The concept of cooking as a family might well fill you with a fair bit of anxiety and scepticism. Which is understandable when you consider that cooking with your children can be a really messy business, never mind tedious! And seeing that most working parents are pressed for time when it comes to preparing dinner, it’s not hard to see why mom and dad usually prefer to fly solo in the kitchen. But with the long, balmy days drawing to a steady close as we near autumn, now is the perfect time to take the kitchen outside and involve your kids in the preparation process. It’s a relaxing and fun activity that will give you the chance to connect as a family in the tranquillity of the outdoors, away from the bustle and distraction of indoor technology.
Cooking outside breaks the boredom of the regular mealtime routine, and there is a wonderful social quality to preparing and eating food al fresco. Whether you use an open wood fire, charcoal or gas, grilling is probably the most popular and fuss-free method of outdoor cooking. Another great thing about cooking on the grill is that it requires less washing up afterwards, because you generally cook food directly on the grid and use less pots, pans and utensils. You can cut down on the mess even more by covering your outdoor surfaces with baking paper and using this to prep on instead of chopping boards, and basting your food with herb twigs instead of the usual brush. Rosemary works like a charm and infuses extra flavour.
Kebabs are a barbeque staple dish and ultra-simple to prepare. Invest in reusable stainless steel skewers, and simply make using whatever seasonal fruit and veg you can find, with an optional choice of meat. Everyone can assemble their kebab to their own liking using the ingredients at hand, and combined with fresh pitas and a dipping sauce, it makes for a ridiculously easy and delicious family meal. The school holidays are almost here and the last thing you should be worried about is what to prepare for dinner.
The good news is that with the right equipment and a bit of imagination you can prepare anything in your outdoor kitchen that you would on a conventional stove/oven. So take a load off – make it a fun family activity by cooking outside and recruiting everyone’s help.
Autumn pork and pineapple kebabs(Serves 4)
Ingredients:400 g pork fillet, cut into 16 pieces (can also be substituted with chicken)
1/2 small seeded green pepper,cut into 8 pieces
1/2 small seeded red pepper, cut into 8 pieces
1 small red onion, cut into 8 wedges
8 small button mushrooms
1/4 fresh pineapple, peeled, cored, cut into 8 pieces
Method:Tread the ingredients onto skewers in desired combination. Baste the kebabs with olive oil and optional sweet and sour sauce, and cook on a hot grill for 2-3 minutes on each side or until brown and cooked through.
