Diesel Rogers Dining with Diesel www.sunlive.co.nz

Maybe it is my new bionic leg, or the sweet smells of the summer barbecue, but something is putting more than one spring in my step lately.

Whatever it is, I have found a new energy source lately and have been bouncing off the proverbial walls, and for once it is not trying to escape from the ‘Mad German' attached to my tail.
The boss has been scratching his head wondering if I have been eating too many wild plants in my pursuit of eradicating the pesky possums, but all I can say is those vets at Bethlehem sure know how to get a dog's hind leg cocked properly, and the old cruciate ligament is better than ever. Perhaps some of our invalid sportspeople should pay them a visit, as I am sure a needle 5mm in diameter coming towards them will have them attached to Ussain Bolt's shorts in no time at all. Thanks again you good people at The Bethlehem Vets.
Chasing kingis
To continue my energetic story, I had so much enthusiasm at the beach this weekend that I did not stop at chasing boring old sticks, stones and the odd pinecone, hell no! I decided to have a crack at a pesky kingfish, the scaly varmint came thrashing within a Labrador's lunge of my beach, so the least I could do was launch my new, sleek, buff body in hot pursuit. I was all over him, as if a stray was trying to steal my food.
Unfortunately, I came within a dog's whisker of getting hooked on the bloody boss's surfcaster. How was I supposed to know he was reeling in the creep from the deep?
They make those nylon fishing lines almost impossible to see (I guess that's the point).
The fish had a miraculous escape from both of us, and I was deeply embarrassed and hurt with the boss's language and what I could spend the rest of my life doing. Needless to say, I was in the dogbox for a few minutes but eventually he saw the funny side. Plus, my charm and disarming personality soon got me back onside (maybe the Welsh backline should do the same). I convinced him that it was possibly undersized anyway. The boss reckons the kingies were following the stingrays in a symbiotic relationship – I am not sure what that means, but it sounds like something out of his breakfast muesli and yoghurt bowl. Damn I hope I do not find a pair of Roman sandals under his desk.
He did say though that ‘symbiotic' sounds a lot like the National and Maori parties playing at being mates; they tolerate each other for as long as it takes to get what they each want.
Salty old dog
Mmmmmmmmm sounds fishy to me.
I have got to tell you I am very content not dipping my paws in the water to see if they like a salty old dog; will leave the stingrays for them. Even the intrepid ‘Chocolate Crusader' knows his limits.
And talking about limits, there are few in the meaty line that you cannot get from my good mate Johnny the Aussie butcher boy in Gate Pa. He has all the best meaty selections for your summer barbecue. Make sure you say a great big howdy to him from me.
And wait, there is more, you can still get your Christmas ham from him in time for the big day as I have said it once and I will say it again, you can't beat Johnny's meat. Cheers all, that's it from me for another week.

Cajun kick

Ingredients
1kg turkey nibbles
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp paprika
½ tsp white pepper
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp oregano
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp onion powder
½ cup lemon juice
¼ cup vegetable oil

Method:
Combine the dry spices in a small bowl. In a shallow glass dish or a large zip lock bag, place the lemon juice and oil. Add half the spice mix and stir to combine.
Add the turkey nibbles, turning to coat both sides. Cover and marinate for two hours (or overnight) in the refrigerator.
Drain the nibbles and sprinkle both sides with the remaining seasoning mix. Place on a hot barbecue until cooked through.