East Coast - Summer Picnics

Plan a picnic - its a great way to catch up friends, get the kids out in the air or even have little romantic get together...  and remember the simplest of food always tastes better.

What’s handy to bring along?

Why not keep some of these in the boot of your car… then you are ready for a picnic at any time...

·        A picnic rug – look out for the ones that are backed with waterproofing very handy as ground can be damp..

·        Most of us have a couple of folding chairs and if you happen to have a picnic table or even an old-fashioned card table ..

·        Good quality plastic cups, glasses & plates are a worthwhile investment… if not pick up some paper ones… 

·        Pack of napkins & cutlery

·        A cooler bag to keep your food safe and chilled!

·        A pack of anti bac wipes – handy for cleaning hands etc.

·        A couple of bottles of water are always useful

·        A disposable bbq

Perfect Picnic Food..

Roast a whole chicken – when cool cut into pieces – pop into a plastic storage box in the fridge ready to take on your picnic...  Kids love this... pop in some sauces eg. Satay, Honey Mustard dressing etc. for the adults.

Make a simple Quiche – buy some ready made pastry – line a tart case, whip up 6 eggs, with 4 tbls of cream, pop 2 handfuls of  cooked mushrooms, baby tomatoes, & grated mozzarella cheese.  Pop into a preheated oven @ 180 for about 20 mins or until set in the centre

Roast salmon fillets, with a lime dill mayo

Take 4 salmon fillets –drizzle with olive oil and lemon and        cook @ 170 for 12 mins or until cooked.

When cool pop into a plastic storage box and keep in the        fridge. 

Dill Mayo...   2 tablespoons of dill to 4 tablespoons of      mayo and the juice of one lemon.  Mix well and pack in a little carton again keep in the fridge until you are ready to head off..

Old fashioned Homemade Lemonade w oranges

Easy peasy to make, keeps for 1 day in the fridge, but make sure you cover it as it will absorb other fridge flavours

4 lemons
2 oranges
6 cups of water

½ cup of sugar

Pop the sugar & water into a saucepan, bring to the boil and cool by adding lots of ice cubes.

Roll the lemons & oranges on the kitchen worktop

Juice the fruit pop into jugs & mix well with the stock syrup.

Add  water to your taste. 

Add ice, & serve

You can also add some chopped fruits like strawberries..

Enjoy... For a change you could also exchange the oranges for limes

Mediterranean Filled Ciabatta

These compressed Ciabattas are fantastic to take on a picnic as they are deliciously tasty and just a little bit different than your normal lunch sandwich...

1 large ciabatta

6 thin slices of prosciutto (or shaved ham)

6 thin slices of garlic salami

1 handful of baby spinach or (baby mixed leaves )

2 Tbls of Pesto

1 ball of buffalo mozzarella

6 olives chopped

2 tomatoes finely sliced

2 grilled red peppers sliced

6 good sized basil leaves

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1.   Cut open the ciabatta lengthways and drizzle a little olive oil all along the base & pesto across the top.

2.   Place the spinach on the base with the garlic salami next then the peppers, olives, mozzarella, basil, tomatoes & finally prosciutto. – season with salt & pepper

3.   Tie the loaf with string both lengthways and across the middle.

4.   Cover with cling film, pop into the fridge for 4 hours or overnight placing something on top to weigh it down for example a baking tray with something weighty on top.

5.   Remove from the fridge and simply take on your picnic.  Slice just before serving… enjoy.

Grilled Veggie  & Mozzarella  Ciabatta

These compressed Ciabattas are fantastic to take on a picnic as they are deliciously tasty and just a little bit different than your normal lunch sandwich...

1 large ciabatta

1 handful of baby spinach or (baby mixed leaves )

2 Tbls of tapenade or pesto

2 balls of fresh buffalo mozzarella

2 tomatoes finely sliced

2 grilled red peppers sliced

1 grilled courgette sliced

½  grilled aubergine sliced

6 good sized basil leaves

Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

1.   Cut open the ciabatta lengthways and drizzle a little olive oil all along the base & pesto across the top.

2.   Place the spinach on the base with aubergine on top followed by the courgette, peppers, olives, mozzarella, basil & tomatoes, season with salt & pepper.

3.   Tie the loaf with string both lengthways and across the middle.

4.   Cover with cling film, pop into the fridge for 4 hours or overnight placing something on top to weigh it down for example a baking tray with something weighty on top.

5.   Remove from the fridge and simply take on your picnic. 

Rocky Road Chocolate Bites

500g chocolate

4 handfuls of marshmallows

1 packet crushed peanuts

2 handfuls of dried apricots, cranberries, or your choice

1.           Melt the chocolate in a large bowl over low heat

2.           Chop the marshmallows in half or 1/3 use a scissors

3.           Chop the cherries, apricots or cranberries

4.           Crush the peanuts with a rolling pin

5.           When the chocolate has melted combine the mallows, cherries & peanuts through the mixture.

6.           Spoon the mixture into fairy cake cases and leave to chill for a couple of hours in the fridge

Most of all Enjoy!!