The Picnic: Inside Out.
I'd like to thank everyone who helped me get this far in Project Food Blog. I appreciate all your support in all its forms! Thank you!
“For this challenge, you're tasked with creating a delicious meal that will travel well and still look great. From picnics and school lunches to bento boxes, or any other meal on the go, you need to whip up an entree, side, drink, and dessert to enjoy after hitting the road. Be sure that your meal fits inside the Project Food Blog Road Trip Cooler.”
Have you ever wistfully watched a sunset stained with roses and violets while sipping a glass of wine? Have you ever savoured a simple chocolate bar on the waterfront, salty breeze in your hair and sand beneath your feet? Have you ever bitten into an apple and let the juices run down your chin on a lazy afternoon absentmindedly swaying on a creaking porch swing?
Twitterpated birds are the best dinner companions. Fresh air is the sweetest spice to add to any meal. A park bench is the perfect table setting. The fading glow of the sun rivals any candlelit dinner. Food is best enjoyed in the presence of nature, humbling and beautiful.
The picnic is the traditional way to bring the inside out and eat at nature's table. There's nothing traditional about this picnic. I've expanded on simple picnic food to elevate your experience. The plain sandwich has been spiced up and transformed into the Curried Egg Salad Sandwich. Chips and dip have been revamped into sweet and spicy Peach Salsa with baked Pita Chips. The simple glass of juice has been stirred into a bubbly frenzy and become Sparkling White Grape Peach Juice. The average Rice Krispies square has been reinvented into a nutty and flavourful Brown Butter Maple Pecan Crispy Treat.
Nature is in a constant state of flux and I've pulled my inspiration for this meal from that fact. Nature's ever changing landscape offers a unique and beautiful tablescape. Go outside and enjoy the fresh air. I think you'll find your food tastes a little bit sweeter, a little more satisfying.
Curried Egg Salad
Makes about 5 sandwiches.
Source: My imagination.
8 eggs, hard boiled, cooled and shelled
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup prepared yellow mustard
1/4 cup red pepper, diced
1/4 cup green onion, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp curry powder
5 sandwich buns, sliced
Lettuce of choice
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In a large bowl break up the hard boiled eggs using a fork until they're about the size of peas. Add the mayonnaise, mustard, red pepper, green onion, salt, pepper and curry powder then mix it all up. Depending on how moist you like your egg salad you might want to add more or less of the mayonnaise and mustard.
Spread about 1/3 of a cup of egg salad onto each bun and top it with some lettuce.
Peach Salsa and Pita Chips
Source: My imagination.
2 large peaches, peeled and chopped
2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup red pepper, diced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup sweet onion, chopped
2 – 3 tbsp jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp lime juice
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
5 pitas sliced into triangles
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt to taste
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In a large bowl combine the chopped peaches and tomatoes, red pepper, cilantro, onion and jalapeno pepper. Toss the mixture with the honey, lime juice, salt and pepper.
Refrigerate the mixture until you're ready to serve it. It's best if made the day before and refrigerated overnight to really bring out the flavours.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and position a rack in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
Brush the pita slices with olive oil using a pastry brush then sprinkle them with salt. Flip them over and do the same on the other side.
Bake them for 5 - 7 minutes, but make sure to keep an eye on them because they burn easily. They should be lightly browned and crispy. Let them cool slightly before serving them with the salsa.
Sparkling White Grape Peach Juice
Source: My imagination.
10 peaches, sliced
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cup water
2 pound white grapes
4 cup Sprite
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In a large pot combine the unpeeled sliced peaches, sugar and water. Cover the pot and set it on low heat so it's just below the point of simmering. Let it cook for about an hour, checking it occasionally to stir it and make sure it's not boiling.
While the peaches are cooking mash the grapes in a separate pot. Heat the pot to a simmer on medium while stirring and mashing periodically. Let them cook for about 10 minutes.
With a potato masher squish any peaches that are still whole then strain both the peach and grape mixtures through a fine sieve or cheesecloth. Let the juice cool in the refrigerator before combining it with the Sprite and serving.
