Monday, 19-06-22

 Good morning, everyone.

There was a bit of interest in my new sort-of barbecue so here's a bit of info.  It's called a Cobb 

It was first developed in Africa and designed to use discarded corn on the cob husks, hence the name.  It was also a way of cooking securely to minimise the danger of fires.  It is very efficient (says the bumph), using one lighter and around ten charcoal briquettes per session.  It's very safe - because of the design, the outer layer stays cool so you can stand it on anything to cook - I had mine on a wooden fold up table (unfolded, obviously) and it's perfectly true.  I could hold it, move it about with my bare hands and the underneath was barely warm.

It has a dome cover which you are supposed to use, even when grilling.  Basically, it isn't really a barbecue, it's a way of cooking outdoors, ideal for camping or caravanning, I should think, or for taking to the beach or on a picnic.  You can stand pans on it but the handle would get in the way of the dome so it might take longer.  However, you can buy accessories which sit safely on the grid.

There's no real way of controlling the heat.  No air vents, etc.  The sides are cooler than the middle though, like a real barbie.  It's not a macho thing, a boy's toy.  It's too easy and understated for that.  Fine by me!

All the inner bits, the bits that get dirty, can be washed in the dishwasher.  Yay!

It's small.  I should say it does two max and you can see from my photo that, with a meat fest and a few veg, it's full.  It is absolutely perfect for one.  It's so easy to set up and clean, I'd be happy to set it up for a steak and some griddled veg.  It will be more a question of 'is it warm enough?' rather than 'can I be bothered?'.

The main drawback is cost.  It's flippin' expensive, as are the accessories and the made for purpose Cobblestones which are an alternative to charcoal, made from coconut fibre, I gather and, they say, more environmentally friendly.  However, they, also, are expensive although you can use half at a time if you don't want a longer cooking time

(Just to add, I haven't been paid or sponsored for this review in any way.  I bought it with my own money and haven't been in contact with the company.  I bought it using Lakeland online.)

Yesterday's meals:

Fruit salad for breakfast.  Afterwards I had a banana that needed using up.

Not the best photo in the world.  I ate out and chose the superfoods salad.  
The menu said:

"Giant couscous, broccoli, mixed beans, red onions, capers & halloumi cheese, all tossed in a citrus dressing, garnished with pomegranate seeds, coconut flakes & toasted cashew nuts. Add chicken"

I did add chicken and I asked for the smaller plate version but she either misheard or forgot because when it came it was the full version.  Ooops.  Never mind, I ate some and the rest went in the 'doggy bag', hence that photo.  It's now two separate portions and in the freezer so that's a couple of lunches this week sorted.

It was absolutely delicious.  I can't find the nutritional information anywhere, unfortunately, but then divided into three, it can't be ruinous, especially as it's an 'instead of', not an 'as well as'.

Dinner was a simple steak with some roasted veg - onion, squash, tomato and pepper (speed) and sweet potato (free).  I just had some fruit salad and skipped the yogurt.

And that was that.

Today's plans:

B:  a smoothie

 - with the usual proviso that I don't syn blended or mashed fruit.
I'll make this using 20g oats, 250 ml oat milk, a banana and some soft fruit, mostly strawberries as I have some from the garden to use up.

It should be just right to keep me going through circuits

SW:  one healthy extra A and half a B.  The rest is speed and free

L:  superfoods salad with a side salad; fruit

See above - perfect for after circuits and a swim.

SW:  unknown but has to be OK.  There's not a lot of halloumi so let's call it an A choice and the dressing is not very oily to I think calling it five syns should cover any oil, the nuts, etc.

D:  creamy chicken pasta, maybe salad or veg; fruit and yogurt

I will spray fry onion, pepper and mushroom, add some sliced chicken and let it all cook with some seasonings, then add some tomato and let it all simmer together before adding some 5% yogurt for the creaminess.  I'll cook either some posh (I'm still ploughing my way through it) pasta or some wholemeal and add that to the chicken mixture.  I'll see how much it makes before deciding whether to add salad or veg.

SW:  one syn for up to 60g 5% yogurt, the rest is speed and free

Exercise:   circuits and a swim

Summary:

two healthy extra As

half a healthy extra B

approx six syns

From the freezer:

the salad

chicken