Monday 8 August 2016

BBQ Recipe Ideas for a Brazilian Themed Party

Are you hosting a Brazilian themed BBQ to celebrate the 2016 Summer Olympics? Here are some Brazilian BBQ ideas to get your taste buds flowing.

In the 16th century, barbecued meat was the staple food for the cowboys of Southern Brazil, who cooked in pits in the ground. The popularity of the BBQ spread to the capital, and now there are restaurants all over the world that specialise in Brazilian barbecued meat, although the food is now generally cooked on big BBQ grills.

If you are enjoying this year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, you may want to take advantage of this party-nation and host your very own Brazilian themed barbecue. To ensure that you’re the perfect host, we have put together some BBQ ideas – including a starter, main course, salad and dessert, so you can show off your culinary skills.

Of course, to get your guests into the carnival spirit, why not put on some samba music, decorate your tables in white and green (Brazil’s national colours), and put some beers and Brazilian bubbly on ice? Your guests will love all the effort you have made and will look forward to your next BBQ party.

Take Your Marks...

As your guests wait for the food to cook on your brick-built barbecue, it’s a great time to serve up the starters. One really refreshing starter is fresh, roasted mini red peppers with mango salsa. Just roast the peppers until they blister, and peel off the skin once they have cooled. Chop them length-ways into bite sized pieces and fill with cooked prawns and mango salsa. You can make the mango salsa by mixing finely chopped red onion, mango, and a dash of orange juice and lime juice to taste.

Get Set...

An uplifting salad is simple to make and is always a great hit at a BBQ. Combine four handfuls of baby lettuce leaves with a small, finely chopped red onion, 4 grated carrots, 4 finely chopped tomatoes and half a cucumber. Dress your salad with a combination of olive oil and lime juice, seasoned to taste. Then place a bowl of feta cheese on the side for people to help themselves to.

Go...

Marinate chicken pieces for two to four hours in a combination of lime zest, freshly squeezed lime juice, chopped garlic, olive oil and a generous handful of chopped coriander. Once fully marinated, thread the chicken pieces onto skewers and cook until done. Serve it with tortilla wraps, lime wedges and the above salad for a fabulous main course.

...A Winning Finish

In addition to ice-cream and fruit salad for afters, having a freshly cooked dessert is always popular, especially among the youngest guests. A baked banana pie is a great finish to a Brazilian barbecue, and is an ideal way to use up any leftover bananas before they become over-ripe.

This dessert is easy to make. Just peel the bananas, cut them in half lengthways, lightly fry them and place them at the bottom of an oven proof bowl. Next, separate six eggs and mix the yolks with 225gms of sugar and knob of melted butter. Pour this mixture on top of the layer of bananas. Use the remaining egg whites to make a meringue and pour this on top of the mixture. Cook your banana pie for half an hour at about 150C (less for a fan oven), and let it cool before serving. It’s bound to be a real hit with your guests!

Big K

Big K sell high quality barbecues, including big BBQ grills, brick barbecues and stone BBQs, as well as all the tools, accessories and summer fuel to make your barbecue party a success. Just click on the link above to order your products online for home delivery.

Tuesday 5 July 2016

Ten Ways to Keep Wasps at Bay at Your Summer Barbecue

The height of the summer is the perfect time to enjoy home cooked food on your brick barbecue. But while a barbecue is a great excuse to invite friends and family round for a gathering, having swarms of wasps buzzing round your guests is the quickest way to call time on your party. Here are Big K’s top ten tips on keeping wasps at bay, so your all-day barbecue keeps running but your guests stay put!

Natural Deterrents

While there are a host of insect sprays on the market, it’s likely you’ll find the perfect wasp repellent in your kitchen. Natural ways to discourage wasps cost next to nothing but reap rewards, as they ensure your guests enjoy a relaxed, pest-free afternoon. One deterrent is to light the contents of a cup of ground coffee. However, if you are unsure about this trick, fill a small bowl with cloves, as this will have the same effect.

Salads

Wasps don’t like cucumbers, and they don’t like the smell of mint either. So one idea is to combine these two ingredients in a salad – that way your guests will be impressed with your culinary skills, and you can keep your table clear of wasps.

Scents

While spraying on your favourite perfume or aftershave is a great way to get ready for a party, wasps also appreciate the smell. Unfortunately, these irritating pests are also attracted to the scent of sunscreen and deodorant, so it might be a good idea to swap these in summer for non-scented varieties.

Clothing

Wasps are attracted to certain colours, such as white and yellow. So avoid these colours when you dress your table – and yourself too. As a host, no matter how much you like your yellow or white T-shirt, this is one occasion when you might want to give it a miss. You could always opt for red clothing instead as wasps can’t see this colour.

Rubbish

It may sound obvious but when the party is in full swing, try to avoid leaving rubbish lying around on tables and chairs, and check your bins are fully secured. This prevents wasps swarming on the remnants of sweet food and drink left on empty plates and cans.

Sealed Containers

Just as it is worth clearing the rubbish as you go, it is also important to keep food in sealed containers, especially if it is likely to be out for some time. Plastic containers are easily obtainable and can be bought from your local supermarket or kitchen store.

