Picnic For One

 If you want to have something indulgent this summer try a picnic for one. This can be your favorite foods in your favorite outdoor setting wither the park , the beach or the backyard. It's time to treat yourself to some good food and good rest.

An easy picnic would be getting a hero from any grocery store or Jersye MIkes. The last can customize the sandwich to what you want, whether you go for a vegan or an Italian one full of prosciutto and ham.With these you can easily grab an ice tea or soda and bag of chips. Take it to your favorite green or sandy spot with a blanket  and Kindle (or go old school with a book). Bring a sleeve of your favorite cookies too and maybe a thermos of iced coffee. Keep the mess both for yourself and for the environment down to a minimim.It's a sandwich so there's no need for plastic utensils. Throw all wrappings and empty bags along with cans and cups away too. Should you bring your favorite hamburger or chicken nuggets to the park?Or what about a salad?It's up to you but it can be messy. It helps if there are picnic tables nearby where you can sit and have a proper meal. If not, stick to the simplest and relax.

Of course you can indulge yourself in a backyard picnic. You can mess up as much as you want because your kitchen and garbage cans are near by. A mini version of a salad NIcoise is a great treat Make a small salad and add a half a can of tuna in oil (you could add the whole can if you really love the fish)along with one sliced hard boiled egg.Add tomatoes ,  an artichoke heart or two along with olives . Serve with a crust piece of french bread and olive oil and a chilled glass of white wine. Another indulgent salad for one is a panzinella or Italian bread salad. Take two vine ripened tomatoes and cut into slices. Add them to olive oil A small minced onion and a minced garlic clove will also add some flavor. Through in two torn pieces of Italian bread and stir. You can also  chill it for a more refreshing bite too.  A shrimp cocktail is the perfect meal outside . Cooked shrimp is an easy buy at your local grocery store.  Sit back under a tree, in your favorite lounger and enjoy. A shredded lobster or crab salad is another summer meal perfect for an indulgent meal  for one outdoors.

A picnic for one can be a relaxing meal time. You;re with your favorite foods in the fresh air.Try it and enjoy.

The All Inclusive Backyard Party

The warm weather is the best time to get to know your neighbors. No one is cooped up. Everyone is out and about. Why not take it a step further and have an all inclusive backyard party. Friendships can be forged. recipes can be changed. Best of all lessons about inclusiveness can be learned.

Of course the most important part is the planning. Unlike a block party which requires a permit three months in advance, a backyard party can be put together even in a week.Put aside time on a Friday or Saturday for a meeting of where it will be held.It doesn't necessarily have to be in the biggest yard. You could set up tables  and folding chairs in the driveway and leave the backyard for contests and games.  Secondly, write down a list  of who's bringing what.The menu should be an all inclusive one, with neighbors and yourself cooking up family or ethnic dishes. Remember that neighborhoods are international these days and there are going to be a lot of delicious dishes from around the world. Encourage people to bring their family's best recipes. Also consider dietary restrictions and allergies for both adults and kids. It's up to the planning committee if alcohol will be served. Serve it if everyone is OK with it. Usually barbecues or outdoor meals usually call for just beer for the grown ups and soda and juice for the kids.The same goes for meat which certain religions forbid. You may want to go for an all vegan bash.

Apart from neighbors bringing in their family dishes there should be typical summer foods too. Have plenty of hot dogs and burgers for the kids and diehard barbecue lovers. Different sausages such as brats and Italian sausages can be cooked for something different. If you're making the last make sure you have sauteed peppers and onions too for a good hoagie sandwich. Your neighbors may bring over unusual  with non traditional meats like mutton or goat. Embrace the difference. You and your family will expand their culinary tastes as well as you picking up a new recipe.Also have some classic American sides like macaroni salad which is easy to make. If that's one dish to make too many consider picking up a tub of it from your local supermarket or deli.  Throw in potato salad and coleslaw too, if no one is making those. A fun dish that's universal is roasted corn. Have differently flavored butters, such as lemon and tarragon on hand for easy slathering. As for  desserts, you can't go wrong with watermelon wedges. They're refreshing and a favorite. You could buy a Sno Cone machine and make frozen treats for everyone. They're only $44 on Amazon and will probably used many more times. Homemade ice cream cake is another treat as are homemade ice cream cupcakes.

A neighborhood backyard party is a fun way to meet the neighbors and try new dishes. Barriers can be torn down and new friendships forged. It's also a great way of celebrate the summer.

Your Own Tea Garden

A tea garden conjures up pretty images of an abundant garden, rife with a profusion of colors and scents. Anybody can grow this and then harvest leaves, petals and roots for a delicate brew. It's not as complicated as thought to be. A new book explains the basics.

Growing Your Own Tea Garden: The Guide To Growing and Harvesting Flavorful Teas In Your Backyard (Fox Chapel Publishing 2019) is the must have guide for tea lovers who want to create their own blends.Jodi Helmer, a freelance writer  who has written for The Guardian and  National Geographic has compiled the perfect tea and nature's lover's guide. This is a wonderful book, chock full of beautiful pictures and illustrations on gardening. Tea lovers will go crazy over the variety of different botanicals listed to make all sorts of brews.There is the history of tea along with the explanation of tisanes which are not surprisingly mistaken for brews. differences between white, green and black teas are explained (it has nothing to do with different types but the leaves at various growth stages, white is the leaf bud, green is from the tender young leaves that arrive in the Spring and black tea comes from the more mature ones). There are also suggestions on where to plant and recipes for various blends, from  a tasty hibiscus iced tea to a soothing tummy troubles tea made with echinacea and hyssop leaves. The back has growing season maps of the US and Canada along with where to get the seeds.

I love the book, not just for the recipes but also for the cornucopia of information on the different plants.Each root, flower and leaf comes with the scientific Latin name along with what growth zone fits it. The explanations are in depth and will show you how to plant a successful tea garden. Each plant also has a side bar For The Best Brew which explains how to get the best tasting cup of tea from them. What is surprising is that there are dozens of plants , roots flowers and even fruits that can go into a cup.I love the idea of a strawberry tea which is more of a pureed fruit drink over ice. There is also a persimmon tea with the  fruit being simmered with ginger root and turmeric for kick.  A black current tea, is not only healthy but tasty as both berries and leaves are simmered together.Some plants are a surprise. There is witch hazel, which I always thought was for cosmetic use (namely in skin toners)but can also have its leaves and bark made into a tisane to cure sore throats , colds and flu. The same surprise is also for stinging nettles which helps to ease muscle ache and infections.

Growing Your Own Tea Garden: The Guide To Growing And Harvesting Flavorful Teas In Your Backyard is the perfect guide for tea lovers who want their own special blends. It is informative and beautifully presented. Buy it and get started on your own fragrant tea garden,