httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nw1w2-AVt0

Helenka and I have been holding on to this episode for many months with the intention of releasing it — when the time was right. Well, with last week being one of the coldest we had to face this winter (and the fact that one of the heat pumps within my condo decided to stop working), it seemed to be the right time to remember and reflect on the fun we had this summer.

Speaking of fun, this one has some special effects and certain – shall we say – out of this world entities are back. [I won’t spoil it too much, but Helenka and I just love watching it over and over again.]

Helenka goes into greater detail about our menu, so be sure to check it out below.

Have yourselves a great week and enjoy (by the way this was such a laid back episode even our still photo camera took a vacation)!!

B&H =:)

Helenka’s Notes:

I am so tired of winter and bet that you are too. And that’s why I … er … persuaded (which, come to think of it, is a close cousin to nagging) Brian to release the second BBQ episode, if only to make US feel warmer. If you’re feeling toasty as well, then we did a good deed and consider it a bonus!

I’m sure by now you’ve gotten the inkling that Brian and I love to do elaborate things. A lot. Why have one BBQ sauce when you can have three mixed together with specially chosen spices added? Or some of the episodes where we just had to split the recipe in half and doctor the two portions to create quite striking opposite-taste sensations. Can’t you tell that “Complicated” is our middle name. [Actually, his is Robert and mine Felicia, but Complicated fits, too … and gives us yet another commonality.]

But, for the filming of this BBQ epi, we were tired. It was hot. And complicated was absolutely the last thing on our minds. [Too hot to think, you know.] So the menu was planned to be as uncomplicated as possible. No need for Brian to run himself ragged, trying to find special ingredients in far-off stores. No marinating overnight or pre-baking. No fancy-shmancy stuff. Just honest-to-goodness BBQ flavour and outdoor fun and relaxation. And you couldn’t get more uncomplicated than having me remove the commercially-flavoured Teriyaki chicken breasts from the freezer to defrost them beforehand. Or Brian buying some corn (just plain corn, I tell you!) and onions (okay, so they were Vidalia). Or bringing just the one Teriyaki sauce for basting. In fact, using the Salish sea salt was the utmost in going beyond the call of duty. Though, hey, a very good call. And I have one stroll down memory lane from this episode that I want to share with you: When I was young [Brian butts in, saucily, “You mean like when the Earth was cooling down?”] — we didn’t have such fancy doohickeys as corn holders or a butter roller. We had to make do with a piece of buttered bread and burning our fingers. I love living in the modern era [Brian nods “ME TOO!”].

Variations:
If you can’t tell from my portion of the blog, I thrive on variations on a consistent basis. Which is also one of the reasons why Brian and I play with the recipes to begin with. But, this time, the variation was to cut out the frills, to return to basics. And we certainly did. Because there’s no point in exhausting yourself to prepare the so-called perfect party/BBQ/whatever if you’re going to be a zombie even before your guests arrive. If you can spread the cooking over a few days (having chosen to entertain with a selection of hot and cold dishes which may appear exotic yet still be sensible), then you’re going in the right direction. Or, if you can ask a friend or two to cook a certain dish and bring it, even better. In return, you can (and should) offer to bring your famous whatever-it-is to their party the next time. Because the goal is to be able to actually participate in and enjoy your own party. [Brian and I may have learned that lesson over the last two decades. I hope.] With more and more people caught up in the unrelenting fast-paced frenzy of other real life obligations, it’s vital to remember that your home should be your sanctuary and not merely another arena where you tremble at the thought of being judged. If you want to serve the simplest of foods, go right ahead. Though you may want to make the food appear more special by using your finest china (even if only to justify the fact that you still do have fancy stuff). And the juxtaposition will make it more memorable for your guests.

But, whatever you do, remember to have fun. We do. Though, really, will those guys ever leave me alone. I know I’m effervescent and fun (which obviously means they come from a place that’s not fun, right?), but they’ll have to find a way to make their own without needing to get me involved. ::giggles:: How’s that for piquing your interest without spilling the beans! I hope you’ll enjoy the SFX. I really, really did. ::giggles some more:: Really!