6 Christmas BBQ Recipes for your Christmas Barbie

One of the many awesome things about Australia is the brilliant warm weather we get over Christmas! Forget jumpers and eggnog. Australian Christmas is all about getting out in the sun and making the most of our beautiful country's weather. And what better way to celebrate an Aussie Christmas than in your own backyard with friends, family! Here are 6 Christmas BBQ recipes for your Christmas barbie...

READ last year's Christmas BBQ Ideas blog here!

1. Beer Can Chook

BBQs are typically Australian. So is beer! And a delicious Aussie chook is the best way to pair the two. It's an easy recipes that serves for and takes about 1 hour and 35 mins (with 10 minutes prep time) You'll need:

• 1 chicken
• 2 tablespoons of oil
• 2 tablespoons of salt
• 1 teaspoon of black pepper
• A squeeze of lemon
• 3 tablespoons of spiced rub of your choice
• 1 beer can

Prep the chicken as you usually would, removing all giblets inside. Wash it and pat it dry. Rub in seasoning, salt, pepper and lemon. Open the beer can and take a few big sips! The can needs to be half full.  Open the chicken legs and place the chicken around the beer can. Place chicken on the BBQ or Weber for an 1.35 hours until internal temperature reaches 73 degrees Celsius (80 degrees in the thigh) or until the juices run clear.

2. Rum and Coke Ribs

Getting a bit more Caribbean with this one. But who doesn't love sweet and sticky ribs on a barbie? Acclaimed Chef Peter Evans came up with this wicked rum and coke rubs recipe:

• 1 cup of rum
• 2 cans of Coca Cola
• 300ml of tomato sauce
• Tabasco sauce a good dash or two
• 2 cloves garlic
• 4 tablespoons hoisin sauce

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl to make a marinade. Place the ribs in the bowl overnight to soak up the marinade. The net day, bake the ribs for 1.5 hours at 160 degrees Celsius. Remove from the oven and BBQ for 15 mins until they're nice and char-grilled.

3. Mustard and Citrus Prawns

This recipe by Kathie is a super impressive dish to whip up for a Christmas BBQ. BBQ prawns marinated in homemade mustard, garlic, lemon juice, basic and white wine. Ready in 1.15 hours.

• 1/2 cup (125ml) olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• juice of 1 lemon
• juice of 1 orange
• 1 teaspoon dried basil, or to taste
• 2 tablespoons white wine (optional)
• 30 uncooked tiger or king prawns, peeled and de-veined

Mix olive oil, mustard, garlic, lemon juice, orange juice, basil and white wine. Pop the prawns into a bowl and cover them with the marinade. Leave for an hour and then BBQ on high heat for 3-5 mins.

4. BBQ'd Garlic and Parmesan Asparagus

Something for the veggos. These guys only take 15 mins to prep and cook and are suitable as a side for meat eaters and vegetarians. Get as many asparagus spears as you need for your guests. Break the tough bits of the asparagus off the bottom and lay in a shallow dish. Pour a small amount of boiling water over the asparagus to cover only the bottom of the dish. Pour salt over the asparagus and place in the microwave for two minutes. Remove from the microwave and pour out the water. Then, cover in garlic, pepper, garlic salt (if you have) and Parmesan cheese. BBQ for 10 mins until char-grilled. You can also wrap them in ham if you like.

5. Haloumi Cheese

Another simple side to go with your BBQ meat. Cut up some Haloumi cheese into thick pieces and cover with olive oil, lemon, oregano and pepper. Pop on the BBQ for 10 minutes. Goes great with a salad or on skewers with some veg.

6. Shmooshed BBQ Potatoes

I don't think Christmas would feel like Christmas without potatoes. And if you're skipping the roast why not chuck them on your BBQ instead? Wash and peel as many potatoes as you need or use baby potatoes. Parboil then until they're soft. Cover them in olive oil, salt and pepper and place on the BBQ for 29 mins. Shmoosh them down to help them cook quicker (and because it's fun to do).

Top Tips for Organising a Party

It's easy to get overwhelmed with organising a get together so we've put together some top tips for organising a party...

1. Mix and match

Don't be scared to mix and match crockery, cutlery and decor. Eclectic is in so may as well make the most of it and throw together whatever you have in your home to create a unique dinner party/party. Sometimes trying to get it perfect doesn't quite work. What things can you mix and match?

