The warm sunny weather is perfect for eating outside but there is more to a picnic than sandwiches. Here are some picnic food ideas for dining outside this summer.
It is said that the word picnic derives from the 17th century French word “pique-nique,” a phrase that was traditionally used to describe an al fresco social gathering in which those who attended each brought some item of food. Here in the UK, those items of food have for too long been sandwiches. Sandwiches are lovely, but there is a world of al fresco dining beyond them.
Mini quiches
Mini quiches are delicious and easy to make. Simply roll out some shop bought short crust pastry and gently blind bake for ten minutes in a moderate oven. Meanwhile beat some eggs, a little milk and grate in some cheese. Pour the mixture into the pastry shells, sprinkle with more cheese and top with some finely chopped chives. Bake until set and golden. A tempting tasty treat eaten hot or cold!
Hummus stuffed roast veggie baguette
Technically this is a sandwich, but a posh one. Simply roast some vegetables such as a courgette, peppers and onions until soft and golden and leave to cool. Take a baguette, slice lengthways and hollow out some of the insides. Mix the vegetables with some hummus and generously fill the baguette. Wrapped in grease proof paper and tie up so the filling does not fall out. Chill until you are ready to use.
Versatile vegetable patch salad
Use whatever is in season in your vegetable patch for this delightful, fresh and healthy salad. Take some new potatoes and boil until tender, set aside to cool. Chop some tomatoes, radishes, peas, broad beans or a combination of any of these along with what other produce is currently available and mix together. Add some seasonal herbs from your herb garden and mix well. Season to taste and add some freshly squeezed lemon juice and some mayo and put in the fridge until it is time to use.
French bread pizza
Homemade French bread pizzas are delicious and easy to make and everyone can put in their topping order so everyone is happy!
You can buy your tomato sauce but it is easy and inexpensive to make at home and tastes amazing. Simply heat some olive oil in a saucepan and pour in a can of tinned chopped tomatoes, bring to the boil and simmer and cook down until it is a thicker consistency. You can add some fresh or dried garlic, some vegetable stock cubes or some freshly picked basil and create your very own flavour of Italy. Leave to one side to cool.
Take some baguettes and slice. Place on a baking tray and spread the sauce on thinly. The key to pizza making is to thinly slice your toppings, whether they be onions, mushrooms, sweet peppers or anything else, they must be as wafer thin as you can manage.
Carefully place your toppings on the baguettes making sure you don’t overload them. Grate on the cheese of your choice and drizzle with olive oil. Bake. Delicious eaten hot or cold!