Brown Butter Maple Pecan Crispy Treats
Makes 16 squares.
Source: My imagination.
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup maple syrup
16 large marshmallows or 1 3/4 cup mini marshmallows
1/2 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
5 1/2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
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Butter a 9 inch square baking dish and set it aside.
In a medium sauce pan melt and cook the butter on medium heat for about 6 – 8 minutes, stirring frequently. When it's ready the foam subsides, the butter turns amber brown and you smell that delicious caramel scent.
Turn off the heat then add the maple syrup and marshmallows. Stir it until the marshmallows melt and the mixture becomes smooth.
Quickly fold in the chopped pecans and Rice Krispies then pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Smooth out the top using an oiled spatula making sure to press it evenly into the corners. Let it sit and cool for at least 20 minutes then cut it into 16 squares. Enjoy!
October 24th, 2010 - 14:57
Absolutely incredible – you did an awesome job!
October 24th, 2010 - 15:10
Great Job! Pretty pretty pretty.
October 24th, 2010 - 15:43
Great job! And your peach salsa looks phenom!
October 24th, 2010 - 15:48
Great photos and packaging!
October 24th, 2010 - 18:33
I knew you’d like that part!
October 24th, 2010 - 16:50
Wow, I’m once so impressed with you! Your food is always so beautiful and your photos are just gorgeous. I love the packaging you did for the food, so creative and cute! I seriously want to devour all of those brown butter maple pecan crispy treats!!!! I’ll be voting for you again. Best of luck Lindsey!
October 24th, 2010 - 18:34
Thanks Lindsey! I had a lot of fun with this one!
October 24th, 2010 - 17:07
Undressing that dessert is just the icing on the cake! What a lovely meal – wish I could go with you.
October 24th, 2010 - 17:12
You did such a wonderful job!! Good luck!
October 24th, 2010 - 17:57
Those krispy treats sound incredible!
October 24th, 2010 - 19:14
Not only are your recipes delicious and your pictures beautiful but I am particularly impressed with your attention to “green”. Re-purposed juice bottles, brown paper wrappers, real dishes, fabric tablecloth and serviettes. All reusable or recyclable. No plastic or styrofoam. Packing a picnic includes food, utensils, plates, etc. After the food is eaten, there is always room in the basket to take home containers and serving dishes to wash and use again. You’ve gently promoted environmental stewardship without in your face platitudes. Well done.
October 24th, 2010 - 22:27
That’s so true! Need to be kind to the environment you enjoy your food in!
October 25th, 2010 - 06:05
And of course you have my vote
October 24th, 2010 - 19:45
What a fabulous spread – can’t wait to vote! And I love your ribbons and brown paper packaging too – so cute!
October 24th, 2010 - 19:49
Thanks Kerstin!
October 24th, 2010 - 20:39
Such a darling presentation! Good luck!
LL
October 24th, 2010 - 22:09
I want invited on this picnic! I love all the peach flavors and those rice krispies make for the perfect dessert. Way to fancy them up!
October 25th, 2010 - 05:40
Wow. I love all the little bows!
October 25th, 2010 - 06:08
Beautiful presentation and oh so yummy. Especially love your checkered tablecloth and napkins
Can’t wait to vote!
October 25th, 2010 - 09:17
Great job on taking the classic picnic and reinventing it… red checkered tablecloth and all.
I’m not a big fan of rice krispies treats normally, but your gourmet version sounds fab. Must try it sometime.
Good luck! You’ve got my vote.
October 25th, 2010 - 10:06
Thank you so much Isabell!
October 25th, 2010 - 09:41
One curried egg salad for me, please!
Lovely and packaged with care, as always
October 25th, 2010 - 09:52
I am seriously drooling right now. The pita chips and salsa, the new take on Rice Krispies treats, the juice. Holy heck. Okay, I admit the egg salad sandwich is not my thing. Don’t flog me. Everything else though, splendid. And your photos are amazing as is your packaging. Great job!
October 25th, 2010 - 10:07
Thank you Kim!