Glasses

While this trick won’t get rid of wasps, it will stops stings in unexpected places. It’s worth serving drinks in glasses, rather than cans, as this way your guests can see exactly what they put into their mouth and will prevent nasty oral stings.

Sweet Trays

If you have a small party, one tried and trusted way of keeping wasps off the table is to lay a saucer of fizzy drink away from your guests. This will help attract wasps to their own designated eating spot, so they don’t buzz around your group.

Fake Nests

A quick internet search will show you a host of different ways to build your own fake wasp nest to mark your territory. Fake nests, such as brown paper bags, work as a deterrent as wasps are likely to avoid areas inhabited by ‘other wasps’.

Wasp Traps

These are easy to build out of old plastic bottles, although there are a variety of effective readymade wasp traps on the market. These can be bought from your local garden centre, or you can buy more sophisticated ones from a pest controller in your area.

Now you know how to deter wasps, you can simply relax and enjoy cooking on your brick barbecue. With our top tips your guests will appreciate all the effort you have made to make them feel comfortable, and they will soon look forward to your next party.

Big K – Click here to see our full range of barbecues including brick, masonry or stone bbqs, Kamando Joes, barbecue tools, accessories and summer fuel products.

Tuesday 14 June 2016

Summer Cocktails to Sip by the BBQ

With the barbecue season now in full swing, why not try making some colourful cocktails from our recipes below, and impress your party guests with your presentation skills? Cocktails can be made in batches and served from a jug at parties, with slices of fruit added for a summery touch.

Mojito

Mojitos are perfect for summer, and are served over crushed ice with refreshing ingredients such as lime and sparkling water. Traditionally concocted with five ingredients, this cocktail is easy to make in batches and can be served in a tall glass with a straw. To make this cocktail you will need 1 ½ limes, 20 fresh mint leaves, 2 ½ tsp granulated sugar, a handful of ice, 65ml white rum, and a splash of soda water.

Place the lime, mint and sugar into a glass and crush with the end of a rolling pin to bruise the mint and squeeze the juices out of the lime. Add ice to the glass, pour over the rum and soda water, and stir well before serving. Enjoy!

Pimm's

This well-known summer drink has a reddish tint, and is often served in a jug with chopped fruit to add to the flavour. To make a Pimm’s punch, you will need a half a bottle of Pimms no.1, a litre of orange juice, a litre of apple juice, 350 ml of passion fruit syrup, 200 ml of lemon juice, and 30 raspberries.

Place the raspberries into a punch bowl, and add the Pimm’s no.1 to the bowl. Pour in the orange juice, apple juice, lemon juice and passion fruit syrup, and then adjust the measurements to your taste. Chill for three hours before serving to let the flavours develop, and then serve over ice in a jug or individual glasses while you dish up food from your brick BBQ. Additional fruit can be added as well, such as strawberries, oranges and limes.

Shirley Temple

This non-alcoholic drink is ideal for designated drivers, and also for children, to help them feel grown up and involved. To make a traditional Shirley temple, use 40ml of dry ginger ale, 40ml of pomegranate juice, 1.5tsp of sugar, and a wedge of lemon. You can either buy pomegranate juice from a shop, or you can extract the juice yourself from fresh pomegranates.

Measure all of the ingredients into a glass and stir until combined. Ice cubes can be added to keep the drink cool as you cook. For visitors that prefer an alcoholic beverage, you can add vodka or rum to create a "Dirty Shirley".

Gin and Tonic

Why not keep it simple and create a gin and tonic for your guests? Serve in a high ball glass with a slice of lemon or lime on hot days as a cooling drink before you dish out the food. This drink consists of just 3 ingredients: 25ml dry gin, 125ml tonic water and 10ml lime juice.

Ingredients can be adjusted to suit your personal tastes, and some people suggest that it should be made with equal parts of gin and tonic water. To make a gin and tonic simply fill a glass with ice, and then pour all of the ingredients over the ice into the glass. Garnish with lime or lemon wedges and you’re ready to serve.

Mai Tai

Let your outdoor party take on a tropical theme by serving Mai Tai cocktails. This alcoholic drink is based on rum, and matches well with a variety of meats such as chicken and pork, which can be cooked to perfection on your brick BBQ. To create a classic Mai Tai you will need 45ml Jamaican rum, 15ml orgeat syrup, 15ml triple sec, and 30ml lime juice. Some people also add a splash of Cointreau for extra flavour.

Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker, and add ice before shaking until cold. Strain the contents into a tall glass filled with ice, and garnish with a wedge of orange. The orgeat syrup will give the cocktail a noticeable almond taste, and this can be adjusted to suit the palates of you and your guests.

Woo WooM.

This simple drink is perfect for summer, and is made with vodka, peach schnapps and cranberry juice. Alternatively, light rum can be used to create a Georgia Peach cocktail. Measure out 2 parts of vodka to 1 part peach schnapps, and then add 4 parts of cranberry juice. Shake all of the ingredients together with ice, and then pour into a tall glass.

Big K - sell a variety of brick BBQ fuels to keep you going throughout summer, with fuel options for both modern and traditional styles of barbecues.