Theres No Need To Abandon Ethical Choices When The Barbecue Comes Out
If we thought a summer barbecue was popular in this country, then theyre even more a favourite in the United States, where a recent survey found that 70 per cent of households regularly enjoy a meal cooked al fresco.
While the main ingredient of any barbecue the meat is obvious, there are different thoughts as to what should accompany such a meal, what makes a suitable dessert, or what should be served on occasions such as Halloween and Bonfiire Night.
Hot dogs make a great quick dish to serve from the barbecue. While these popular family staples are simple and uncomplicated, they can be customised for individual tastes in an almost infinite number of ways. A basic, no-frills hot dog contains as few as 270 calories, and only 12 grams of fat. But when you start adding ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and extra trimmings, its healthy credentials can be considerably weakened.
A side dish which hardly ever fails at a barbecue is potato salad. Almost any type of potato lends itself to this treatment, but by far the best are the latest new potatoes preferably boiled with their skins on. They can then be finely chopped or cut into big chunks according to guests tastes.
There are many ways to treat vegetables for serving with a barbecue too. Many people enjoy them cut into small strips or sticks and served with an appropriate choice of dips. The bad news is that the fat in the dips more than outweighs the healthy attributes of the vegetables.
Several other vegetables come into their own when placed on the barbecue either alongside the meat or after it has been cooked. Among these, corn on the cob is particularly tasty when prepared over the fire, while tomatoes, peppers, onions and mushrooms can be arranged on a skewer to make a really tasty and wholesome kebab. Even if guests are not keen on them served in this way, a combination of these will still provide a tasty and healthy option at any barbecue.
If children are sharing the barbecue, they are sure to enjoy a side dish of baked beans. They will help detract from the different appearance of the meat as it comes off the barbecue compared to when it is cooked under a conventional grill or in an oven. And of course, they are a great source of fibre for diners of all ages.
Once the young ones have finished their main course (and only once it has all been eaten of course), they will appreciate a quick and simple dessert as much as will the person who has just spent a long time slaving over the flames.
That makes it the perfect occasion to enjoy an ice cream. And of course, the choice here is wide, meaning that the flavours chosen can be as plain and simple or exotic as you like.
While the main ingredient of any barbecue the meat is obvious, there are different thoughts as to what should accompany such a meal, what makes a suitable dessert, or what should be served on occasions such as Halloween and Bonfiire Night.
Hot dogs make a great quick dish to serve from the barbecue. While these popular family staples are simple and uncomplicated, they can be customised for individual tastes in an almost infinite number of ways. A basic, no-frills hot dog contains as few as 270 calories, and only 12 grams of fat. But when you start adding ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and extra trimmings, its healthy credentials can be considerably weakened.
A side dish which hardly ever fails at a barbecue is potato salad. Almost any type of potato lends itself to this treatment, but by far the best are the latest new potatoes preferably boiled with their skins on. They can then be finely chopped or cut into big chunks according to guests tastes.
There are many ways to treat vegetables for serving with a barbecue too. Many people enjoy them cut into small strips or sticks and served with an appropriate choice of dips. The bad news is that the fat in the dips more than outweighs the healthy attributes of the vegetables.
Several other vegetables come into their own when placed on the barbecue either alongside the meat or after it has been cooked. Among these, corn on the cob is particularly tasty when prepared over the fire, while tomatoes, peppers, onions and mushrooms can be arranged on a skewer to make a really tasty and wholesome kebab. Even if guests are not keen on them served in this way, a combination of these will still provide a tasty and healthy option at any barbecue.
If children are sharing the barbecue, they are sure to enjoy a side dish of baked beans. They will help detract from the different appearance of the meat as it comes off the barbecue compared to when it is cooked under a conventional grill or in an oven. And of course, they are a great source of fibre for diners of all ages.
Once the young ones have finished their main course (and only once it has all been eaten of course), they will appreciate a quick and simple dessert as much as will the person who has just spent a long time slaving over the flames.
That makes it the perfect occasion to enjoy an ice cream. And of course, the choice here is wide, meaning that the flavours chosen can be as plain and simple or exotic as you like.