October 25th, 2010 - 10:21
Lindsey…. can I come on your picnic? What a great menu! Fantastic job.
I like that food always tastes better when eaten outside.
October 25th, 2010 - 10:30
You have really outdone yourself here. Truly gorgeous display and delicious looking food!
October 25th, 2010 - 12:45
I was reading your post thinking that you did a really great job, then I got to the brown butter maple pecan crispy treats….OMG you did an amazing job!!!!
October 25th, 2010 - 12:59
Thank you Melissa!
October 25th, 2010 - 14:28
It all sounds fantastic. Nice work! Voted!
October 25th, 2010 - 14:57
What a pretty picnic…lovely menu
October 25th, 2010 - 15:12
It’s red checkered cloth meets the blog age, and how prettily you combined them GREG
October 25th, 2010 - 15:27
Thank you Greg!
October 25th, 2010 - 15:22
well done.
October 25th, 2010 - 18:57
You’ve done such a fabulous job creating this wonderful picnic basket. Lots of wonderful treats inside it. Good luck with the project !
October 25th, 2010 - 21:17
Loved it all!!! Vote cast!!!
October 25th, 2010 - 22:53
Great minds think alike! I was partial to pink ribbon and brown paper, too
But beyond the packaging, I love how you elevated these picnic classics! Delicious!
October 25th, 2010 - 22:59
I noticed that! We’re so dang smart! Thank you lady!
October 26th, 2010 - 08:02
Peach salsa? YUM! And Brown Butter Crispy treats? Double YUM! Oh I wish I were along on this picnic!
October 26th, 2010 - 08:53
Perfect packaging!! I love it. And egg salad? Classic. Got my vote!
October 26th, 2010 - 09:36
Thanks so much Meaghan!
October 26th, 2010 - 11:28
lovely road trip voted
October 27th, 2010 - 01:35
I am an RKT fiend, and these look pretty awesome! Nice job, and best of luck!
October 27th, 2010 - 10:31
Beautiful menu, beautiful presentation. First time on your blog, found you through Foodbuzz and am so glad. You have my vote!
October 27th, 2010 - 14:31
Thank you so much! I’m glad you found me.
October 27th, 2010 - 20:02
Love your presentation! So pretty and so tasty looking!
October 27th, 2010 - 20:14
is it just me, or is curried egg salad is totally addicting?
great post!
October 27th, 2010 - 20:25
It’s not just you!
October 27th, 2010 - 21:05
Congratulation for making to challenge #6!!! You’ve got my vote again this round! Congrats & Best wishes to making to next round
Have a great week
jen @ http://www.passion4food.ca
October 27th, 2010 - 21:55
Thanks very much Jen! So glad to be here!
October 27th, 2010 - 22:49
I love the sweet touches — the bows, the wrappings. Super cute! You have a vote from me!
For my entry, I wanted to create a road trip and picnic for my boyfriend, who had recently given me a “do over” of one of my childhood memories. I decided to give him his own “do over” — a special birthday picnic with a heart-themed meal. Come see if you’d like
October 28th, 2010 - 00:08
Ah friend, I see great minds think alike and we both used very cute ribbons and wraps for our foods and desserts! Well done!
Obviously voted, a great entry!
October 28th, 2010 - 00:15
We are pretty smart aren’t we? Thank you!
October 28th, 2010 - 02:32
i liked it, and u got my vote, good luck:)
October 28th, 2010 - 08:52
I would like to come on a picnic with you, please and thank you.
October 28th, 2010 - 10:06
I love how everything is wrapped so nicely and with such pretty ribbons
The food looks awesome!
October 28th, 2010 - 10:44
Thanks very much ladies!
October 28th, 2010 - 12:47
Peach salsa sounds delicious and I love your take on the Crispy treats. Beautiful table setting with the classic colors! You have a vote from me.
October 28th, 2010 - 13:06
I love it!! And I really, really want to try those rice krispie treats….
October 29th, 2010 - 00:15
Really cute food. The drink is my favorite though.
October 31st, 2010 - 16:42
I love your picnic ideas. They’re so beautiful!