Dancing on My Table

I’ll have to eat the eggplant. We only grow 5-6 a year. Actually, that’s a grandiose statement. I think the most edible specimens we’ve harvested count to, well, two and they were small. But anyway, do I want to mess up the hob top with frying splatters? Fill the room with charred offerings? There’s so much to consider apart from hunger, satiation. Perhaps I’ll pick it and cook it tomorrow.

I’ll have to decide whether I am going to eat the eggplant with the small brown streak in it or not. I’m not sure I’m feeling like eggplant, as much as I love it. But I’ve just cleaned my teeth to get rid of the peanuts, which were just slightly past their best. Well, I’m fussy. I eat more peanuts than anyone I know. I was annoyed when they got taken off aircraft cos I loved those little snack packs of them. I always asked for extras, then, alone in some hotel room somewhere, as an aperitif with a glass of shoddy plonk from the room fridge, I’d sit, feet up on whatever bit of furniture I could stretch too, nibbling the peanuts, one by one, savouring each salty crunchy little bite. They were always good, always fresh, because, stuffed into small packets, there was not much air. The packets I buy now, with enough for a week of solid solitary munching, are often, well, to a peanut afficionado, not quite there.

Here we are at the end of January with Christmas just a memory. Many of us ‘down under’ are still on summer holidays, and desperately looking for ways to entertain clammy whiney kids. There’s just one thing that does it, and that’s water! Whether it’s a big bucket of water for toddlers that they can’t tip over or fall into, but can dip containers in and out of, or for older kids a quick hosing down with the garden hose, water offers the dual purpose of creating entertainment while cooling down hot sticky bodies and settling frayed nerves. On warm days herd them outside in a shady spot, put an old cloth on the ground, give them some fruit, a chopping board and a knife, just sharp enough to cut fruit like a banana and watermelon, but not so sharp so that it will cut them (or do the cutting for them), and show them how to stick cubes of fruit on toothpicks (or bluntish skewers). They’ll love doing it and will eat plenty of fruit…but, man, will they make a sticky mess! Hence having them outside – just hose them off once they’ve finished, rinse the cloth and hang it up to dry. You’ll feel pleased with yourself that you found an inexpensive and healthy way to fill in a hot afternoon.

Adults love fruit kebabs, too, and one of my favourite ways is from my book Sizzle Sensational Barbecue Food, with pieces of skewerd fruit sprinkled with a liqueur such as Cointreau, dusted with icing sugar and barbecued on the hot plate (or in a non-stick skillet) until lightly golden. Yum! Carmelized Fruit Kebabs

Great News!

My book Never-ending Summer has won the award for the Best Barbecue Book in New Zealand in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards and now goes on to compete with books from around the world. The awards will take place in Paris 11th February 2010 as part of the inaugural Paris Cookbook Fair. Wish me luck!

The fair is open to the public Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th, and to professionals on Friday 12th and Monday 15th. As well as a cookbook and wine exhibition, there will be cookery demonstrations, wine tastings, discussion forums and much more. Visit www.cookbookfair.com for more information.