<p>I plan to take advantage of the mild weather as much as I can this year.</p>
<p>Today- H & I are driving up to see D2, it is his birthday- but also I wanted to walk her through getting some stuff set up that she hasn’t yet ( and at beginning of year- I was stuck in the hotel taking care of the dog). Then we are going exploring.</p>
<p>It looks to be a gorgeous drive- I made Pan Bagnat, from Mark Bittmans cookbook ( on my ipod). Often I make pasta salad or we bring a small barbecue- but I need some new ideas.
The recipe I used was different- I had never used anchovies before- I didn’t mince them! :o - and no 7yr old</p>
<p>we always have a picnic for mother’s day. So last weekend we had homemade lemonade, deviled eggs, assorted salamis, baguette from local bakery, Trader Joe’s hummus, strawberries, grapes, and Trader Joe’s salt/pepper potato chips. </p>
<p>I’m impressed that you made Pan Bagnat on your ipod. :)</p>
<p>We like an assortment of spreads (pick 'em up at the gourmet grocery store) – spinach artichoke, roasted red pepper hummus, etc. with breads and crackers, sliced tomatoes.</p>
<p>Or baguette or rolls made into sandwiches with goat cheese and tomatoes.</p>
<p>Or these (make ahead, the salmon is a little hard to handle at the picnic…):
Slice a baguette about 1/2 inch thick.
Spread each piece with some soft garlic/herb cheese (we use light)
Put a slice of smoked salmon on top (Trader Joe’s has pretty reasonable prices – buy a “rose” shaped package, or Trader Joes has salmon pieces).
Top that with a thin slice of granny smith apple. If not eating right away, I soak the apple slices for a few seconds in cup of water with a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice in it.</p>
<p>Nothing can beat a picnic at the Chateau Ste Michelle We bring cheese, veggies, hummus dip, pita slices, fruit, a little bit of salami, buy a bottle of our favorite wine at the gift shop (if you forgot yur bottle opener, they will open it for you), spread our blanket on the lush green lawn and have a little feast…</p>
<p>Not a fan of picnics…too many when I was a child, I think. We have a lovely patio and I have to force myself to drag the food outside ever so often.</p>
<p>Nothing can beat a picnic at the Chateau Ste Michelle</p>
<p>I have never actually been there.
:o
But I can walk to the north entrance of the zoo. ( random connection because they both have a summer concert series- oh does Lakeside still have the chamber series?)</p>
<p>I love being outside.
One of my favorite times was when H and I ( before we were married I think) didn’t get up to Deception Pass to go camping until the gate was locked.</p>
<p>We slept in the front seat of his Toyota Corolla! ( we were young & lithe) ;), on the side of the road- but then in the morning had breakfast on the beach and watched the fishing boats.</p>
<p>I also like to use the barbecue in the winter- it is more fun than cooking!</p>
<p>Benaroya has fantastic acoustics- but not the same.</p>
<p>most duh thing I have ever done- when I was a newbie Pearl Jam fan- turned down tickets to see them @ Benaroya- because they were a * rock* band and that means electric .</p>
<p>We just love to make sandwiches for picnics.
We did have a special picnic last summer at the Hollywood Bowl. We had our friend, a sushi chef, put together two special bento boxes. I brought in the lacquered boxes and he filled them with a wonderful variety of Sushi snackies. With a nice bottle of Sake, it was perfect. Compact and easy to carry as well.
I’m hungry.</p>
<p>We usually have picnics at our neighborhood beach club. Since it’s only a block away, I can bring hot food. My standbys are barbecued chicken wings, using my 30-ingredient barbecue sauce, roasted sweet potato wedges (olive oil and spices - some combination of cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, garam masala), salad (Greek salad or romaine on a platter, topped with fennel, cucumbers, other vegetables, shaved Manchego cheese), appetizers (endive with creamcheese/blue cheese spread on the end, fig pressed in), strawberry shortcake (home-made individual biscuits, sliced strawberries (mixed with blueberries for July 4th), real whipped cream out of a spray can).</p>
<p>It has been a long time since I went on a picnic. H and I used to picnic when we were younger and when the kids were younger.
Sometimes we pick up tortas from a local mexican place and take them down to the beach park. In summer we sometimes cook down at the beach so I guess that qualifies as a picnic. For that H and his friend usually like to cook hot dogs or sometimes pick up carnitas and homemade tortillas. Usually the beach meal is whatever leftovers we can find in the frig.
Reminder to myself- Need to go on a picnic.</p>
We bring cheese, veggies, hummus dip, pita slices, fruit, a little bit of salami, buy a bottle of our favorite wine at the gift shop (if you forgot yur bottle opener, they will open it for you), spread our blanket on the lush green lawn and have a little feast…</p>