- old and new (vintage and modern)

- still and busy patterns (plain and floral materials for napkins or table cloths)

- transparent and non-transparent (cups or glasses)

- rustic and smooth (think hessian and chiffon table lays)

2. Make lists!

Making lists makes organising a party so much easier. You can't host a party without making lists! Here's a list of lists you should make..

- Each dish you want to prepare along with what ingredients you need for each dish (include how long it will take you to make each dish)

- Drinks you need to buy

- What decor you need to buy/get ready

- What order you'll prepare everything for the party! Whether it be on the day or the night before.

3. Kids area

If you're hosting a get together for guests who have kids make sure you set up a 'child friendly' entertainment/task area where the kids can keep themselves occupied. A table with colouring in sheets and crayons, a laptop with movies or toys and healthy snacks are just some good items to have in the kids area!

4. Paper plates

Don't be scared to use paper plates! You can buy some really fancy ones if you're not comfortable with plain white and these will cut down your washing up time! You can also get recylable napkins!

 

5. Get a music station sorted

No party, dinner party or get together is complete without music. Get a music playlist ready the night before, selecting music appropriate for the event. We reccomend hiding the music player so guests can't hi-jack the playlist (unless you're open to that of course!)

6. Set up a bar

Setting aside an area, even something as simple as a table, with glasses/cups and drinks in a cooler is a good way to get organised and to allow your guests to easily top up their drinks as they wish.

Cricket Match Food

Do you like entertaining? Are you a foodie who also enjoys cricket? Then this blog is just for you! We thought we'd put together some inspirational meals or eats to accompany test versus a one dayer cricket match...

Test match 

For those readers who may not know, a test match lasts a maximum of five days (eight hours each including breaks) With this in mind you might consider some slow cooked recipes. With the weather still slightly chilly you can definitely get away with preparing a beef and vegetable curry or slow cooked beef ragu. Why not try some of these marinade recipes for a barbie. If you've never marinated meat before check out this marinating 101

Test match menu

Starter

An easy, eight ingredient 45 minute preparation time starter that can be made in bulk and frozen for later use. A rich and creamy pumpkin soup with a dash of chilli to give it a bit of a kick.

Pumpkin soup with a dash of chilli

Main

A beautiful tender chicken piece, slow cooked for four hours with easy preparation instructions. Served with steamed carrots and broccoli.

Slow-cooker chicken with pesto butter

Dessert

A warm dessert with an hour and a half cook time and ten minutes prep. Served well with cream or ice cream. 

Slow-cooker poached raspberry pears

One dayer

Barbecues and lots of snacks are perfect for one dayers! Here are some of our favourite snack recipes that are really easy to make AND look impressive.

Caramelised onion pastries

• Recipe for caramelised onion
• 2 sheets of puff pastry
• Camembert
• Cherry tomatoes

Caramelise onion. Slide pastry into squares (as big or small as you like) Bake pastry sheets as per packet instruction. Top pastries with onion and finish with a dollop of camembert and a halved cherry tomato.

Baby quiches

It's easy to make a variety of options with quiches. Bacon and feta, spinach and feta, salmon - the list goes on. Here's a super easy recipe for baby quiches

Dreamy Cheese Platter

The most important thing for the perfect cheese platter is what you pair it with. Having some good South Australian local wines and craft beers go down amazingly well with the right cheeses but also choosing the right food items to go with the cheese. Here's some examples of foods that pair well with cheese:

• Gherkins
• Nuts
• Chutney
• Ham
• Crackers
• Olives

Things that don't pair well include

• Anything spicy
• Vegetables
• Acidic fruits

Jamaican Style BBQ

Most people's mouths start to water at the sound of jerk chicken - tender chicken dry rubbed or wet marinated in hot spices and ingredients like sugar, garlic, salt and thyme. This week's blog is on a Jamaican Style BBQ!

Jerk Chicken

Originally cooked in a fire pit, jerk chicken should have a smokey flavour. This used to be achieved by cooking the chicken in a smokey fire pit but in modern days people use wood burning ovens, oil barrels or steel drums.Here's a recipe for jerk chicken seasoning

Jerk Seasoned Corn on the Cob

Make extra jerk seasoning and rub it on some corn on the cob! Quick, easy and delicious! 

