Book review: Easy Barbecue

Barbecues rule during summer. They make for easy family dinners and fabulous entertaining. The washing up is minimal, which is always a bonus.

I am the barbecue cook in our family. There are several reasons for this: I like fire, I like to cook and I am a bit of a control freak. Also, my husband is English and what do they know about barbecues?

Easy Barbecue has become my bible. I am working my way through awesome meat and fish recipes, salads, sauces and sweet things.

With more than 100 easy-to-follow recipes, Easy Barbecue covers all the classics: from burgers and chicken wings to fail-safe recipes that impress, such as lamb and porcini kebabs and Sicilian spiced sea bass.

And even the least exciting cut of meat can be given that extra zing with something from the sauces, marinades and dips section. Definitely try the chilli jam.

It has become a permanent in our fridge, I put it on everything, from steak off the barbecue, nachos along with sour cream and guacamole, and even on cold meat sandwiches.With an abundance of tomatoes on the vines this year, I have also taken to making the tomato, sesame and ginger salsa, a lovely accompaniment to, well, everything.

On my favourites list from the meat menu, are spiced pork burger with satay sauce (the sauce has a nice bite to it with the addition of sweet chilli sauce); lamb shish kebab, served with yoghurt and flatbread; and a very impressive looking, yet very easy, open chicken burger with grilled vegetables. We have visitors calling over the next few weeks and I am at the ready to wow them with prawns with chilli oil and pistachio and mint pesto. They are quick and easy, just remember no more than two minutes cooking on each side.

There are dishes for vegetarians, some fabulous salads and also recipes for the perfect breads to serve with your barbecues.

And most importantly there's dessert. Try the grilled fruit parcels and serve with an almond and mascarpone cream. And for the kids you can't go past s'mores - biscuits, chocolate and marshmallows.

The perfect book for a perfect summer.

Easy Barbecue

Ryland Peters & Small, $26.99