Life in the great outdoors
| Published: 18th May 2007 19:24 |
LIFE IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS
OUTDOOR LIVING MADE SIMPLE
Winter is a distant memory, spring has come and almost gone and new life has burst out all over. Summer is well and truly on its way and now your attention turns to your garden. Your lawn needs cutting EVERY weekend, your goldfish can't see for pondweed and your patio is in desperate need of a good jet wash.
Utilising your outside space effectively can create an extra room in your house and just in time for relaxing or socialising during those lengthy summer days and balmy nights.
Community website aboutmyarea.co.uk/s35 is busting out all over with everything you need to know about outdoor living. A directory, detailing everything from local garden centres and farm shops to DIY stores and landscape gardeners. Recipes for mouth-watering alfresco meals and great advice on how to make the most of your outside space, with time-saving hints and tips to keep your garden looking its best all season.
When you think of eating outside the first thing that comes to mind is probably the Barbeque. The thought of raw meat being slapped onto hot coals brings out the caveman in most males and for others it's a really scary prospect - undercooked bangers and overcooked shapes of reformed meat substitute that are often mistaken for burgers. But worry not, barbeques are fast becoming the ‘hot' must-have cooking appliance and there are literally hundreds on the market to choose from.
From ‘use once' self-contained foil packs complete with coals, lighters and sometimes food, to the raging inferno Big Daddy gas barbeques with separate wok burner and mother of all utensil belt! Whichever you choose, there are some guidelines and procedures that should always be followed to ensure a safe and enjoyable barbeque experience.
1. Light the BBQ well in advance (follow manufacturer's instructions) before you plan to start cooking - make sure you use enough charcoal, and wait until it is glowing red (with a powdery grey surface) before starting to cook. For gas barbeques, you will be able to select a heat setting and as with normal ovens, need to wait until the temperature is right before cooking anything.
2. Ensure the BBQ is in a safe place away from children and anything flammable. If it doesn't have its own stand, make sure it's on a heat-proof surface.
3. The ‘chef' needs to wash his/her hands before cooking and in between putting food on and taking it off the BBQ.
4. Keep all raw and cooked food separate and keep it "wrapped and refrigerated". Keep meat refrigerated for as long as possible before cooking (this is a great opportunity to marinade your meats to enhance their flavour) - and put the oven on to keep them warm after cooking.
5. Use separate BBQ utensils when handling raw, cooked and vegetarian foods.
6. Check sausages and burgers are cooked through, (juices should run clear). Steaks being ‘solid' meat rather than minced or chopped are quite safe eaten when cooked to rare or medium. Some people prefer to part-cook their foods in the oven first to ensure they are cooked through and throw it on the BBQ for the traditional charcoal taste at the last minute.
7. Make sure frozen meat is thoroughly thawed (unless otherwise stated) before cooking and do not refreeze once thawed.
Above all Barbequing should be fun. Be adventurous and imaginative, try cooking fish and vegetables on coals too, whole salmon or prawns, stuffed peppers or corn on the cob. Include your children and make delicious kebabs and if you have room for more, why not try this delicious recipe for ‘Smores' - an extremely moreish way to end your BBQ feast.
a. Take one digestive biscuit and place on a sheet of foil
b. Add a couple of chunks of chocolate
c. Finish with some mini marshmallows
d. Top off with one more digestive biscuit and wrap up tightly in foil
e. Put on top of BBQ when the embers have died down and leave to melt into a big, gooey, chewy mess - delicious!!!!
So now you've mastered the art of cooking outdoors, you need to make sure your furniture doesn't let you down. Gone are the days when you bought and made your own picnic bench which sank at one end when someone sat on the other. With gardens becoming a real extension of the home, there are limitless ideas on how to theme and decorate your outside space. From big, squashy floor cushions and low tables, to eight-seater formal dining suites with glass-topped tables and mammoth parasols.
Think lighting (candles, underwater lamps, fairy lights...), heating (gas burners, chimneas, outdoor fireplaces...) flooring (decking, woodchips, rubber paving slabs...) and finishing touches (table linen, cushions, rugs, crockery...).
For those with limited outdoor space, why not bring the outside, inside and theme your dining table, mantelpiece or fireplace with alfresco inspired designs using fresh flowers, stones, sand, pine cones, shells etc.
AboutMyArea.co.uk would love to see how you use your outdoor space. If you're proud of your patio, excited about your exterior or gung ho over your garden, send us your pictures; tell us why you love spending time outside or better still invite us over to taste some of your alfresco cuisine - we have impeccable table-manners and always bring a bottle!
