Spicy Times

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The warmer it gets, the more we appreciate the spicy food. With a cool drink and a nice place to sit and relax.

Did you know that there is a kind of barbecue clock in all of us? At a certain time of the year, everyone starts pulling out their gear and getting everything ready in a big way. I just ran into two people dragging a man-sized barbecue station and the necessary equipment down the rocky and sandy path I usually take on my daily Nordic Walking tour of the small garden colony near our house (I’ll explain this concept another time, it’s pretty remarkable).

We also like to barbecue. Maybe not the smelly, burnt, oil dripping version. But the one where you use the electric grill (the grill parts are dishwasher safe, yessssss) to throw veggies, cheese, and corncobs on …. . Yum. We might also try one of the (plant-based) sausages that come in different varieties every year – we’ve tried oyster mushroom, lupine, and hemp. Of course, bread is a great addition to the meal. It helps to keep everyone happy while the person at the grill station is busy, and to pre-clean the plates…

No, really, I think barbecues are cool if you really explore their full potential, because they give you the perfect opportunity to mix components that no one would normally dare to put on a plate at the same time. Like fruit salad with sausages. Or you get the chance to mix up all the sauces and create a whole new line of flavors: a honey-tomato-ginger cream, or (Bear’s) ‘garlic-berry-radish … whatever you like’ – relish. Try it and be wild.

Anything goes when the grill is on. Summer, here we come.

Bread is a great addition to the meal. It helps to keep everyone happy while the person at the grill station is busy, and to pre-clean the plates…

Side Notes:

  • There are obvious beverage choices for the occasion, but have you tried this one?
  1. Pick a handful of lemon balm leaves (15 – 20) plus the little stems they are attached to and 7 – 10 mint leaves.
  2. Boil them over with hot water in a teapot.
  3. Let them stand until they are almost completely cooled.
  4. Pour just enough to make half a glass through a sieve (be careful, the glass must be heat-resistant – to be extra sure, put it on a wet cloth).
  5. Add some cold water and/or juice if you like it sweet, but not too much. Will keep you cool through the hottest summer nights (and days).
  • By the way: Lemon balm and mint plants prefer a little sun protection on the balcony or in the garden, but not too much. I have paired them with fruit bushes to stand under. They seem to like it there.