Must Try Harder to Get Along?

One can only imagine the sage words of advice from teachers and parents at Hurstbridge Primary school in Melbourne's outer north-east after security guards were hired to watch over a grade 1 barbecue and graduation ceremony.

Police were called to the school in Melbourne's north-east after parents allegedly threatened a teacher with physical and verbal assault.

The threats were made by supporters of the former principal, who was forced to stand down while the State Government investigated bullying accusations.

The investigation is still ongoing, and tensions have been mounting as several acting principals have passed through the school's halls and one person has been accused of stalking the former principal.

Hurstbridge’s acting principal said the actions of "a small number" of parents had caused the security guard’s presence at the bbq, and her main concern was for children's well-being.

"I want to stress that this is not about students' behaviour but about the actions of a small number of parents," she said.

Merry Christmas kids!

Sitting Pigeon at BBQ

A good chef knows how to improvise and this talented Russian BBQ-er had lady luck on his side when he was running out of tasty morsels to add to his barbeque.

Out of nowhere comes the makings of a tasty pigeon-kabob!

Personally, I like mine plucked, gutted and smothered in Anchor Bar Honey BBQ sauce but you can't look a gift horse in the mouth...

OMG, he wouldn't!!!!

Sausage Blokes Are Popping Up Everywhere this Christmas

Good news BBQ lovers!

Charcool's popular "Sausage Bloke" gadgets are popping up all over Australia this Christmas.

We've been having quite a run on these insanely popular BBQ novelties and have just received our Christmas stock.

Sometimes it gets a bit lonely when you shoulder the responsibility of catering for your mates while they're having a beer and singing Christmas carols.

But, nothing draws a crowd faster than a Charcool Sausage Bloke when you're cooking snags!

Selling for less than $20 and made from food grade stainless steel, your Sausage Bloke is a great Christmas gift, or is at least better company than most of the yobs you invited!

So, invite a Charcool Sausage Bloke to your next BBQ while you still can!

BBQ Boys Toy Well Done!

The clever people at Gazillion know it's never too early to get the kids involved in your passion for BBQ gadgets.

This niffty Bubble BBQ toy, available from KB Toys, looks like heaps of fun for the little tackers.

As well as 6 bubble molds in the shape of steaks and sausages, the kit comes with 2 tongs, a basting brush and a spatula (all bubble wands) so they can cook up their bubble trouble right alongside Dad.

The Gazillion Bubble BBQ is a bargain at $12.99 and won iParenting's Media Award for Best Product in 2008.

But watch out: 8 x AA batteries not included!!!

Nudist Sausage Sizzle Flops

With just 4 days to go to the US presidential election and midway through the worst financial crisis since the 1930's, spare a thought for the struggling Taranaki Naturalist's Club, south of Auckland, New Zealand.

Stuff.co.nz reports that the club's annual sausage sizzle and Membership drive BBQ was about as popular as a Lehman Brother's CDO.

Club president Arthur Eagle blamed the zero turnout on the rush of modern living and revealed that memberships at New Zealand's 21 Naturalist clubs were falling faster than the Kiwi dollar.

Taranaki's membership has dropped to just 60 hardy souls and the sausage "fizzle" was part of a nationwide drive for new members, specifically young families, that could allow the movement to survive.

The photo of Arthur and his "snags" made us think that perhaps the club should considering including a Charcool sausage bloke as part of it's new member welcome kit.

What do you think?

Every "Body" Loves Halloween

If the recent spate of BBQ body disposals (California, Thailand, Detroit, Texas) has got you thinking that October 31 could be the ideal time to dispose of your gran with "extreme prejudice" and make the ultimate Halloween decoration, here's a legal alternative from Make Magazine.

Post your own ghoulish BBQ Halloween ideas while there's still time.

A Little BBQ Hygiene

Personally I have never subscribed to the "Cleanliness-is-next-to-Godliness" mantra but the occasional bout of BBQ hygiene is good for your BBQ.

Cleaning your BBQ a couple of times a year will extend the life of parts such as gas burners and grill racks while minimising visits from the local health authorities!

You'll need a strong wire brush, aluminum foil, steel-wool, sponges, washing-up detergent, baking soda, cooking oil and a six-pack! I am not so keen on chemical cleaners (either for cleaning or drinking) as it's hard to get rid of the residual taste.

First up, use the wire brush to scrub the surfaces and remove any food, marinade, spices or corrosion that have built up on the grill or hotplate.

If this doesn't remove all the grime, you may need to wash the grill racks to remove the final vestiges of last year's festivities.

Just brush off as much debris as possible before soaking the grill in a tub of hot soapy water before cleaning briskly with a stainless steel scourer. This is method is easy with stainless steel racks like those on a Weber but is also fine for cast iron racks as long as you dry and oil them after the shampoo!

On lightly soiled BBQs you may be able to get away with a light scrub using baking soda and aluminum foil. Warm the BBQ to make make grease removal easier, then allow it to cool, sprinkle with baking soda and then scrub with the rolled up aluminium foil.

Once the grill racks and hot plate are clean, you need to coat them with a fine mist of cooking oil (olive oil is best) from a spray can. This coating on the barbecue grill will keep the racks lubricated and prevent rusting in between uses.

If you use volcanic rock to spread the heat on your BBQ, this is a good time to change them as they will have accumulated a build up of grease and fat that will cause smoking.

Now, if all this seems like too much work, here are some other suggestions:

Disposable grill liners: These newly patented disposable grill covers are made of heavy duty aluminium foil.

Grillo sheet: A Grillo sheet, is a perforated stainless steel sheet to put over your grill for cooking delicate foods like fish. It has the added advantage of keeping your grill clean.

Aluminium foil: Take a tip from Life Hacker and clean your grill with aluninium foil

Onion: Another tip, use onion on your grill.

Out-source: Call someone like these guys to come and do it for you