Picnic Perfect: Easy recipes for sunny days
These easy-to-make recipes are designed to travel well and taste even better under the sun. From savoury pinwheels to refreshing fruit skewers and zesty lemon bars, you will be ready to roll out your blanket and dig in.
Italian Picnic
Pinwheels
Ingredients
4 oz cream cheese, softened ¼ cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
4 large flour tortillas
4 cups finely shredded romaine lettuce
¼ red onion, thinly sliced
4 roma tomatoes, thinly sliced 8 oz thinly sliced salami
8 oz thinly sliced capocollo 8 oz thinly sliced hamDirections
In a bowl, combine softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, and dried basil until smooth.
Lay out the flour tortillas and spread evenly with cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle the shredded lettuce over cream cheese spread. Layer sliced onion and tomato over lettuce. Layer salami, capocollo, and ham evenly over each of the four tortillas.
Tightly roll each tortilla into a log. Secure the pinwheels with a toothpick and use a sharp serrated knife to cut the log into 1-inch pinwheels.
Fresh Fruit Skewers
Ingredients
10 long wooden skewers, halved Mixed fruits of your choice (raspberries, grapes, strawberries, oranges, pineapple, kiwi and blueberries)
2 cups vanilla yogurt
¼ cup honey
½ tsp cinnamonDirections
In a medium bowl, combine yogurt, honey and cinnamon. Stir until well-blended. Thread fresh fruit onto skewers.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Ingredients
16 oz rotini pasta
⅓ cup dill pickle juice
2 cups baby dill pickles, chopped
8 oz Monterey Jack cheese, cubed
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
⅓ cup dill pickle juice
2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepperDirections
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta and rinse with cold water. In a medium bowl, place rinsed cooked pasta and pour 1/3 cup of pickle juice over it.
Stir to combine. Set aside for 10 min.
In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, remaining pickle juice, dill, salt and pepper. Drain pasta and add pickles, cheese, and white onion. Stir to combine. Add dressing and mix well.
Cover and refrigerate for one to two hours before serving.
Picnic Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Ingredients
2 cups cooked chopped
chicken or shredded chicken
½ cup mayonnaise
1 rib celery, diced
1 green onion, thinly sliced
1 tsp mustard
Dash of salt and pepper
Eight slices multigrain bread
or four ciabatta rolls
Shredded lettuceDirections
In a medium bowl, add chicken, mayonnaise, celery, green onion, mustard, salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Divide chicken mixture onto buttered bread or ciabatta rolls. Top with lettuce and bread slice or bun top