Feast from the fire - Valerie Aikman-Smith

What better way to celebrate summer than to enjoy the very best food cooked over the fire whether at the beach, camping or in your own back yard.

Combining fresh flavours with exciting grilling techniques including cooking on a fire pit grill, salt block cooking and cedar-plank smoking, Valerie Aikman-Smith presents 65 recipes for relaxed summer entertaining. The first chapter features delicious seafood recipes including Baja Fish Tacos with Blistered Jalapeos, Grilled Snapper in Banana Leaves and Mezcal Lime Shrimp on Salt Block. For meat-lovers there's a host of ideas for grilling your favourite fare such as Jerk Pork with Mango Chutney and Grilled Honey Plantains, Portuguese Piri Piri Poussin and an All-American Burger. Valerie includes fabulous vegetable dishes from Grilled Courgette Flowers with Shiso Lemon Salt to Roasted Cauliflower with Walnut Romesco. Desserts designed to round off an alfresco feast include Matcha Ice Cream with Black Sesame Praline or a classic Grilled Banana Split with Dark Chocolate Sauce. Finally, if all the heat has made you thirsty, try a Basil Aperol Spritz with Flowering Herbs, Sicilian Slush Cocktail or a Watermelon Margarita.