Backyard BBQ for 2 (and a half)

Having a toddler means we don't eat out much. Sometimes it's more trouble than it's worth - packing extra bits and pieces, drink bottles, toys, spare clothes, finding a place which is child friendly (high chairs or change tables) and even having all that, your toddler might still have an off night and cry, whinge or is really restless only to attract people glaring at you to control your child......so we tend to stay at home and cook instead.

Last Saturday we had planned to cook some steak, marinated beef and marinated tongue like every other time inside on the pan, but just as I was bringing in the clothes that afternoon I thought it would be more fun to cook outside over coals instead. Hence, our backyard BBQ for 2 (and a half).

Left - Sirloin steak cut into cubes

Right - mushrooms

Same as above but we've added marinated beef and some marinated tongue (rough recipe at the end)

A cooked piece of tongue....with fat dripping from it (the only way to eat tongue)

Marinated beef

How I like to eat my marinated beef - lay a piece of beef on a torn lettuce leaf, then put some rice on top, roll it up and down the hatch!

My husband found some marshmellows in the back of our cupboard to Keane's delight

Roasting marshmellows with the meat....ewwwww!

After eating we thought it would be fun to get a fire going

The fire really picked up......

After a break from eating and just enjoying the fire, we kind of got hungry again.....so we dug out the garlic bread from the freezer

Ummmmm we were having too much fun with the fire and sort of forgot about the bread. Rather charred, but it had a nice smokey flavour hahaha!

Since the garlic bread was mostly burnt, we moved onto cheese and crackers

And to finish off the evening was a shared tub of Sabor Portuguese Mousse (Hazelnut flavour).

This mousse is to die for!

And when you are filled up and can't walk what's the best thing to do? Lie down, sit back and relax!

A really relaxing evening in with the family, no temper tantrums, everything ready at hand, great food and no dramas. The best way to enjoy a Saturday night I think!

Here's the marinated tongue recipe. Sorry this is a very rough guide because I never measure out my ingredients for this marinade.

1/2kg of sliced tongue (you could buy a tongue and slice it yourself, but remember to freeze the tongue first because it makes it far easier to cut it thinner)

2-3 tablespoons fish sauce

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoons vinegar

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Leave to marinade for at least an hour. Tongue is best cooked on a very hot grill or pan.