A Picnic Of Leftovers

 With Easter comes leftovers. Everyone right now is inundated with ham and hardboiled eggs , not to mention Spring potatoes and soem kind fo veggie side. What to do? Use them on an Easter week picnic. Everything cna be repurposed in a tasty outdoors dish.

Of course there is ham and with it comes all sort of leftover ideas. The best for a picnic is slices on a good sourdough or baguette. You can layer it with slices of Gruyere along with either mustard or mayo.A ham salad is also a smart repurpose. This is a mix of cubed ham, mayo and chopped celery. Some add a  tablespoon of chopped dill o sweet pickle for tang and bite. That's up to you as is the addition of mustard. The best seasoning for this is simply  freshly ground pepper (skip the salt because th e ham has it). You could add celery seed which gives it a fresh green undertaste.Devilled ham is another picnic food you can easily make wth the leftover meat.Blend chopped ham with any oil or mayo. You could add celery for color or carraway seeds for a more robust flavor. Some add Worcester sauce to get that unique  Underwood Devlled ham flavor.Again it's up to you tastewise. Devilled ham is great on Hawaiian rolls but would also be good on thin slices of Italian bread too.

All those Easter eggs can  be repurposed too. A plain one with some salt is a nice simple appetizer in any picnic basket. You could also turn them into devilled eggs by peeling them and then cutting thm in half. Mash the yolk with some mayo and ketchup (or mustard ) and then refill the whites . Add a dash of paprika for some color. How to transport? You can use a silicon muffin tray or even an ice cube tray . Make sure they're at the top fo the cooler or have some kind of solid lid so they're not squashed. What's a picnic without egg salad sandwiches? This is a simple make with just the hard boiled eggs and mayo. As with ham salad you can add other ingredients like chopped green onions or mustard if you want. You can make the sandwiches at home or bring a container and rolls and wait until you hit the park or the beach. Those left ove veggies can also be turned into yummy salads too.Add a vinaigrette to those green beans or broccoli florets , mix and pop into a carry all container Slice leftover Spring or new potatoes, add some mayo and chopped celery and you have another tasty picnic dish.

It's the week for sunny picnic and good food. REpurpose those Easter leftovers into a tasty out door lunch. It's a fun way to njoy that ham and Easter eggs a second time.

Good Beach Treats

 This is beach season, n dougt about it. It's a fun time, being out in sun and sea air. The last somehow creates an appetite and that means satsisfying . Time to bring the cooler full of cool drinks and good food.

Regular contributir, cookbook author and actor Naz Deravian wrote about the perfect beach picnic in yesterday's New York Times Food section.It all starts with the right cooler. Choose one with a large insulated interior.Lauren Rivard, founder of the Picnic Collective , a picnic catering company out of Costa Mesa, California strongly suggests avoiding coolers with multiple compartments like those soft collapsable coolers with various sleeves and pockets. These take up space. As far as the containers for sandwiches, dips and treats, use  lightweight , reusable containers that fit into your cooler. (Any store has these) DO NOT use glass ones. These are heavy and not safe to use outdoors. Remember to place the heavier, perishable items at the bottm, then slip in the smaller rounder shaped ones like cans and thermoses in mooks and crannies. TO keep the cooler from loosing its' cool,Alanna O'Neil a photographer on Maui and the author of "The Art Of Picnics: Seasonal Outdoor entertaining." recommneds freezing all your water , sodas and juices the night before. This knot only chills what's on top of them but creates a nice even base. They also melt less quicker than ice cubes.

What foods should go into the cooler? Beach proof ones.Think sturdy foods that can stand hours outside without getting soggy.wrap sandwiches in parchment paper and then place in baggies to reduce condensation. Ms. Deravian gives two recipes. One is for am artichoke and olive farro salad. The recipe calls for farro,a hearty grain which travels well. It has marinated artichokes and olives along with crumbled feta and red onions. You could add chopped bell peppers and halved grape tomatoes too. You can sub in orzo too or make a tasty orzo - veggie salad with tomatoes and broccoli florets. There is also a ranch dip, perfect with those bags of potato chips or chilled crudiutes. It's made with full fat Greek yogurt,garlic, dill and chives along with Kosher salt. A tablespoon of lemon juice gives it zing. What about dessert? Think chill grapes, watermelon and pineapple chunks.  Ms Rivard recommneds adding a  thermos of chilled coffee or tea in an insulated flask for a pick me up along with those indiviually wrapped RIce Krispie treats for a sugar rush. These can be bought or homemade.

It's beach weather . Head to it with a cooler of good food and chill drinks.It's perfect for enjoying the sea and sand.

