Happily, Mr Sun has been present here in Merrie Olde England of late.
Sadly it appears that his scheduled appearances are somehow tied into my work rota. My first day back each week is glorious and my first day off is usually overcast, rainy, or just mildly pleasant.
In many ways, I have the last laugh as I am still incredibly happy to see the gloriously sunny, bright, warm days, even when I am at work. It just means I look forward to my breaktimes even more than usual as I spend them outside.
So you can imagine my delight today as the stars finally aligned, my time off work coincided with the most beautiful day and I was struck with a bloody marvelous idea.
I acted immediately and started cleaning down the trusty barbecue & the garden furniture and I set to work to be ready when my eldest daughter and my partner returned home from work.
If you look a little closer you will see my sous chef, Gnora the gnome.
Gnora was looking a little washed out after a long winter but she has just had a touch-up job thanks to the wonders of the internet and some fabulous acrylic paints.
There hasn't been an opportunity to use the barbecue this year, either the weather has been a little inclement or the family work rotas have been out of sync. but not today...
Something is definitely going to be burnt today.
Yes, you did see what you thought you saw in the above photo. I had an experimental idea about something I wanted to try out. Whenever I make veggie kebab skewers, small chunks of peppers fall off and plummet to their death in the burning embers below.
You can see the trial effort of my idea below:
I was pretty pleased with the way the peppers cooked evenly, ready to be quartered and stuffed although I did need to re-apply oil a couple of times during cooking.
Accidental burning is the best part of BBQ'ing - You know it's coming but are absolutely powerless to stop it. It's an inevitability, a rite of passage, oh! Is that just me?
Seriously though, it is great for the family to all eat together in the garden without anybody being absent due to work, uni, or any other interruptions. This doesn't happen so much nowadays, not like it did when our daughters were younger.
When the opportunity arises to spend time with your loved ones, grab it with both hands, who knows what the future has in store for us, right?
My youngest even got in the act, preparing a dish to add to the table. She tossed some small salad potatoes in basil-infused olive oil, mixed with chilli powder, a roughly chopped garlic clove, fresh basil, oregano, sea-salt and ground black pepper. After 30 minutesish in the oven the smell in the kitchen was incredibly aromatic and the potatoes were utterly amazing.
There is a perfectly justified reason that middle-aged white guys from England should be banned from wearing shorts.
This is it!
So once the food was prepared, salad chopped, plates cutlery, and condiments on the table, it was time to pour the drinks. So I poured fresh filtered, ice water for everyone who wanted it, isn't that a healthy way to top off a wonderful meal?
There was just 1 person letting the side down as usual... Dad!
What can I tell ya? I just love my beverages to come from Belgium!!!
So do you remember what I asked in the title of this post?
Did you spot the difference between this and most BBQ'S?
No you didn't? Oh really. Maybe the following 2 pictures of the cheese and mayo used for the side dishes will help you out.
Ohhh now it's obvious, right Dear Reader?
This was a completely meat-free BBQ.
Although M'lady and my eldest both still eat meat. I am a vegetarian and my youngest daughter is a vegan. There are so many fabulously tasty alternatives to burgers, sausages and the like nowadays that we usually have an entirely vegan-friendly BBQ.
We have a lot of friends & family who claim that they would always know the difference between meat and the alternatives and we have conducted many a taste test, often fooling the tastebuds of even the most diehard carnivore. Many alternatives when cooked with good quality ingredients, cooking sauces & relishes taste incredibly like any other meat dish.
Burgers, chicken nuggets, and chicken/beef style pieces in bolognese, curry, and casserole-style dishes are incredibly similar.
In case you are wondering, guests to my home are never EVER persuaded or coerced to eat meat-free products. I have made a choice I am happy with, everyone has gotta do exactly the same. No one has the right to thrust their views onto others.
By nightfall, I felt incredibly satisfied with my day and was thrilled that the family all came together, even for just a few hours.
I really am the luckiest guy I know and utterly filled with gratitude about it.
Thank YOU for taking the time to read my post & if you're one of those amazing people who like to hit the comments section... Then I doubly thank YOU!
Either way, I want you to know that you are appreciated!
Keep taking the time to connect with each other both here & in the 'so-called' real world & try & look after each other, because as you already know...
