Maybe I did one too many on the aperitifs because it has to be said that my skills as an outdoor chef were certainly in need of a little refinement.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal live. John 3:16 (NIV)

Getting that first taste of barbecue smoke was still fantastic and even after my first disastrous attempt with spit roasted BBQ chicken I was (and still am) hooked on outdoor cooking.

I gradually and tentatively progressed onto sausages and burgers learning as I went that the fat off the food causes the smoke but also can cause the flames. Even to this day I cannot understand why charcoal BBQ grill manufacturers don't make the grill height sufficient to stop flames lapping up at the first spit of the fat. On my own barbecue that was the best I could find I've had to make some modifications.

For greater variety I then invested in a copy of Ainsley's Barbecue Bible and this took me to higher levels even to the point where people were starting to look at what I was cooking and asking how I'd done it. If they were lucky they even got to taste it!

Anyway, barbecuing has become a way of life for me, with more books and now the advent of the internet there are so many more free barbecue recipes and easy smoker recipes readily available. Social networking though is still my favourite way to learn and by that I’m referring to talking with fellow enthusiasts and not necessarily over the web.

I tried barbecue competition events and whilst there was a great sense of occasion and lot’s of fun, it was a little too competitive and recipes kept as closely guarded secrets. So where can you go to meet like minded people? Where can you find more barbecues, smokers and outdoor grills in one place and people sharing and having fun?

At a sports event!

Being a petrol head my chosen event was Les 24 Heures Du Mans (that’s the Le Mans 24 Hour Endurance race to you and me) in France. Not only is there a mix of barbecue enthusiasts and pyromaniacs they come from all over the world so where else is there such a wealth of knowledge, experience and above all a sense of fun?

Camping by a race track with cars flying past at 150+mph, what could be better? OK so it might not appeal to everyone but the sentiment is still clear. It doesn’t have to be as exotic as Le Mans, I found a similar atmosphere with a completely different crowd down at Twickenham for the rugby cup final, everyone hell bent on having a good time, enjoying the food, the event and the other people there. The event isn’t important, it’s the occasion and the people that make it what it is.

So in my book social networking is the answer for new ways to barbecue. For free barbecue recipes, get down to you local sports stadium and have a wander around before the ball game and the inspiration for your next barbecue menu ideas will be right in front of your eyes. This is my idea of social networking!

Bon Appetite!

About the Author: Free Smoker Recipes - Free barbecue grill recipes & meat smoker cooking ideas on gas, charcoal or electric.

Easy Barbecue Recipes - Outdoor grilling tips, easy fire pit menus, healthy rotisserie suggestions, best homemade bbq sauce recipes.

Free BBQ Recipes - Easy recipes for the smoker grill with tips and techniques for a happy cookout.

Web recipes-on-the-net.com

3 Barbecue Chicken Recipes for Crockpots by Kara Kelso
A Quick Dinner Recipe Perfect For Home Or Picnic by Diane Watkins
Artful Cooking (ebook package with over 14,000 recipes and over 190 bonus ebooks)
Backpacking Recipes - The Simplest by Steve Gillman
Barbecue Competitions by Bill Anderson
Barbecue How to's and Two BBQ Recipes by kentuckyslone
Barbecue Pork Ribs Recipe - No Simple Matter by Jeff Slankard
Barbecue Recipe Science Part I by Bill Anderson
Barbecue Recipe Science Part II by Bill Anderson
Barbecue Ribs - Competition Style in Your Backyard by Bill Anderson
Barbeque Shrimp Recipe - Easy to Make by Norm Butler
BBQ Ideas For The Best Hot Wings You Ever Tasted by Jessica S
BBQ Recipe Tips & Techniques
BBQ Secrets Revealed
Bikes, Blues, BBQ, and Brunswick Stew by Bill Anderson
Bourbon Barbecue Sauce by Bill Anderson
Campfire Coffee Recipes by Gary Gresham
Campfire Cooking and Recipes by Charlene Davis
Campfire Cooking (Some Yummy Recipes) by Dennis R Weaver
Camping Recipes by Shirley Atkinson
Camping Recipes for Your Dutch Oven by Sherry Frewerd
Competition BBQ Secrets
Dutch Oven Cooking Basics by Robin Shortt
Dutch Oven Cooking Camping Recipes - 4 Steps To Prepare Dump Cake by Abhishek Agarwal
Easy Backpacking Dinner Recipes by Nicole Munoz
Easy Dutch Oven Cooking by Scouter
Egg-cellent Recipes For Your Favorite Outdoor Activities by Anne Clarke
Extraordinary Tailgating Recipes, Adding Spice to the Game by NS Kennedy
Five Backpacking Recipes by Holt
Grilled Pineapple - The Perfect End to Your Barbecue by Scott Carey
Grilling and Smoking Chicken by Aaron Ralston
Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipes by Hans Dekker
Honey Barbeque Beef Jerky - Making Your Very Own Honey Barbecue Beef Jerky by Caleb Liu
How To Ensure Barbecue Food Safety by Paul Yates
How To Plan the Perfect Spring Picnic by Sarah Potts
How to Smoke a Brisket by Aaron Ralston
How to Smoke A Rack of Spare Ribs by Aaron Ralston
Kid Friendly Recipes by Christine Steendahl
Let's Eat Outside – Great Kid-Friendly Picnic Ideas by Susanne Myers
Let Wood Chips Make Your BBQ Smoker Unique by Louise Yates
Mouth Watering Memphis Style Pork Ribs by Scott Schirkofsky
Outdoor Barbecue by Sarah Potts
Recipe Builder - Recipe Maintenance Made Easy
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse's Barbecue Shrimp Orleans - Make it at Home by Mark Hester
Sanitation & Safety
Skewers- Outdoor Grilling Accessories For Your Favorite Outdoor Activities by Anne Clarke
Smoked Turkey by Peter Emerson
S'mores Recipes - From Classic to Mexican Variations by Kayla List
Steamed Vegetables On The Barbecue Grill by paulyates
The Barbecue Grilling Tip Guide by Marcus Cox
The Best Way to Barbecue Fish by Patrick Tang
Three Tasty And Easy Camping Recipes by Mike Legg
Types of Wood For Smoking by Aaron Ralston
Vinegar Based Barbecue Sauce - We're Not in Kansas Anymore by Jeff Slankard
Western Beef Jerky Recipe - Make Delicious Beef Jerky at Home by Mark Hester

< Back to Barbecue Recipes