My favorite part of summer is eating meals outdoors. Last night when the heat had broken and the rain had ended Doug, Maddy and I went for an impromptu dinner at one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. That's right, Maddy came too. We sat outside and tied her to one of our chairs while we ate. She loved being included in our outing and had a great time people (and dog) watching while Doug and I ate dinner.
Whether at a sidewalk cafe, backyard BBQ, beachside dinner or picnic in the park everything just tastes better when eaten al fresco. In honor of a not scorching, not rainy, beautiful weekend ahead I thought I would share some ideas for a healthy summer picnic. All of these recipes are easy to make and hold up well at room temperature so don't stress if you don't have a cooler! Grab a blanket, a tote, a loved one (or two or three) and few of these recipes and enjoy a summer picnic this weekend!
Rosemary Lemonade
This is the perfect picnic beverage. Who doesn't love lemonade on a hot summer day?
Sundried Tomato and Olive Tapenade
This delicious dip is perfect served with any of the myriad of veggies available at summer farmer's markets and farm stands. Just make sure you pack the tapenade and veggies separately so nothing gets soggy!
Italian Flax Bread
This flax bread is a great healthy stand in for typical picnic sandwiches. Top it with broccoli pesto as shown, or try it with the tapenade for a different taste!
Radish Salad
Radishes are a perfect summer veggie and are the centerpiece of this light summer salad. To keep everything crisp pack the marinated radishes and arugula separately and combine them when you get to your picnic spot!
Roasted Radishes
I can't get enough of radishes, and this different take on them is a great side dish for any picnic.
Rosemary Donut Holes
What picnic would be complete without a few sweet treats? These travel well and are the perfect bite of sweetness.
Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Picnics should be about having fun and feeling like a kid on summer break. What's more fun and kid like than chocolate chip cookies?