Picnic Days Are Here Again

 The rough winter is over.  The temps are rising. The parks and seaside are open again. That means one thing - picnics. It's time to pack our favorite foods and head to wide open spaces.

Before you go , check to see what you have as far as essentials. Do you have a picnic basket? Or a cooler for storing drinks and salad?. Some fancier baskets come with china or melamine plates along with utensils.  You don't have to have this, Paper plates and bowls along with plastic cups work just as well. The same for plastic knives, forks and spoons. Have wet naps and napkins on the ready because eating can be messy along with being dirty or sandy. The next step is deciding if you want to have grilled food or just sandwiches. Having a cook out at a park or beach is a more complicated affair. You'll have to have coolers to transport the raw meat along with charcoal ,lighter fluid and some way to light the grill. There is another way to go if you want hot  food. Pick up a few rotisserie chickens at your local supermarket  or hot dogs that are usually in every park.  You could also stop at a fast food joint like Wendy's or Mc Donalds' Just be mindful of the waste afterwards Pick up wrappers, straws, and cups afterwards.

The second part is what foods to bring. If you decide to go the barbecue route, decide what works better. Many just like drumsticks while other families want nothing but wings. Then there's the marinade. Do you want to go extra spicy or Oriental with scallions ginger and soy sauce. Of course hamburgers and dogs are always welcome, They always taste good outside  with a bag of chips or some homemade cole slaw on the side. You can even go vegan with soy dogs and Beyond Burgers.A true picnic has sandwiches. The entire family can make their own. Plain white bread is always a good choice but you can also toast it first. Then the fillings. If you have any leftover Easter ham slice it and put it on mayo slathered slices. You can also get chicken and turkey along with different cheeses too. Heroes are always a good picnic bring along. Again make what the family likes., with provolone , mozzarella, capicolla and salami. You could bring a variety of fun snacks. from bags of popcorn and pretzels or traditional sides like macaroni and three bean salads, along with broccoli and string bean salads. Bring another container with water bottles and juice boxes.

It's picnic season. Plan a lunch  out for a fun time in the park or the beach. Enjoy the good weather with good food and drink.

The Urge For Summer Food

Sometime in January or even February everyone gets a hankering for summer dishes, whether they be salads or ice cream. It could be that the cold weather is getting to us or we just miss those flavors. Don't deny yourself that grilled burger or ice pop. Go for it  - despite the temps

Who doesn't miss a juicy flame broiled  burger? You can still barbecue if the weather is crisp and cold. Fire up the grill, using any charcoal left from the previous summer. Wood chips can also be used too to give more flavor. The same goes for ribs and chicken too. Think of this method when you're busy with Super Bowl cooking too. If it's too snowy, sleety, or rainy, then use an indoor grill. There are some very good ones out there such as the Hamilton Beach or Proctor Silex . The  George Foreman Grill also has a panini press for sandwiches. If the weather thaws a bit then think of a picnic at your favorite park or beach. Even if the temps dip, you can still pack hoagies and salads, but also include a thermos of hot soup or hot beverage to warm you up. Salads too can be made. You don;t have to wait til Memorial Day to b real out the slaw and macaroni salad. The winter provide Savoy cabbage, a much more tastier leaf than the average cabbage.You can make it the same way as your warmer weather slaws. Macaroni salads are also welcome along with potato salads. In fact, these would be the preferred dishes for a pot luck football party.

The winter strangely also brings a taste for ice and ice cream. You can still have popsicles. Stores still sell them however you don't know how long they've been in the freezer section. Make your own by using molds and juice. Better yet try the Zoku Slushie Maker. This cup takes any drink and turns it into a refreshingly chill slushie. Use already made coffee drinks for a refreshing afternoon snack or a Pepsi for a bracing treat after grueling housework.If you;re on a healthier bent. then
use fresh juice r smoothies to pour into the chilled inner cup. For some reason we crave ice cream when the weathers gets frosty. Indulge yourself. Cones can still be bought so have fun with them.They're a rainy day treat . Dip the cones tops in melted chocolate and sprinkles for added flavor. Waffle bowls are a summery treat and they can be adapted for winter cravings. Hot fudge or hot caramel can always be poured in top. Hot fudge is easy to make and it's so good on something as simple as vanilla ice cream. The same goes for caramel sauce It's just three ingredients - butter , heavy whipping cream and sugar. Both sauces can also be drizzled over fruit or that most summery of cakes - the pound cake.

Indulge those summer cravings with summer foods. It's a nice break from heavy winter flavors and foods. Go for the burgers and ice cream while the weather is still chilly.

