Promising a end to garlicky fingers, this marks and spencers garlic slicer is a great handy gadget for the kitchen.

By holding the garlic cloves securely in a plastic carriage, which you then move across its stainless steel blades. It slices and shreds without mess or waste.

Put your gadget to great use by trying out my recipe for Tropical Noodles. This is one of those dishes which we have developed over the years to teach my son to cook for himself while studying.

For my Tropical Noodles you are going to need: (This makes enough for 2 servings) 25g cashew nuts chopped, 200g pineapple chucks in natural juice, 100g chinese egg noodles, 1 tblsp vegetable oil, 1 garlic clove sliced, 1 bunch of spring onions sliced thickly on the diagonal, 1 large firm mango cubed, 1 large red pepper, deseeded and diced, 2 tblsp sweet chilli sauce and 1 tblsp soy sauce.

Place the cashew nuts in a non-stick pan and stir over a medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes until golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside. Drain the pineapple chunks and reserve the juice. Cook your noodles according to the instructions. Heat the oil in the wok, add the garlic, spring onions, mango and red pepper and stir fry over a high heat for 5 minutes. Then stir in the sweet chilli sauce, soy sauce, pineapple chunks and 1 tblsp of the reserved juice. Stir fry for a further 2 minutes before draining the noodles and arrange on 2 serving plates then spoon over the tropical stir fry and finish by sprinkling over the top the cashew nuts.

If you like chinese dishes try out my recipes in my previous blog bring back time to eat together as a family and chinese new year - year of the ox along with many more recipes in my blogs to tantalise your tastebuds!

Well the sun has been shining again, and looking at the group of friends in my back garden this evening a little too much sun has been had from all the red sunburn patches I can see. ‘Oh that is definitely going to hurt later!’.

I have prepared some tasty delights which will suit all of my guests, as some are vegetarian. The bbq has been on for hours now and sizzling away on top now are some homemade lamb & mint burgers I have made. The jacket pototoes which were wrapped in foil in the coals have come out now and are keeping warm while my mexican delight is finishing in the oven.

While the weathers hot and the wine is flowing, my friends love their spicy flavours to come across in their food. With a large salad freshly prepared I have some homebaked baps, which I have to say are a little on the large side. But I am not going to hear the fella’s complaining and has it happens they have turned out to be the perfect size for my homemade lamb & mint burgers. In these baps I have chopped cucumber, sweet baby plum tomatoes, watercress and cubed feta, on top of which I shall place the lamb & mint burgers which I am serving with a mint & yogurt dip I made earlier.

And for my dear veggy friends mexican potatoes, with a crop of new potatoes fresh out of my garden. I have taken these around a pound in weight and sliced them, added around 5 floz of homemade chicken stock, 1 tin 14oz of kidney beans, 1 tsp of marjoram, 1 - 7oz tin of red pimientos (these make the dish), 1/2 - 1lb of rich smoked bacon from my local butcher & parsley to garnish. Place all this in a casserole dish & cover place in the oven at gas 3/ 160 c / 325 f for about an hour and this is delicious served with salad and a chunk of homemade bread.  (For your homemade bread try my blog loafing around in the morning, about bread machines with recipes for making your own bread as this will go down a storm at your bbq’s)

Although the tequilla should be served after you have eatten, but someone forgot to tell Aidy that one!!

Check out  my previous blog bar-b-q funtime for a great bbq with every practical part to make bbq safe and easy, so if your looking for a bbq to add to your household cooking appliances make sure you read this first, as everyone voted this BBQ a Winner!!. With fathers day just around the corner why not check out my apron blog for a great idea for that special man in your life.  Another blog you may want to visit from a while ago is my man size burger blog your fella will love you for it!

Why not send in your bbq ideas and what your friends and family enjoy at your bbq’s??