Jamaican Rice

Jamaicans call this "rice and peas". A simple side dish of long grain rice, kidney beans and loads of flavour from lime juice, ginger and coconut milk. See recipe here. 

Jamaican BBQ Sauce

If you like BBQ sauce you'll LOVE Jamaican BBQ sauce! This flavoursome sauce has a bit of bacon, jalapeño peppers, mustard and thyme - just to give you a bit of idea of the wonderful flavours this sauce has and it only takes about 20 mins to make! Recipe for Jamaican BBQ sauce.Don't know about you guys but we're feeling pretty inspired to host a Jamaican style BBQ this weekend! 

South African Style BBQ (braai)

It's been a while since we posted a foodie blog, so we thought we'd share some ideas for a South African style BBQ or braai (pronounced like fry)...The word braai comes from the word braaivleis which means "grilled meat" in Afrikaans. In South Africa it's common to have a wood braai as opposed to a gas barbecue. Braais are a big social happening in South Africa rather than just a meal. People make big efforts when hosting braais with all sorts side dishes and salads. They even have a National Braai Day!

Boerewors

Boerewors (farmer sausage) comes from an older Dutch sausage verse wosrt. It's a flavoursome sausage that can contain a mix of minced beef, lamb and pork with lots of spices! Boerewors is best braaid but can also be cooked in an oven or fry pan. Late nights out in South Africa usually end with a boerewors roll, served with fried onions and sauce on the street!Recipe for boerewors sausage

Pap

Also known as mieliepap (maize meal) is a porridge/polenta type food. Also known as putu. It can be served plain or seasoned and can be served in a dry or moist consistency. It is served as a side dish with meats, stews, vegetables and/or salads and goes amazingly well with an onion and tomato sauce!Recipe for pap or putu

Braaibroodtjies

This is basically a barbecued toasted sandwich and is a truly unique part of a South African braai! It contains tomato, cheese, onion, chutney, salt and pepper. The outsides of the sandwich are thickly coated in butter and placed on the braai.How to make braaibroodtjies

Brandy

South Africa has some amazing wine regions so wine at braais is common, however for a true South African experience brandy goes down best! You can even pair the different types of brandy with boerewors!

3 Must Try Winter Wine Recipes

Using wine in food adds a rich and distinct flavour. Red wine is great for stews, meats and sauces. White is perfect for pasta, sauces and broths. Here are our top 3 must try winter wine recipes to try in your kitchen...

1. Angel Chicken Pasta (white wine)

Shopping List

• 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 (20 grams) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 (305 grams) can condensed golden mushroom soup
• 15 grams of cream cheese with chives
• 1 large pkt of angel hair pasta

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 165 degrees C.

2. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in the package of dressing mix. Blend in wine and golden mushroom soup. Mix in cream cheese, and stir until smooth. Heat through, but do not boil. Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer in a 23x33 cm baking dish. Pour sauce over.

3. Bake for 60 minutes in the preheated oven. Twenty minutes before the chicken is done, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Cook pasta until al dente, about 5 minutes. Drain. Serve chicken and sauce over pasta.

2. Balsamic Glazed Salmon (white wine)

Shopping List

• 6 salmon fillets
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon white wine
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees C. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and spray with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Coat a small saucepan with non-stick cooking spray. Over medium heat, cook and stir garlic until soft, about 3 minutes. Mix in white wine, honey, balsamic vinegar, mustard, and salt and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, for about 3 minutes, or until slightly thickened.

3. Arrange salmon fillets on foil-lined baking sheet. Brush fillets with balsamic glaze, and sprinkle with oregano.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 14 minutes, or until flesh flakes easily with a fork. Brush fillets with remaining glaze, and season with salt and pepper. Use a spatula to transfer fillets to serving platter, leaving the skin behind on the foil.

3. Red Wine and Chocolate Tart (red wine)

Shopping List

• 300g pkt Careme dark chocolate shortcrust pastry (see note)
• 2 eggs
• 100g caster sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornflour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon cocoa, plus extra to dust
• 1 cup (250ml) fruity red wine (such as merlot)
• 300ml thickened cream

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C.

