

Ok, so maybe a bit more of an explanation… by putting your food in baskets and cooking them on the grill you make your own life so much easier.

- Baskets make it to consistently turn your food and make sure it is cooked evenly

- Baskets are easier to pick up and move food around the grill away from hot spots

- Baskets are easy to clean, just bang them on the grill when the food is removed and then place them on the grill when it is at its hottest on your next BBQ

- It stops bits of meat, fish or veg from falling off kebabs (always bleeding happens usually).

- You don’t have to scrape your BBQ grill as food rarely actually touches it

All in all, baskets are the best way to cook on a BarBeCue and I cannot recommend them enough.

My favourite basket is a long handled one such as this very afordable Loofthouse Cooking Basket BBQ Accessory available from Cowshed for £34.99 via Amazon. Great value for money…

Oh yeah, and for more information about the UK’s National BBQ Week on May 25th visit http://www.NationalBBQWeek.co.uk

How very cool is this, a very nice man from a production company who work for the BBC got in touch today and asked what my top BBQ tips and tricks would be.

Crikey, to be put on the spot or what!?

BBQ Drinks Ahoy

Having now had chance to get over my brush with stardom I have took a bit of time out to draw up a list of my Top 10 BBQ (Barbecue) Tips and Tricks. So here we go;

1. Use a kettle style BBQ - they not only cook your chosen slab of meat more quickly, but they also deliver a better smoked flavour option when you use flavoured wood chips.

2. Use baskets to cook your food in, so you can turn them more easily and move on and off the heat hotspots more easily.

3. Always try and use your local farm shop or butcher for your meat - the supermarkets get enough of our money and the local butchers are much nicer cuts.

4. Chillax when cooking - BBQ’s are supposed to take an age to do properly and there is nothing wrong with taking your time.

5. Never use firelighters or chemicals to get your BBQ going - they make the food taste funny and can result in the loss of eyebrows

6. Use flavoured wood chips to make the food taste nicer and the smoke smell better

7. Get yourself a mini preparation table to sit alongside your BBQ where you can slice meat to make sure it is cooked

8. Always butterfly your chicken breasts - they cook alot quicker and remain moist and tender

9. Try new things, meat that would normally cause a diplomatic incident can be well disguised using a BBQ - for example, BBC Radio Gloucestershire want us to try squirrel (not sure if I am ready for that though)

10. Have a cold drink alongside you at all times!