Top five BBQ hacks from Glasgow MasterChef champion
Gary Maclean, a former MasterChef champion from Glasgow, has teamed up with Mary's Meals to encourage people to support the charity during National BBQ Week.
Mary's Meals provides more than 2.6 million children in 16 countries with a daily meal at school, helping to fight hunger and promote global education.
(Image: Supplied)
Read more: Glaswegians reveal unusual BBQ meats they're most tempted to try
To help the charity's mission, Gary is encouraging Scottish families to make a small donation at their upcoming BBQs.
With that in mind, the chef has shared some game-changing advice to help bring summer BBQs to the next level.
He said: "This National BBQ Week, you could ask family and friends for a small donation to come along to your barbecue, and if you use my five top tips, you'll make your guests happy all while giving hope to hungry children."
Gary's top five tips include marinating meat overnight, bringing meat or fish to room temperature before cooking, using two heat zones on the barbecue, adding a bit of smoke, and letting meat rest before carving.
He also shared some bonus tips, such as grilling courgettes, mushrooms, and leeks, using half an onion to clean the grill, brushing on sweet glaze or BBQ sauce near the end to avoid burning, and trying dessert on the grill with halved peaches or apples in foil with brown sugar and a splash of whisky.
Gary also suggested some Scottish twists on barbecue classics, including haggis-stuffed peppers, whisky-glazed venison burgers, Aberdeen Angus brisket with Irn-Bru glaze, and seaweed butter corn.
(Image: Supplied)
Read more: Glasgow chef lecturer recognised by top culinary academy
Dan McNally, head of grassroots at Mary's Meals, said: "With the sun out and with Gary's top tips, there's never been a better time to get grilling, all while supporting Mary's Meals.
"It costs just 10p to provide one school meal to a hungry child with Mary's Meals.
"With a £5 donation at your next barbecue, we can reach 50 children with a nutritious meal."
The charity is also selling cooking aprons through their online shop, these aprons can be purchased for just £15 and help to feed 150 school children.
More information about Mary's meals, including how to donate, can be found on the charity's website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
23 minutes ago
- The National
Police 'examining' Kneecap and Bob Vylan Glastonbury performances
Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, led crowds on the festival's West Holts Stage in chants of: 'Free, free Palestine' and: 'Death, death to the IDF'. It has been reported that police are looking into Kneecap's performance after a member of the Irish rap trio suggested fans 'start a riot' outside his bandmate's upcoming court appearance. In a post on social media, Avon and Somerset Police said: 'We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon. READ MORE: Scottish refugee charity 'won't shut up, it will show up', says founder 'Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan's performance, a government spokesperson said. They added: 'We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury. 'The Culture Secretary has spoken to the BBC Director General to seek an urgent explanation about what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance, and welcomes the decision not to re-broadcast it on BBC iPlayer.' A BBC spokesperson said: 'Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were deeply offensive. During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.' During Kneecap's set, which was not aired by the BBC, band member Naoise O Caireallain, stage name Moglai Bap, lead chants of 'fuck Keir Starmer'. He told the crowd: 'The prime minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so fuck Keir Starmer.' Moglai Bap's comments come after several politicians, including the Prime Minister, called for Kneecap to be removed from the line-up. The band also led crowds in chants of 'Free Palestine', with Liam Og O hAnnaidh, stage name Mo Chara, commenting on the sheer number of flags at the festival after the field where they played had to be closed following overcrowding concerns. O hAnnaidh wore a keffiyeh during the hour-long set, while member JJ O Dochartaigh, stage name DJ Provai, wore his signature tri-coloured balaclava along with a T-shirt that said: 'We are all Palestine Action', in reference to the soon-to-be banned campaign group. The Belfast group made the headlines after O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a gig in November last year. Last week, the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20.