Warm Weather Prep

The temps are going to hit the 80's  and that means one thing - outdoor eating! It's time to gear up for barbecues and picnics. Before you say goodbye to indoor cooking and eating, there's a few things to consider

It is time to set out the grill. Before you roast anything, take a long look at your old one. Try it out. Does it still work?If anything seems off or faulty then start looking at new ones. Lowe's and Home Depot have pre-season sales so now is the time to buy a name brand. Also, if you feel you need a bigger one, then switch out before they become more popular and your choices become limited. If you're happy with your old one, then it's time for cleaning. You should have grill cleaning tools to help along with soap. If you want to go all natural, baking soda and/or distilled vinegar should do the trick. Buy grill cleaning wipes too.They will help in cleaning those hard to reach nooks and crannies. Also buy an ash shovel, a stainless steel scooper and scraper which removes any of last year's residual ashes.Check all energy sources too. Buy a new tank of butane or check cords and wires if you have an electric grill.This is also the time to add on to the grill. Think about a condiment basket where you can store sauces , ketchup and mustard along with grill pans and heating tents.

That other outdoor activity - picnics are on people''s minds too as the temps heat up. As with the grill, look at your cooler and decide if you need a new one or will keep the one you have. If you were unhappy with a smaller one, then upgrade to a larger , rolling one. This is perfect for the park or the beach and is excellent for camping. It not only keeps drinks and water cool, but also salad containers too. There are also insulated picnic baskets too. These fit comfortably in any trunk or back seat. Again this is perfect for sandwiches, snacks and drinks.There are also picnic tote bag which packs a smaller meal for two or three people. Another aspect to think about is what kind of containers to buy. You could go with Tupperware which is pricey but durable.  - think a life span of over ten years but you can go with cheaper ones from Target,,Wal-Mart and even grocery stores such as Acme and Stop & Shop. For a more environmentally friendly basket , also consider melanine plates and utensils instead of styrofoam and paper plates and cups.These can be bought at Target in fun colors and patterns.Have plastic utensils too and reuse these, instead of throwing them out.

It's the season for eating out . Fire up the grill and get the picnic basket ready.It's time  to food al fresco again.

A New Yummy Treat From Setton Farms

A perfect treat for Spring picnics and outings is the new Pistachio Berry Blend from Setton Farms,It's a nice blend of nuts , cranberries, cherries and white  chocolate. Best of all it's comes in a pouch that can be dropped in any picnic basket or tote bag. Bring it anywhere for a yummy quick bite.

Setton Farms is really the king of all things pistachio. It's the largest pistachio producer in the US, located in Terra Bella in south central California. The company is known for growing the nuts on ten thousand acres as well as processing them too. They offer plain as well as flavored ones in such flavors  as garlic onion,jalapeno chili and salt and pepper.They also have dark chocolate covered ones and one of my favorite snacks: pistachio bites. The last are tasty little bites made of the nuts and dried cranberries held together with agave. They're a favorite nibble, all natural and tasty, a rare blend to be sure,.Setton Farms is also known for producing dried fruit such as  pears and pineapples as well You can also buy almonds and walnuts too from them. The company is combining the almonds with the pistachios in a new gorp like mix  that also features cashews,dried cranberries,dried cherries and white chocolate chips. This is a first for them because they haven't used the last ingredients yet in any products.

The mix is a fun one , salty and sweet , depending upon how it is eaten.Each pouch is about five servings so they're a fun snack to share at  soccer games or beach parties.What is great  is that Setton Farms is thinking outside the box with the use of the cherries and white chocolate. Many other companies wouldn't put in those bold flavors. They're a nice foil to the mildness of the other ingredients. The mix is great on its' own but it can be added to oatmeal for a kicky breakfast. It can also be a great boost added to muffin or even oatmeal cookie batter. Toss it into freshly popped popcorn for a new snack treat. Home chefs could even make their own chews by combining the trail mix with melted dark or white chocolate. Each serving is only twenty-eight calories with only fourteen fat calories, There''s hardly any cholesterol or carbohydrates in it so it is an ideal snack as well as ingredient to any dish. Another plus is that it comes in a resealable pouch so the snack always remains fresh,

Setton Farms new pistachio berry blend is a great snack , full of flavor and low on calories. Pick up a pouch and savor the sweet salty taste of nuts, fruits and white chocolate.It's a fun nibble that'

s actually good for you.

Happy July4th Everyone

Happy July 4th to my American foodies and American foodies abroad.

Enjoy the day with your favorite barbecues or just chips and soda on the beach. Have a double dipped cone when you're watching the fireworks later tonight.

Above all enjoy America and what she means to you! This is an amazing country with an amazing story. Besides she provided the world with some of the best loved foods in the world!!!

CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!