1. Fire up the barbecue for breakfast
When do you usually barbecue? After work? On weekend afternoons? So you usually cook
lunch and dinner? Have you ever thought about firing up the barbecue on a lazy Sunday and
cooking breakfast that way?
I’m a big fan of the cooked breakfast – especially on a lovely weekend when you have little
planned except reading the papers, doing a spot of gardening, playing with the children and
maybe going for a stroll later in the afternoon.
We don’t often have the chance for cooked breakfasts in the week, when we’re all getting
ready for work or school, so it’s a real weekend luxury. And on a sunny summer’s morning,
being able to go straight outside and sort out breakfast is a bonus.
So where do you start? Well, it depends what you fancy for breakfast – if you’re a
continental coffee and croissants sort of person, barbecues are not really going to work for
you. But if you fancy an English ‘fry-up’ or an American-style breakfast, the grill can be your
early morning friend.
First up – sausages. Cooking them on the grill is healthier than frying, naturally, as much of
the fat drips off and onto the barbecue – just watch out for flare-ups from your coals, which
will result in singed sausages.
Bacon can also be done on the grill – but keep an eye on it. You’ll be better off choosing
chunkier cuts of bacon – or even gammon steaks – which will stand up to the rigours of BBQ
grilling far better than some of those flimsy rashers of bacon. And if you want to add a
smoky flavour, brush with some barbecue sauce while cooking.
If you have a substantial griddle pan, you could cook American pancakes – easily made from
a batter of flour, baking powder, milk, egg, melted butter and caster sugar. They’re more
substantial than French crepes so are far more suited to the outdoor experience. Serve with
maple syrup and butter. If you’re feeling very Stateside, pancakes can be served with bacon
or sausage – don’t knock it until you’ve tried it – the combination of sweet and savoury
flavours is delicious.
Next for the eggs. Well, you’re hardly likely to crack them over the grill, but you can make
individual little foil trays – or use the ones in which individual pies are sold. Pop then on the
grill and crack an egg into each one – kids will particularly enjoy having their own little
individual egg – and it’s easy to see when they’re done. Alternatively you could just pop a
frying pan on the grill, but it depends upon how traditional you are about the whole
barbecue element!
If your grill has a lid, this is a novel egg cooking idea. Take some large flat mushrooms and
scoop out the centres, leaving a well for your eggs to sit in. Drizzle some oil into the well and
pop over the hot coals for a minute or so to heat up. Then, crack the egg into the well and
close the lid of your barbecue. It will probably take two or three minutes for the egg to
cook.

2. If you enjoy French toast have a go at grilling it on the barbecue. Whip up some eggs and
milk, dip your slices of bread in it until they are well coated and then place on the grill. Cook
until lightly golden. You can serve with sugar and lemon like a pancake, or even some maple
syrup.
Tomatoes are delicious grilled, but make sure you use large tomatoes that can stand up to
the rigours of barbeque grilling – and that are big enough not to slip through the grill! Tasty
beef tomatoes are best – season and drizzle with a little olive oil – and if you grow herbs,
grabs a couple of basil leaves and rip them over the cut side of the tomato for extra flavour.
Finally, after all that excess, finish off with some fruit, so that you feel that you have been
very healthy, enjoying your breakfast in the open air. Oh, but you need to barbecue it first
of course, those are the rules! To get the best out of your fruit, use firm fruit that is not
likely to fall apart, and then before you get busy with the rest of breakfast, slice it, leaving
on the skins to help it stay intact. Slice pineapple, cut bananas lengthways, and slice pears
and apples. Leave the fruit to soak in cold water with some lemon juice added to prevent it
browning. This means that by the time the fruit comes to the grill it will be very moist and
won’t dry out during the cooking process. Take the fruit out of the water and drain. Then
brush with melted butter (you can add spices or other flavourings to this if you fancy). Then
grill until it has heated through and has that griddled look. Serve on its own or with Greek
yogurt.
There are always some side dishes at BBQs and your barbecue breakfast will be no
exception. Baked beans, scrambled eggs, fresh bread and a pot of hot coffee and orange
juice. Barbecue breakfast – the best meal of the day.