.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75%26crop%3D3%3A2%2Csmart%26trim%3D&w=3840&q=100)
Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Festival Fringe: The producer who contacted 100 firms for 'missing out' Scottish comedians
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A comedy producer has told how she contacted over 100 Scottish companies looking for Edinburgh Festival Fringe funding for local comedians 'missing out' on fame. Katie Palmer, of Brass Tacks, decided to create a fund to pay for the costs of performing at the Fringe after realising Scottish comedians were being under-represented at a national and international level, in part due to the rocketing costs of performing at the event. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad After sending out a sponsorship proposal to around 100 Scottish companies she believed might be a good fit to support local comedy, Ms Palmer heard back from only ten - with all of them refusing to fund the idea. Jack Traynor is from Cumbernauld but still felt he could not afford to perform at the Fringe. | Jack Traynor Eventually, she sent out a letter on spec to drinks giant Red Bull UK, which offered her £4,000. She has since managed to find match funding from Glasgow comedy club Blackfriars of Bell Street to allow her to sponsor two comedians Jack Traynor and Ayo Adenekan, who were among more than 50 applicants. 'We had over 50 applicants, which was incredible to see,' she said. 'But [it was] also devastating to see that 50-plus Scottish comedians felt like they could debut this year, but couldn't afford it.' The idea for the fund was born during last year's Fringe. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Palmer said: 'It really came to light in my head during the Fringe last year of the lack of support for Scottish comedy. It just feels as though there's very rarely a Scottish comedian who will be nominated for any awards or get big TV opportunities off the back of the Fringe, despite the Scottish comedy scene being genuinely incredible.' Ayo Adenekan is to receive money from the Brass Tacks Debut Fund. | Colette Ms Palmer added: 'At this point, it feels as though the comedy industry in the UK should be over-represented by Scottish acts, but it's not. People who watch Live at the Apollo or go to comedy in London or Birmingham should be thinking 'how come so many of these people are Scottish?' Because we have the biggest festival in the world on our doorstep and Scottish comedians should be over-represented in that. But I think in many ways, it's the opposite, they're missing out.' Ms Palmer started Brass Tacks Comedy in January last year, and has produced a range of successful shows at the 2024 Fringe, including Amy Annette's sell-out run with extra shows added, and Grace Mulvey, who was named one of the top 12 shows of the Fringe by Rolling Stone. The producer said: 'The fact that Jack Traynor felt the Fringe was not on his horizon and he was completely priced out of it, despite living in Scotland, was unbelievable. He lives in Cumbernauld and he just wasn't planning to ever come here. It just wasn't - and couldn't be - in his plans.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Katie Palmer of Brass Tacks. | Katie Palmer of Brass Tacks. Mr Traynor said: "There's no two ways about it - if I didn't have the backing of Blackfriars and Brass Tacks, I wouldn't be doing the Fringe. 'The Fringe is a different beast and trying to compete with the finances … even though I live in Scotland, it's easy to just get left behind.' Mr Adenekan said: 'I applied because this was an amazing opportunity - being able to make my Fringe debut without having to bear the financial burden was a major factor for me. 'The fact the fund was created for Scottish acts, by a Scottish company, made me even more eager to apply because I feel the Scottish scene is often overlooked, even on our own doorstep.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Edinburgh Live
3 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh dad's new career after going viral on Facebook 'by chance'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A working class Edinburgh dad-of-two has told how he won't listen to the doubters as he continues on his journey to country music stardom. Sean Mearns, 40, from Clermiston, is father to his two boys, Robbie, 10, and Luke, five, and husband to wife Kerri, 36, and has already had his music played on UK radio stations. Working as a maintenance worker, he has told how he is aiming for the stars after a chance Facebook Live has led to him eyeing up a 12-night-run, playing country music classic for 6,000 Fringe festival goers. Sean, who specialises in Scottish, Irish and American country music, is hoping his own journey can inspire others to follow in his footsteps. 'It all started four years ago when I felt like I was just plodding along in life,' he said. 'I felt my brain was wasting away so I decided to learn how to play the guitar and got some lessons. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. 'I started playing in the snug in my house and went from there," he said. "My brother Jamie had his 40th in Liverpool and his pal Dennis (DelBhoy) came along. 'On the minibus he was playing away and my brother and his mates goaded me on to give it a go. I sang Callum Beattie's 'Salamander Street' and everyone loved it. 'Dennis was blown away and asked my story but I said I just play in my room and mind my own business. Little did I know my brother had Facebook Live'd me and my wife told me it was everywhere back home. 'Dennis asked me to come see him when I was home but I thought nothing of it.' Sean moved on with his life and continued to play for himself until he saw some sage advice he offered to his Robbie rebounded back at him. It was at this point the dad thought he had nothing to lose. 'My boy Robbie was playing footy but was doubting himself,' he said. 'I told him he's amazing and he is doing the right thing and back himself. 'Then he turned to me and called me out. 'How about you back yourself too dad.' 'So we agreed I'd go see Dennis and he'd crack on with his football and we'd both smash it. That has been the deal ever since.' With the help of Dennis, Sean got out gigging, and he dived in deep playing in front of 120 people in the Midyoken pub. Two and a half years later, he has not looked back. 'The difference between me and other people, a lot folk talk a good game, but I just do it. My motto is we go big or we go home. 'I don't shy away from anything and when the opportunity came to perform at the Grand Lodge on George Street during the Fringe, I jumped at it. We will be performing in front of 500 people a night for twelve nights, hopefully selling 6,000 tickets. 'We will be doing a Country Music All-Stars show, playing classic covers from over the years.' As a working class resident of the capital, Sean notes people from his community often do not see the Fringe as for them, but he sees no reason why that should be the case. 'We have a mindset it is not for us, but why not?', he said. 'I started off doing covers but then I recorded my first single 'She wanted him' with Dennis. 'My music started taking off, I've had 60,000 streams, and 100,000s of views on TikTok. It was surreal getting comments from people in America loving the music. 'My family have also been amazing, they are just embracing what I am doing, even though they are a bit shocked. No one was expecting me to go down this route. 'It is definitely picking up momentum, folk are stopping me in town and asking for a picture. After the Fringe show I'll probably look to do a Scottish tour.' Sean said he often meets older men in pubs who live with regrets they did not pursue their dream and he details how he does not want to be one of them. 'If you have a passion for something you want to do, go and do it,' he said. 'No regrets and I say that to my sons. 'Sometimes you have to take a big step and it is easy for others to judge. As Scottish folk we like to knock people who try things, but we should support them, and let people thrive. 'Life is too short. There is a stigma around failure but why can't we succeed?' Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Sean is also keen to give back with the maintenance man regularly playing free shows at nursing homes and charities. 'It's just an hour of my time and sometimes it makes their day or even their week.' To explore Sean's music visit his Facebook here.
