Perfect Picnics
“One of life’s most simple, but often overlooked pleasures is the picnic,” says Diana from Vegan Peasant Catering
The whole idea of a picnic can be as fuss free or as elaborate as you would like it to be. We are fortunate to live in a city with so many parks. Unfortunately, we don’t take time to smell the daffodils or stop to take our shoes off and walk along the newly cut grass. Sometimes the park is just a place to go through instead of a place to get to. Opening your door, crossing the street and turning a corner can be all the effort that is required to sit down on a nice patch of grass. So now that we’ve got where we are going to eat out of the way lets concentrate on what food to take with us. Keeping with the fuss free theme, I have selected items that are easy to prepare and share. Here is a selection of sandwiches, salads and sweet things to choose from:
1. Avocado, hummus, tomato and carrot sandwiches – Do make sure that you buy the avocado a day or two ahead of time to ensure that it is ready to slice. You can either make a guacamole with the avocado, tomato and a little salt or prepare avocado slices by first cutting the avocado in half and removing the stone. Choose sliced bread, a baguette or bun. Spread one half with the hummus, add the grated carrot, sliced tomato and avocado. Yum.
2. Roasted Red Pepper, Aubergine and Courgette Sandwiches – Break out the toothpicks for these open face sandwiches. Start with a crusty baguette and cut the slices on a diagonal then arrange the grilled and roasted vegetables starting with the roasted red pepper and secure with a toothpick. Garnish with a balsamic reduction.
3. Potato Salad – New potatoes are more plentiful at this time of year. Do look for Jersey Royal new potatoes. Once you have sliced or diced and boiled the potatoes preferable with the skin on makeDijon mustard, olive oil and vinegar dressing to accompany them once the potatoes have cooled. Add spring onions and or dill to garnish.
4. Penne Pesto Salad – You will need a food processor, but making your own basil pesto is well worth the effort. A simple recipe will include fresh basil leaves, pine nuts or sunflower seeds, virgin olive oil, garlic and miso paste.
5. Coleslaw – This time you are going to have to break out the mandolin because a knife just will not cut it. Cabbage, julienne carrot, red onion, and apples. For the mayo try a dairy free, egg free mayonnaise like Vegannaise or Plamil and of course, you could always make your own.
6. Quinoa (keen-wah) Salad – Eaten like a grain, but it’s actually a fruit and a complete protein. I usually cook it using the absorption method like rice. Once it has cooled, add broad beans, peas and hijiki.
7. Waldorf Salad – There are so many variations on this salad, but it should at least include these ingredients: lettuce, apples, walnuts, celery and a mayonnaise dressing.
8. Tabbouleh Salad – This salad comes to us from theLevant and is as timeless and as it is popular. Don’t try to use the food processor for this one. Finely chopped parsley, mint, bulgur, tomato, olive oil, lemon and a little salt is all you need.
9. Corn on the Cob – with Lime Juice and salt & pepper to taste. Boil them in water or keep the husk on and roast them in the oven. If you have a bbq you can grill them too, remember to keep the husks on.
10. Cherry Jam Swirl Crumb Cake – blackcurrants, cherries, redcurrants and strawberries are all in season and work well in this recipe. .
11. Rice Krispy Treats – You can use Golden Syrup to make these. Press the mixture into a rectangular pan and cut into squares.
12. Strawberries – Saving the most simple for last, just strawberries.
Now you are ready for the perfect picnic, all you need is the sun, good company and a good appetite.
cushion the impact provides award winning personal and virtual assistance and customised lifestyle management for hard working and hard living individuals and small business owners. We know there aren’t enough hours in the day, so let us help you live an organised, efficient, & fulfilling life. Take a deep breath & call us today. Your personal service awaits!
