British Summer Time has arrived
The sunshine is due out this Bank Holiday to celebrate the Queens Jubilee, us in The Valley love a good barbecue and with all our local butchers and small food businesses we have everything we need right here . So it’s perfect to shop local and help our small businesses get back to a bit of normality after the last year that’s had an impact on everyone.
There is now so much choice for cooking outside whether you prefer a charcoal barbecue that offers an authentic, smoky taste or the simplicity of a gas barbecue, cooking outside now couldn’t be easier. So it’s time to be a bit more adventurous with ingredients that we can source from our local shops.
Kebabs are probably one of the easiest things to cook and the combination of ingredients is endless. Our local butchers have large selection ready and waiting for you to bring home and put straight onto your bbq
Or make your own with organic vegetables that can be bought right here in the valley.
If you like your Sunday roast and don’t want to give it up, then try lamb. Marinade a leg of lamb for a couple of hours with Rosemary, drizzled in olive oil, garlic, and black pepper. Make sure your barbecue is hot and cook slowly until the meat is tender.
However, if you want to cook on something different and have the space, then people are turning their gardens into party areas to host the perfect experience with friends. Wood-fired ovens made from bricks have become popular, as well as pizza ovens, to make delicious home made pizzas with the family , full of flavour and good fun to make too.
With the garden now becoming an extension of our home, you can now have a separate cooking station outside. You can even buy a hot tub right here in the Rossendale Valley to relax in with a glass of fizz.
Think about installing an outdoor sink, handy for washing hands before cooking, but also doing the washing up after. Why don’t you give one of our listed tradesmen a ring to help with this.
With our typical Rossendale Valley weather, we can never guarantee that the sun will stay shining once we sit outside, so it is a good idea to think about a cover for your outdoor kitchen and even a gazebo if you want to continue sitting outside if it starts to rain.
And finally, when dinner is finished and everyone is relaxing with full tummies, what better way to keep the evening going strong than by cosying up under blankets and lighting the fire and stepping into your hot tub.
Firepits have become increasingly popular. Some are just used for heat, but others you can also cook on. Whatever size your garden, make the most of it and enjoy a taste of the Mediterranean in your home. Once you’ve experimented with a few recipes, you’ll soon be impressing your friends, family and neighbours. Here’s to the summer, let’s hope it’s a good one