Help! Simple, Tasty Picnic Ideas for Wine Country?

You could go to Costco and get the 2 pak of tri-tip. They can be barbequed and sliced in advance. Some nice mustard and horseradish for rolls for those hearty eaters. How about a pasta salad with an Italian dressing rather than mayo based. Make a day ahead of time, chop up a variety of veggies (califlower, broccoli, red and yellow bellpeppers--I'd stay away from tomato because they can get soggy), and toss them into the pasta. You could also do a "dip" with a cans of pinto beans, black beans, and corn, chop up some red onion, parsley and a little bit of jalepeno, squeeze a little bit of lime and salt and pepper. My family loves to have this with the Fritos Scoops.

Hi K.,

This recipe is so simple and always receives rave reviews.

1 package angel hair pasta

fresh lemon juice(fresh does make a difference here so squeeze yourself and meyer lemon would be fantastic)

sliced olives - I like plain black olives for this b/c the green can taste a little funny with the lemon IMO.

sliced green onion - I only use the green part b/c the white part it a little to much for me

good salt and fresh ground pepper

boil pasta, drain, add lemon juice then toss with olives and green onion. Add salt and pepper to taste. If it seems too dry you can add some olive oil - just be careful not to add to much. If you don't like olives this also works well with tomatoes.

Have fun!
T.

Happy Birthday!

It's not substantial but on hot days, I love insalata caprese: grape/cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella diced, basil leaves torn up, tossed with a little balsamic vinaigrette. Easy to share and transport, too! Good luck! Hope you have a fun day!

Here is a simple, inexpensive addition to your picnic. Roasted veggies-served at room temperature. They make your picnic seem a bit sophisticated. Serve them with the cheese, sour dough bread, and salami as others have suggested. There is a huge Molinari salami ($15) you can get at Costco, since you are going there anyways, right? This gives your visit to the wine country an Italian flair-how perfect is that?

I like asparagus, yellow/orange/red peppers and zuchini, but you can do anything that sounds good to you. Marinate them in olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put them on a baking sheet in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes and you are good to go. You can make it a day or two ahead of time and just serve them on a platter with your other yummy food. When you are up there, please toast all the mammas who will be with you in spirit (and wishing we were there having a glass of wine, too!)
Buon Natale!

I am not getting the do your own bday thing but bless your heart.
To expand the cheese and bread...first go to Walmart, Costco or Winco and buy good olives, pitted, jars of pickles, good chips, costco makes a great cut fruit bowl ( and I typically only do my own but they have every thing delicious in it..including papaya etc...)
get a bag of organic small apples...wash and put in it a bow...

gold fish for the kids or healthier version...

sliced variety of cheeses, muenster, gouda, sliced turkey, sliced meat

nice condiments

Homemade potato, macacaroni and pasta salads, green.

Golly, I still wish this group would all pitch in and everyone bring something...including drinks and your cake..

EDIT, Now I think of you as I read every recipe and magazine this week..TACO SALAD , Watermelon and melon chunks, rice crispy treats for kids while they jones for your cake..Keep Ice under all food..

Pasta Salad made with oil, vinegar and olives - simple and it will keep in the heat

I just had a strawberry, almond salad at Fresh Choice this week that was really yummy. You can order it to go at some locations.

Enjoy - I took my kids cheese tasting a few weeks ago and we were really stuffed just with the cheese and breads/crackers.

A cold-cut platter and sourdough rolls are always a hit and you can add some gourmet condiments to make it more "wine country-ish" like dijon mustard, fancy pickles and maybe pesto-mayo. Add some gourmet cheeses like munster (sp) etc. and it will satisfy even the most ravenous.

T.

You could make a quiche. It's good served chilled and easy to make. Plus you can get a pre-made pie crust to save time and as a bonus, eggs are cheap & filling. My favorite is sauteed mushrooms, leeks and goat cheese but I'm sure there are tons of recipes online. Have a fun picnic!

What about those rolled up sandwich wrap things? They sell them at Costco and I think I've seen them at Safeway's deli.
They're yummy and you could keep them in a cooler if you're worried about freshness. Watermelon is good for a picnic too gives the dieters something for dessert.

Cold fried chicken is yummy and easy at picnics or wraps(tortillas with cream cheese, turkey, lettuce, sprouts, tomato wrapped and then sliced into finger sandwiches). Sometimes I'll take veggies (baby carrots, celery, bell pepper slices, etc and either a ranch dip or hummus). A bean dip with chips is usually a winner too and more substantial. Have fun and happy birthday.

You can always rely on Costco.They have a great greekstyle penne pasta salad to die for.One conatiner will feed 12 and they will think you are a gourmet cook.No mayo.Check out the cheeses and salami.Get a few baguettes of bread cut them up and you are done.
Happy Birthday!

Dean and Deluca has some great things at their store in Napa.

Hi K.,

There are tons of fabulous ideas. I am about to go spend the week at a beach house, so I have been doing my research, so we can bring picnics to the beach each day. I am planning on making some lovely sandwiches on baguettes:

Use your favorite meats and cheeses and just put a thin layer of each. Brush the bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or pesto, or a favorite salad dressing. I use sweet baguettes. They are crunchy and hold up, and tend not to get soggy.

There are tons of pasta and potato salads out there that you can do as well.

If you want to go with the simple, just bring the cold cuts, cheeses, grilled veggies, spreads, breads, crackers, fruits and veggies and let people make their own plates. Add a salad or two (orzo pesto? mediterranean potato? white bean and tuna?), and I cannot see how people won't be very happy.

Good luck and happy birthday!

Nob Hill deli makes really nice sandwich rolls with flatbread for about $25 a platter (look like spirals. You can save money by making them yourself. You pick the meat, cheese,e etc that goes on them and one platter would serve a group of twelve nicely.
Enjoy your wine country picnic!

cold fried chicken can be good. My kids love cheese sticks wrapped with sliced turkey. You can jazz it up with switching up the cheese and meat. Use prosciutto and pepper jack, or whatever. I used to love the summer sausage from hickory farms, my mom would cut it into big rounds and stick it on popsicle sticks. Walking around Trade Joes is inspiriing. What about Sushi?