Kebabs - what? how?

[tassis]

OK, I'm a bit of a BBQ novice and I need some help with kebabs.

What's the deal with soaking the sticks in advance? I want to make them before I go to church tomorrow morning and cook then straight afer so the sticks will no longer be wet...

Also, what can I put on them as well as chicken peppers and mushroom?

Thanks!

you need to soak the sticks before you put the meat on (otherwise they break more easily), but it's ok if they dry out between then and when you chuck them on the barbie.

you can put anything on them really - cherry tomatoes and pineapple chunks are nice (but be careful with hot tomatoes). They're nicer if you mainate in something - even if only olive oil and a bit of garlic.

Red onion!

We usually do them with cubed pork, all colours of pepper, whole mushrooms and red onion wedges.

No idea about soaking the sticks though - is it to stop them catching fire? You can get metal ones (hot for turning though!)

Oh, cherry tomatoes, thanks SP - we do them too (haven't done any for a while)

Mango is also nice between chicken.

You soak the sticks (if they're wooden)to stop them burning on the bbq! So I'd have everything chopped and ready to go before you go out, and leave the sticks soaking, then when you come back, bung everything on the skewers and cook them. Personally I use metal skewers with wooden handles so don't need to soak them! The only other thing I put on them is chunks of red onion.

Thanks everyone.

Off to tescos now...