2. Roll out the pastry so it’s large enough to line a 22cm loose-bottomed tart pan. Chill for 15 minutes.

3. Line the pastry with baking paper and fill with pastry weights or uncooked rice. Bake for 8 minutes, then remove paper and weights and bake for a further 5 minutes until dry. Allow to cool slightly.

4. Place eggs and sugar in a bowl and sift in the cornflour, cinnamon and cocoa. Gently whisk together until combined, but not frothy. Add the wine and 200ml cream, and stir well until combined. Pour into the tart case, then bake for 20-25 minutes until just set. Cool slightly.

5. Meanwhile, whisk the remaining 100ml cream to soft peaks.

6. Dust the tart with cocoa, then slice and serve with the whipped cream.

Do you have a favourite wine recipe? Share it in the comments below!

Adelaide Outdoor Kitchens does not own any of these recipes.

Fondue Party Ideas

With winter pretty much in full swing we bet you're looking for some cosy dinner party ideas. Throwing a fondue party is super easy. It's also really versatile and different. And let's face it who would say no to dipping food in melted cheese and/or chocolate! Here are some fondue party ideas...

The Pot

Fondue sets and pots come in all styles and designs. They come in a range in prices as well so you can choose whether you want something simple and cost effective or a bit more fancy.

Swiss Cheese Fondue

Of all the types of fondues out there Swiss fondue is the way to go. Swiss cheese is rich and creamy and melts really well. Udder Delights is a local business who makes delicious home made cheeses perfect for fondues.

Meat or Broth Fondues

Meat fondues are a bit lighter than a cheese fondue. Here's a recipe for a meat broth fondue.

Beer Fondues

Yep! You can even make a beer flavoured cheese fondue. Check out this recipe - craft beer cheese fondue.

Dippers

There are no rules when it comes to picking food to dip in the fondue. Some of our favourites are:

• Broccoli
• Bread
• Meat
• Cauliflower
• Mushrooms
• Baby potatoes
• Carrots

Chocolate Fondue

There's always room for the chocolate fondue! All you need to do is melt some cream and chocolate in the bowl or pot, heat it up slowly and you're done! Good dippers for chocolate fondue:

• Strawberries
• Marshmallows
• Biscuits
• Waffles

Preparation Tips

• Don't let the fondue boil over
• Cut the dippers into bite size pieces
• Use the right liquids: beers, wine and cream (not water)
• Throw away bamboo skewers are a good idea in case guests want a fresh utensil to use
• Serve the meat on a separate plate to the rest of the dippers

Check out this fondue party planner for more details on how to throw a fondue party in your home!

Winter Dinner Party Ideas

Cold weather shouldn't keep you away from your outdoor area. Why not challenge yourself to host a winter dinner party? Here are some ideas to inspire you...

Mulled Wine

No winter dinner party should be without mulled wine. This warm and spicy beverage can be alcoholic or non-alcoholic. Here's an easy three step recipe to make a batch:

• 10 cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1/4 cup caster sugar
• 1 roughly grated nutmeg
• 2 cups water
• roughly grated rind of 1 orange
• 1 apple, roughly chopped (skin on)
• 750ml fruity red wine (such as a merlot)

Step 1: Heat cloves, cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg, water, orange rind and apple in a large saucepan over medium heat.Step 2: Bring to the boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.Step 3: Add red wine and simmer for another 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Strain and divide among serving glasses. Serve immediately.

Whisky Tasting

Whisky tasting has become really popular and would go down very well at a winter inspired dinner party. It would most certainly keep the guests warm! Begin the evening with a cheese and whiskey pairing platter. Good foods to pair whiskey with - smoky cheeses, sharp cheddars, dark chocolate and pretzels.

Wintery Side Dishes

Here are some ideas for more wintery side dishes:

• BBQ grilled vegetables (zucchini, peppers and onion)
• Potato bake
• Veggie bake
• Warm bread rolls
• Blue cheese filled bacon wrapped mushrooms

Fairy Lights

A simple but effective feature to have at any outdoor party - fairy lights. String these along your deck or pergola to give your outdoor area that magical wintery feel.

Roast Marshmallows

 An easy and delicious dessert for a winter dinner party. If you want something extra sweet, hollow out the marshmallow with a fork and stuff it with a Rolo before roasting it.

Do you have any inspiring ideas for a winter dinner party? Comment on this post and share your ideas with your friends.