Following on from the Prime Minister’s announcement on the 22nd of September about tighter restrictions in England, a lot of us are still coming to terms with the new rules introduced. From a 10pm curfew for bars and pubs, including table service only to increased wearing of masks indoors.
On top of this, there are also numerous parts of England that are currently under a local lockdown.
Some of the restrictions that residents in these areas face include not mixing with people from another household inside or outside of their home, not mixing with another household in a pub, restaurant, or a bar and much more. To read more about the areas of the UK currently under further restrictions, click here.
As more people now face the prospect of spending yet more time indoors with their family and loved ones and not being able to socialise outside of these groups, things might start getting tough for individuals, young and old.
Here at Cinders Barbecues, we are under no illusion that spending so much time under one roof for so long with the same people, again, will be tough for some of you. Our list of ‘good mood’ foods (and recipes) will hopefully bring some joy and tastiness to your households in these tough times.
Grilled Halloumi
It would be remiss of us not to start off with some grill-based recipes, wouldn’t it? So, here is a nice, simple one to start with. Grilled halloumi.
A favourite of many, this tasty cheese dish is a simple one. If you’ve never grilled halloumi before, here is a simple guide.
Grilled Steak
This one probably won’t go down too well with any vegetarians, vegans or pescatarians out there but if you do eat meat, we’re going to hazard a guess and say that you like a good steak (apologies if you don’t).
There are many ways that you can cook a steak but here at Cinders Barbecues, we feel that a grilled steak is the best. There is so much you can do with a grilled steak, too. Whether you keep it simple with a nice steak and chips meal or you want to mix it up a bit and have a ‘surf and turf’ of sorts by chucking some king prawns on the grill, too. The options are endless.
Grilled Fish
Now, that might seem like it’s quite a broad title but bear with us. There are countless types of fish but not all fish is the same. Some don’t hold up too well on the grill or BBQ as they could become flaky, so invest in some fish grill baskets to keep your fillets whole.
When it comes to fish that do hold up well on the grill, there are a few that we would recommend. There are the obvious choices such as salmon and tuna (one of our favourites) but then there are the more ‘out there’ choices.
These might not be the easiest to get your hands on, but your local fish market might have them. Swordfish is a great one, it’s a very meaty, firm fish and it doesn’t succumb to the grill grates. Swordfish steaks are brilliant.
Next, there’s Mahi Mahi which is a tasty white fish. Again, it might be difficult to get your hands on this but if you can, we highly recommend it. Finally, there is snapper, another white fish great for grilling or throwing on the barbecue.
Now, we’ll move away slightly from the grilled recipes and just look at some foods that are proven mood boosters. The three we’ve already mentioned can go a long way to perking up someone in your house who has had a rough day but trying to get more of these following foods into your diet can help when it comes to looking after your mind and your body.
Garlic
This is a major mood-booster. Garlic is a powerful, natural prebiotic and is packed with zinc which is an essential nutrient in immune health and is also one of the identified antidepressant nutrients.
Oats
Oats are an excellent source of fibre which allows for a gradual release of sugar into the bloodstream and they have also been said to help manage mood swings and irritability. In short, they can help to keep you in a good mood all morning long.
Beans, Peas & Lentils
According to the NHS website, “Pulses, including beans, peas and lentils, are naturally very low in fat and high in fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals.” A no brainer to include more of these, right?
Avocado
The ‘in’ food of the times in all honesty. However, it’s classed as a ‘superfood’ for a reason. Avocado contains magnesium, iron, vitamin A and C, several vitamin Bs and zinc. All good things that can help with your mood. The other good thing about avocado, you can grill it as well and it tastes incredible. Here’s a guide to grilling your avocado.
If you’re finding that you have more time on your hands and are a home more than normal, why not give some of the things we’ve mentioned in this piece a try? Try and introduce more garlic and oats to your life.
Finally, now would be a good time to carry out any maintenance or repairs you might need to your barbecue. Have a look at our range of barbecue spare parts here. If you have any questions about your barbecue or any other Cinders products, you can get in touch with the team here or by calling us on – 01524 262 900.