For most of us nice weather is here, and for the next several months we’ll have opportunities to eat outdoors. Maybe a family reunion, or a class reunion. Churches and community bands and other social groups have picnics. Maybe there’s a 4th of July picnic in your town, waiting all afternoon until dark for the fireworks. Go wine tasting or to the beach or to an outdoor concert. Go to the Oregon Lavender Festival, like in ninkasi23’s picnic WFD a couple years ago. Or just convince some friends to come out with you to eat lunch and play croquet or throw a frisbee.
Also check out my tailgating WFD. A picnic is pretty similar to a tailgate party, without the sports event (and typically with less alcohol).
Anybody who ever watched a Yogi Bear cartoon remembers the importance of the “picnic basket”, and the picture above is mine, a gift from my sister-in-law, which has survived many years of hard service. To Yogi’s disappointment, there is rarely much food in this basket; it contains tablecloth, plates, napkins, serving and eating implements, glasses, corkscrew, and other support for the food.
Here are some of my favorite things to make ahead and take along.
Muffuletta
from Bon Appetit some years ago, a very passable version of the great New Orleans sandwich. Serves 6.
1 cup chopped pimiento-stuffed green olives
1 cup chopped pitted Kalamata or other brine-cured black olives
¾ cup chopped drained roasted red peppers from jar
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 8-inch round bread loaf, about 1 pound
4 oz thinly sliced hot coppacola
4 oz thinly sliced salami
6 oz thinly sliced provolone cheese
Combine first 7 ingredients in a bowl and set aside. This makes an inconvenient amount of the olive salad; way too much for one sandwich but not enough for two. It’s good stuff, you’ll find a use for it.
The recipe calls for the round sourdough loaf, as in the picture, which is generally available but not authentic. The New Orleans loaf is a very American flavor that reminds me of an overgrown hamburger bun. It’s probably heresy to say I like the sourdough better. A sweet Italian-style bread like ciabatta would also be a decent substitute even though it’s not round.
Slice the loaf of bread in half horizontally and scoop out some of the bread from each half, leaving a shell roughly 3/4-inch thick. Spoon ¾ cup of the olive salad into each half and spread it out. Layer the meats and cheese onto the bottom half and put the top half on, olive side down. Wrap in plastic or foil. Place on a large plate, put another large plate on top, and weight with a heavy skillet. Chill at least 1 hour. Cut into wedges.
Blue Cheese Potato Salad
For 12. I don’t know of a bad version of homemade potato salad but this is my favorite.
5 pounds red new potatoes
½ cup dry white wine
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1¼ cups mayonnaise
1¼ cups sour cream
2½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
2½ tablespoons cider vinegar
½ pound blue cheese, crumbled
5 green onions, minced
1½ cups chopped celery
Place potatoes in large pot. Cover with cold water. Boil until tender. Drain, cool slightly.
Peel potatoes and cut into 1-inch pieces. Transfer to a large bowl. Add wine, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Cool. Combine all remaining ingredients. Mix with potatoes. Adjust seasoning.
Lamb Roast Salad
A garlicky mutant coleslaw - for 6 or more
1 head green cabbage, cored, diced small
2 tomatoes, diced
1 avocado, diced
4 green onions, chopped
6 radishes, sliced
½ cup mayonnaise
2 cloves garlic, pressed
½ teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
½ teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
½ teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled
½ teaspoon dried basil, crumbled
¼ cup catsup
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Mix garlic and herbs with mayonnaise. Let stand at least 1 hour.
Put all the vegetables in a large salad bowl. Mix catsup and vinegar into spiced mayonnaise. Pour dressing over salad and toss very well.
Watermelon and Feta Salad
for about 10. This one scores high on the quality / effort ratio.
8 cups seedless watermelon, cubed
2 cups feta cheese, cubed
2 cups sliced fresh mint leaves
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
¾ cup olive oil
Juice of two limes
Place watermelon, cheese and mint in large salad bowl. Whisk together oil, lime juice and pepper. Pour dressing over salad and toss well.
For those of us who like to drink alcohol, drinking in the sun on a warm afternoon can put you away in a hurry. My universal rule is Drink What You Want, but not to the point of having to be carried home. You want lighter-bodied beers and wines, not Double IPA or Cabernet Sauvignon. My late wife loved picnics and for her dry rose was “picnic wine”. Also bring plenty of cold mineral water, iced tea and lemonade.
What’s for dinner at your place? Please help keep the WFD community going; message ninkasi23 and diary one of your good recipes for us.