What came first? The chicken or...

...The can?

Enough steak to feed a football team √
Fingerfood feasts worthy of Kings to add to a vibrant table √
Sultry Septima Malbec to accompany √
Back up assorted bottles and cans √
Family and friends gathered √
Barbecue fired up √
Beautiful view of the Peak District – see below
Weather – ermmmm

On the whole the checklist matched up to expectation. Several days of investigation and enquiry had lead to many a pondered moment over what was – at the end of the day - a barbecue. And many hours of glorious sunshine had given way to typical British weather.

What fascinates me most about barbecues is partially what Neil has to say regarding the same occasion, but mainly the preparation. No matter to what extent, whether a few quick burgers and a coal degraded sausage, or (as in our case) supreme steak, marinated pork tenderloin, an alcoholically abused chicken, absurdly delightful guacamole, Niamh’s ribs (not literally) and another whole host of delights including suggestions from such respected contributors as Mr C – the preplanning is often much the same.

You can pretty much guarantee that on a steaming hot Saturday Summer afternoon (dependent on random football/rugby/cricket matches), your local ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Tescos et al, will be teeming with middle-aged men debating whether chipolatas are ok and whether to buy submarine rolls or baps. In our case, the ripeness of a lime or the relevant pros and cons of shallots or bog standard onions prevailed. This is not the result of some regurgitated Jamie style ‘cooking=man=testosterone=hero programme’ but the desire to set fire to things.

I love barbecues. Fact. There is something about the charred flesh of what’s cooking accompanied by the charred flesh/sun tan cream aroma of people gathered close by that have come to define good and bad weather.

This feast was exceptional. Summed up by none other than my Mum. She proclaimed like some self-confessed oven chip addict, that she had ‘never had a spare rib in her life’. The fact that the ribs were beautifully bathed in a coffee marinade added more to her pleasure. The ribs fell away from the bone, the wine soaked tenderloin induced ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’, the steak added more superlatives, especially when accompanied by Kitchen’s at Horsley Beetroot and Horseradish Sauce…on a submarine roll.

As we approach possibly the last hope of a BBQ weekend, I implore you - stick a can of lager up the rear end of a chicken and then stand back and admire your rather strange culinary expertise.

Success is judged by so many things when cooking. An empty plate or repeated belches just to name a couple. In this case, one of our party was apparently perusing websites the following day ordering the Malbec, my nephew had interrogated my sister about all things Carling and Chicken, my Mum had broken her ribs... abstinence. And my Dad. He had a chicken experience several years ago at a BBQ that lead to sponsorship from Armitage Shanks. The aesthetics of my dish as it stood ashamedly on the barbie didn’t exactly inspire confidence but he was seen with a gob full of chicken late into the night.

Chicken & Can recipe
Cover a chicken in all the spices, herbs, chillies, garlic etc you want.
Bang it in the fridge over night
Drink half a can of lager
Stick remaining can of lager up chicken cavity – still in the can
Stand upright on BBQ for about ¾ hour depending on the size of your bird*
*Author accepts no responsibility for cooking times

Let's Bee Having You

One of the most fascinating aspects of a recent tour of Lymestone Brewery was that Brad the brewer keeps his own bees and uses the honey in some of his beer. Although we didn't have the time (or possibly the inclination after several 'samples' of Stone Faced'!) to climb onto the roof to take a closer look, the concept of bees in the brewing process was of real interest to me and the gathered throng.

By coincidence, a couple of days later, Magners held an event in London in association with the British Beekeeping Association (BBKA) and The Federation of Irish Beekeepers Associations (FIBKA). It was to promote the launch of Magners Bee Aid, a campaign to help save 1.5 million urban bees in the UK and Ireland. On the deck of the National Theatre, several thousand bees, 2 hives, and the Magners Head Bee Keeper from Clonmel Orchards were joined by numerous tentative but intrigued onlookers.

Honey bees are normally associated with the countryside yet the importance of urban bees is just as significant. Concern is growing however, as the number of bees in the UK is in dramatic decline.

As the hives were opened up, the colony was seen in all its glory. The illusive Queen Bee was nowhere to be seen, normally identifiable by the marking given to it by the keeper, but the hundreds of male drones (who do not work) and thousands of female workers, were busily going about their business - cue stereotypical joking amongst the amused spectators regarding male and female work ethics. It was intriguing to see how docile and nonchalant the bees were, having minimal interest in the surrounding audience.

The Queen is certainly busy, laying approximately 2000 eggs a day during April and May and the continued work of her colony mean that one hive produces on average 27kg of honey in a good season.

It is rumoured that Einstein said, 'If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would have only four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.' The dramatic detail of the statement nor its originator are proven, however the implications are vast.

It is not just the honey that is of great importance to us and nature as a whole. It is the pollination of crops that is vital. There would certainly be no Magners Cider without the honey bees pollinating the apples in the Magners orchards!

The value of bees to the UK economy is valued at around £200m a year and certain crops enjoy a 25-40% greater yield if efficiently pollinated. It is estimated that a third of the food we eat is pollinated by bees. The retail value of their endeavours is believed to be approximately £1bn.

Pests and disease remain a constant threat. Varroa is described in human terms by the BBKA as like, 'having a bug the size of a dinner plate on your back, that bores a hole... The bug then sucks out your blood and spits back blood and possible infections from someone else into the hole in your back. Nasty.'

With all this in mind Magners have launched a free iPhone app as part of the campaign. For every download, they will donate 50 bees to the BBKA and another 50 every time the Facebook page receives a 'Like". They are also offering 25 Facebook 'fans' the chance to become fully fledged urban beekeepers and a scholarship that includes everything needed to create an urban hive and tend their own colony.

For more information visit the facebook page