Massel’s Picnic Pickings

Whether trailside, at the beach, your backyard or hilltop; be sure to make your summer adventure an open-air feast!

If you’ve exhausted your tolerance for bacon and egg pie, mayo-laden potato salad and squashed sandwiches, then you’ve come to the right blog post. We’re keeping it real this summer, getting back to what picnics are all about: spontaneity, simplicity and FUN!

Spontaneity:

If there’s no sign of rain – grab the rug and go. With the current weather we’ve been having, your biggest concern will be staying cool!

Simplicity:

Picnics needn’t be a hassle nor expensive. Utilise the contents of your fridge and get all “Ready, Steady, Cook!” on your spread. Got some leftover chicken? Make wraps, sandwiches, or a pasta salad. Growing tomatoes in your garden? Why not whip up some bruschetta?

Fun:

Picnics are one of the few occasions where you won’t be socially condemned for eating with your fingers. Prepare snacks like veggie sticks, cheese and charcuterie for easy eating; or cut sandwiches into shapes for a kid-friendly treat.

Whatever the occasion, we have some go-to recipes to get your picnic started:

Raw Corn Salad 

Salads are super easy to make ahead of your picnic, travel well in container-ware, use seasonal ingredients, and have no real “rules” – meaning you can add whatever miscellaneous items you have hiding in your fridge crisper.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cup fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels
• ½ red, yellow, or orange sweet peppers, finely cubed
• 1/3 cup cucumber, finely cubed
• 1/3 cup onion, finely cubed
• 1 teaspoon jalapeño peppers, finely cubed
• 2 teaspoons cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon Massel Vegetable All Purpose Bouillon & Seasoning
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon honey

Method

1. Place all the ingredients in a bowl and toss together.
2. Serve immediately or chill until ready to use.

French Onion Dip

Perfect for veggie sticks, or as a mayo replacement in sandwiches.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon Massel Vegetable All Purpose Bouillon & Seasoning
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 cup of low-fat sour cream or Greek style yogurt

Method

1. Place onion in medium-low sauce pan with olive oil, thyme and Massel All Purpose Bouillon & Seasoning.
2. Cover until onions are tender.
3. Uncover and turn up heat until you get a nice caramel color. Turn off heat and put in bowl.
4. Add sour cream or yogurt. Stir and let it sit in fridge for about an hour and you have a fabulous dip.

Zucchini Egg Strata

This Zucchini Egg Strata is a hybrid of a bacon and egg pie mixture and perhaps a vegetable quiche. Put between bread or serve on a plate. This tastes great at room temperature so is perfect for your picnic.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 teaspoon Massel Vegetable Liquid Stock Concentrate
• olive oil, to grease dish
• 2 medium zucchini, thinly slice (approximately 3 cups)
• 1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced
• 5 eggs
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350F/175C.
2. Grease baking dish with olive oil.
3. Layer zucchini slices in the pan.
4. Mix in a bowl: eggs, Massel Vegetable Liquid Concentrate, whipping cream and pepper.
5. Pour egg mixture over the zucchini.
6. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the egg is firm.
7. Serve immediately or at room temperature.

Curry Chicken Salad

Put on rye with salad, pop in a flat bread, slap in pita, or use a lettuce leaf as a wrap.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp Massel All Purpose Bouillon & Season
• Leftover chicken, shredded
• Chopped onion and celery
• Raisins and/or chopped apples
• ½ cup mayo, ½ cup Greek yogurt
• Curry powder, ½-1 tablespoon depending on the amount you are making
• Yellow mustard, a squirt
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Hot sauce, optional

Method

Mix together and keep chilled.

The Picnic Pickings Checklist

When in doubt, build your menu around these three criteria:

• Food that travels well
• Food fit for al fresco eating and doesn’t need to be reheated
• Low maintenance food fit for fingers or plastic knives and forks

Hot Hint

• Be sure to always keep a couple of chilly bricks or slicker pads in the freezer

Happy picnicking!