The Most Perfect Picnic

 A picnic is the most idolized  and romantized meal. Yet there are times when the who outdoor dining can go south - quickly. There is a guide to help create that perfect meal - perfect for th park, for the beach and lake and even perfect for the back yard.

Regular contributor and supervising video producer for NYT cooking offers a great guide in Wednesday's New York Times Wednesday Food section.Keep on mind that these menus can;t take the heat. what does that mean? Wisely choose dishes and ingredients. Keep mayo based salads and foods along with leafy vegetables, soft cheeses fruit and seafood to a minimum. If there has to be potato salad  Mr. Vaughn recommends using a creamy tahini instead of mayo then adding plenty of herbs and pepperoncini ,yellow peppers for bite.Also consider the sandwiches. Don;t use lettuce which can get soggy and ruin the whole sandwich.Instead try a thinly sliced cabbage slaw. Another don;t do is chop food there at the picnic. The charcuterie board should already be preset  with cold cuts ,grapes already sliced cheeses and veggies.Also preslice sandwiches into manageable segments, placing them cut side up.This allows guest to grab them without creating a mess or touching other portions. Also  keep chips and dips to a minimum too. Bags of just chips and pretzels work well here.'

Picnics require ice = lots of it Dry ice can be used like even planner Suzette Louis-Jean  of  La TAS  Events in New Jersey . However dry ice can be tricky to get. Settle for an insulated bag or cooler filled with cubes.The more important fact is how to pack ot.It should be on the bottom to prevent anything delicate from being crushed. Unfortunately ice melts quick in hot weather, Have reliable friends bring extra - namely two bags each.Overestimate how much will be needed. There is never enough ice. Mr Vreeland also recommends using frozen fruits to chill lemonade, fruit punch and tea. Add frozen cherries and pineapple to tropical drinks and add  frozen peaches to iced tea. Besides have ice coolers make sure to pack airtight storage stackable storage containers. These are excellent for preventing leakages and save room in the car or tent. Rimmed baking sheets and plastic cutting boards are other must haves.. Lay things on these on, their bigger flatter slices to prevent any toppling.Pad and secure everything with kitchen towels to prevent containers from falling. Mr.Vreeland also gives recipes for potato salad, Italian sandwiches, pine apple coconut punch and brownies

It is possible to have the perfect picnic. Just follow the instructions to do so and enjoy.It's an idullic meal out in the fresh air,

Thanksgiving Pie Fest

 Pie is always a definite on the Thanksgiving menu. It's a dessert that brings back sweet memories and favorite tastes Nothing beats a homemade slice , with a flaky crust and a delicious filling.

New contributor Vaughn Vreeland who is also supervising video producer for NYT Cooking also wrote this piece about pies in today's New York Times Food section.These are not traditional recipes like pumpkin or pecan. The Times asked Mr. Vreeland to come up with some new recipes that are bound to be instant classics.They can still have the flavor of the holiday like Mr. Vreeland's Cranberry Citrus Meringue Pie.This is a yummy blend of citrus curd featuring lemon and orange juices with a homemade cranberry sauce. It;s topped with a meringue.There is a pumpkin pie but the recipe is shaken up with the addition of  toasted sesame oil and tahini. The finished  products has a top of swirled pumpkin and tahini , creating a pretty marbled effect.Many home bakers make the classic banana pudding for the holiday. Now imagine that in a flaky crust. Mr. Vreeland has a buttery vanilla wafer crumb, similar to a cheese cake crust. It';s filled with a homemade banana pudding.The whipped cream topping has been redone with creme fraiche added to give it a refreshing tang.

Everyone love a good "candy" pie.Tha'ts usually pecan but Mr Vreeland offers a coconut caramel tart. The crust is a yummy chocolate cookie kind of crust.The filling is like a coconut pudding with four large eggs to give it body.The coconut is first toasted in a 350 degree Farenheit oven for six to seven minutes. to turn it golden brown.The caramel topping os a homemade one made with either coconut milk or heavy cream.There's also four tablespoons  of melted butter added to give it smoothness and richness.Chess pie is a popular custard pie in the Midwest. A new twist is added with a third of a cup of maple syrup is added. The topping is whipping cream mixed with espresso.Yes there's an apple pie but again this has a twist.A cup of pomengranate juice is added along with three quarters of teaspoon of cardamon. As for the pie dough , its;a laminated dough.It's made with apple sider molded into squares and then it can be frozen until you're ready to use it.There will be floury bits but that's OK.

Happiness is a slice of homemade pie. TRy these recipes and enjoy pure joy. They're different and a twist on the traditional.