More Picnic Foods

Here are two more quick recipes for on the go food. They are not my original recipes but they are great to take with you kept fresh in a cooler.

Layer Dip:

This is exactly what the name implies. You layer the flavors on and enjoy with tortilla chips or crackers.

Start with a shallow dish with a lid. ( again I recycled a salad plate from a fast food dinner)

Spread refried beans liberally over the bottom of the dish. Sometimes I substitute or add black beans to the dip. They are my favorite.







Next spread a layer of green chopped chilies.

Then a layer of Salsa- Any kind will do. Tomato, mango, even black bean salsa.

Next spread on a layer of sour cream. My mother likes to stir a packet of taco seasonings into the sour cream for added flavor.

Top it all off with a fresh chopped tomato, some cilantro and salt and pepper to taste.



Easy to pack and yummy refreshing snack.



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Caprese Salad:

Another throw-together snack we took on our picnic was this Caprese salad. Fresh and elegant it goes well with white wine.
All it takes is fresh mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and fresh basil.
We found a flat rolled mozzarella cheese that added a bit of a twist but was more work.

We rolled out the cheese, spread sliced tomatoes over the top

Basil leaves, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.
Next we rolled it tightly. Hind sight on this rolled type of cheese- I would use very ripe tomatoes and hold the olive oil until the slices were complete..

Slice into half-inch slices and place in lidded container.

This salad can be made in many ways. Rolled and sliced, cube tomatoes and cheese then stir together with torn basil leaves, or fresh mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes and basil.

We finished off our picnic with spinach- chestnut spread over baguette slices and summer salads. Perfect!

So much healthier than a bucket of chicken.

Summer Picnic Food- Chicken on Ciabatta

With all the outdoor activities we have attended in the summer months, and my employment status still being what it is.... Unemployed, eating out or grabbing fast food can get expensive.

But then, food always tastes so much better when it is made with fresh ingredients.

Here is a recipe for one main attraction we made for our latest concert in the park.

Roasted Chicken on Ciabatta.

I started with a loaf of Ciabatta bread you can find in most grocery bakery's. 

Begin by slicing the entire loaf in two halves.

Next spread on the sandwich spread of your choice. 

I created a horseradish mayo.

Start with a half cup mayo. (I used light with olive oil)

Stir in a tablespoon of Hot horseradish

a teaspoon yellow mustard

salt and pepper to taste 

and a half teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce

Blend well and spread over each half of the loaf

Ciabata is a hearty bread that holds up well when transporting. It has an almost nutty flavor that compliments most sandwich fillings. It will need a liberal amount of dressings.

Next thinly slice a ripe red tomato. Perfect time of year to snag one from your patio or garden.

On one of our more hectic days, we had picked up a small whole deli roasted chicken, some chips and salads for dinner when time was tight.

The legs, wings, thigh sections were the first to go as they are the easiest to snag with fingers.

That left two full breasts. Perfect for this sandwich.

( You could just as easily throw a boneless-skinless chicken breast or two into a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes for a lower calorie choice)

Slice the breasts into quarter-inch thick pieces and cover one side of the bread with them cover the other with the tomato slices. Season well. 

Romaine lettuce is a great choice for a sandwich like this. It's large leafs spread well over the large bread and hold up when paired with smaller meat sections.
It is good practice to make a small slice down the vein of the leaf the length of the vein. This helps the leaf to lie flat and stay on the bread.

Place a leaf or two over the chicken pieces.

Fold the top over and slice into quarters or eighths.

Place in a shallow container to transport.

I reused some restaurant to-go-boxes and deli containers- go green!

Enjoy with fruit

Or a light summer salad.

Very versatile and portable.

Enjoy!