As you are no doubt aware, just because you declare a random week in the year to be ‘National Whatever Week’, doesn’t mean you’re going to get the weather for it. Especially if you’re in the UK and you want to do an outdoor activity in May. So, since this National Barbecue Week looks set to be a washout, I have something for all you Edinburgers who just want your BBQ Burgers.
Look at that walloping great slab of meat! A short walk from miserable barbecues in The Meadows, Shebeen is an authentic South African Bar and Braai (the SA equivalent to a barbecue) located on Morrison Street with a second location soon to open in Dalry. If you like your meat, this place has you covered with everything from steaks in two size options (Cheetah sized portion or Lion if you’re of sturdier appetite) or a burger than can feed four to South African boerewors sausage or traditional slow cooked stew. I recommend the mixed grill for the indecisive – lamb chop and beef rump steak, a sausage, wedges, crispy onion rings and a grilled mushroom all topped off with a gloriously runny-yolked fried egg.
Now that is what you call Barbecue Bliss.
When I heard that there was a new burger joint opening in Edinburgh, said to be the city’s answer to Byron (London’s answer to Five Guys – we’re in a burger matrix people), I couldn’t wait to try it. Named simply as Burger, does it set a new standard of burger in Edinburgh?
Located in my end of town in Fountainbridge, Burger certainly has potential to become my new go to. The interior is a simple, industrial style and reflects the ethos that the focus is doing something simple well. We visited at around 2pm on a Saturday and it was busy but we had no problem finding seats. Much like rival Wannaburger, you order at the counter, get handed a buzzer and collect your food when it’s ready. The food is served on Vegware compostable packaging which is a fab move from Burger.
The most important part – the food! The menu is straightforward – pick from a regular burger, cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger, chicken or veggie burgers. There is also a specials menu which changes weekly and includes hotdogs on the weekends. I went for the bacon cheeseburger – best to test the basics! Once I got rid of the pickles it was perfect. Juicy burger, smoky bacon, and a burger sauce that adds a tiny bit of spice without overwhelming everything else. I enjoyed the brioche bun too which added a hint of sweetness and – importantly – didn’t get soggy and fall apart half way through the meal. My dining partner got one of the specials, a Juicy Bluecy with blue cheese cooked into the middle of a double patty. He was equally happy with his choice.
It’s Fridaaaayyy! What you drinking? This is the real Black Friday for guys and gals who work in bars across the country, it being the last Friday before Christmas. Can you say ‘office party’? For people who want to avoid the madness, here’s my current favourite tipple to have while lying on the couch. And on the coffee table when things escalate.
I love a cheat’s way of baking. I’ll often crack out the Betty Crocker box mixes if I plan on doing some fancy decorations – you gotta save time one way or another! And it is still homemade, I baked it in my oven! I put in my own egg! Plus, those Betty Crocker boxes taste damn delicious. This recipe is a super easy basic cupcake recipe (yes, proper from scratch) and a cheat’s ‘icing’.
Ingredients (for 12):
Pop on some novelty rings!
How about a ‘Santa stuck in a snow drift’ design using the royal icing?
Or, my favourite, pop them under the grill for a few minutes for a delicious toasted s’mores topping. Yum!
I wanted to try something else with my neon sugar sprinkles that wasn’t a cupcake so I went for these Confetti Cookies. They are adapted from a recipe for chocolate chip cookies. I just swapped the chips for sprinkles, believe me though, if I had both they would be going in.
This recipe makes lovely chewy, soft cookies. Use the same recipe for your chocolate chip cookies too, it’s the best one I’ve found so far.
Ingredients:
Graze boxes are my new favourite thing and since this blog is really all about my favourite stuff, I thought they deserved their own little post. I am, by nature or habit, a grazer; I could eat all day. So in order to try and be slightly healthier I decided to sign up and become a Graze-r. I started getting these just a few weeks ago (one a week) and every one has been a winner so far. 
In each box you get four punnets, which are the perfect size for “elevensies,” mid-afternoon snacking or supper time. When you sign up you can browse all the food available and ‘bin’ the snacks that you know you won’t like (for me, the olives) so you know that you’ll only get stuff you want to try. I’ve had 4 boxes so far and there has only been one I didn’t like (dried pear is not my fave) but I just clicked ‘bin’ on the website so I know I won’t get it again. I’ve also had a mixture of sweet and savoury in each box so far which has been perfect. 
Toffee Apple has been one of my favourites so far. So sweet but only 68 calories!
