Barbecue on the Beach

It was a beautiful day today and we decided, at the last minute, to take the little disposable barbecue (that we never got round to using last year) to the nearby beach of Seasalter and have our tea there. We took some thinly sliced chicken and beef, a pack of sausages, lots of french bread, Ketchup and mustard. G packed the Gin and Tonic, our only luxury item.

The three children ate hot dogs and the strips of meat as it cooked. The bread was slathered with mayonnaise, mustard, Ketchup and coleslaw and tasted surprisingly good - probably a result of the mood and place in the same way Ouzo tastes so wonderful drunk in Greece, but bloody awful on a grey damp day in England!

We drove home full and tired, promising ourselves we should do it more often. There is so much on our doorstep and we don't see it!

Jo's Dough

For the first time this year I have just sat on the grass in my friend's garden! I know it sounds a little extreme but this could indeed herald the official beginning of summer; of balmy(ish) evenings, eating and drinking outside. It was nice to sit and drink coffee outside whilst being entertained by F skipping up and down and demonstrating her hand-stands!

My friend J had made some bread dough earlier that day but hadn't had time to knead and bake it so she gave me a piece for my supper. I thought I had some leftover pizza sauce but R had already eaten it, that scuppered my pizza plan. Instead I've just scattered some bits of onion, tomato and thyme, drizzled olive oil and seasoned my flattened dough. I will cook it as soon as G and I get back from our bike ride later this evening.

Raised Pie

With the elusive arrival of summer comes the promise of meals eaten outdoors. I love picnics and evening meals eaten on the half rotten table that wobbles on the decking in our 'communal' garden. Last year we would take one of those disposable barbecues out there, once it was up to heat we would sit it on a 'fireproof' base (a couple of bricks and an oven tray!). I would have a plate of very thinly sliced beef, chicken, pork and streaky bacon and we would each take a slice, cook it in seconds over the heat and eat, dipped in Dijon mayonnaise, Hollandaise, ketchup, HP sauce - whatever we had to hand.

One of my favorite picnic foods is the pie, shortcrust or hot water crust I'm not fussy I love them both, and the filling too (although I'm not too keen on a lot of jelly in my Pork Pie). This recipe for Raised Game Pie is simple and very savoury.

RAISED PIE - A carried meal or served hot or cold for lunch

80z plain flour 3oz fat bacon, minced

1 teaspoon salt 1 onion, minced (2oz)

2 oz dripping or fat 2 level teaspoons mixed herbs

1/4 pint water 1/2 level teaspoon salt

8oz sausage meat 1/4 level teaspoon pepper

Mix the flour and salt. Boil the dripping or cooking fat and water and add to the flour. Knead well and line a 1 lb bread tin with the pastry, keeping back enough to make a lid. Mix the other ingredients thoroughly, place in the tin and cover with the remaining pastry. Brush over with a little egg or milk and bake in a moderate oven for 1 hour.