Conference turris::cooks

One of my picnic favorites is chicken or tuna salad with halved white 
seedless grapes added to it. Sounds odd, but it is good. 

Also, middle eastern stuff like tabouleh (sp?), hummus, baba ganoosh (sp?)
is also good. Bring lots of whole wheat pita bread. You could also make some 
kebobs the night before and serve them cold.

I'm psyched that picnic weather is almost here!

    An easy way out is to go to a grocery store that has a gourmet
    sections, as the one I frequent does.  I usually choose something
    new and take my chances.  They carry spinach pie, callzones, sandwich
    croissants, humas, tabouhle, quiches, and the list goes on!
    
    Get something new and quick, too!

With good insulated containers or refrigeration available:

Marinade chicken breast in oil and vinegar salad dressing with lots of
herbs for approx. 3 hours.  Grill or broil, skin and dice into your
favorite pasta salad recipe.  Take along fresh fruit, pita bread,
or sour dough, and wine...voilla!  Lunch is served.

You can also add chicken to your favorite taboleh salad.  both suggestions
also work without beast flesh as well.

with no refrigeration (and if you have low cholesterol):

Take along several different cheese wedges, lots of fresh fruit (I
especially recommend crisp apple with gouda or cheddar, ripe pear
with camembert, grapes with camembert) and some french bread and
maybe some grey poupon mustard.  Wine or iced tea and you can
have a very indulgent meal.

Needless to say, I like picnics that don't take a lot of effort.

    if you like picnics that don't take alot of time and are in the
    leominster, massachusetts area, try montes pasta shop! they have
    oh about 8 to 10 different picnic basket arrangements.  they are
    kinda expensive but definately worth it.  you can choose for how
    many people and what kind of food you would like.  they have a small
    one of cheeses and fruits, another one with subs (veal parm) and
    a few other things and a speciality one with lots of different things
    that would blow your mind.  they also include the basket with all
    trimming (i.e. silverwear, goblets, plates, tablecloth etc.) and
    but of course, wine too is included.  i believe the sub one with
    cheese and fruits and crackers was $25.00 for two people and we
    brought alot of food home.  definately more than you need.  but,
    i'll warn you, they take a deposit for the basket, just so you bring
    it back.  i believe that was also $25.00 but i used mastercard and
    got the money back.
    
    personally, i love to cook so making little picnic things are a
    delite for me.  but the day when i had 20 minutes to prepare a feast
    for two for a boat ride i found monte's exsquisite.
    
    let us know how you made out!
    cj

and a bottle of chilled White Zinfandel wine




...  with a corkscrew !


/Jeff

    Some of my favorites
    
    Fried Chicken,Potato Salad,Baked Beans,Watermelon and Iced Tea
    
    Smoked trout,pasta salad,grapes and cheese,bread and wine
    
    Fruit,cheese,good bread and wine
    

    Just a tip...if you make sandwiches, toss them in the freezer the
    night before.  Take them out just before you leave, and by the time
    you get to your destination they have thawed.  It keeps the bread
    very fresh, and helps alleviate the worry about spoilage.  
    
    Sarah
    

    Just don't try to freeze sandwiches with lettuce in them (turns
    into lettuce soup) or mayo (separates) - when I was a kid going
    to camp, my mother used to freeze the sandwiches, and used catsup
    instead of mayo, and if I wanted lettuce I added it right beofre
    eating the sandwich.

    Anyone have any 'Tailgate Party' ideas? The picnic ideas here are good,
    and I've never done a Football Tailgate Party before - any tried and
    true ideas? What (besides a 6-pack and pretzels) would be a good
    "Patriots vs. Jets" lunch/dinner?  My guess is something warm (I think
    he's bringing a little bbq grill). 
    
    Anything different would be welcome!
    beth

    Seems like we always took chili, subs, chips, beer, wine, hamburgers,
    hot dogs, chicken, hot chocolate, coffee, veggies/dip
    
    How's that to start off?
    
    Bev

    I've even seen steaks on the grill, beef kabobs, and even a BIG bowl
    of shrimp with cocktail sauce.  In other words, "the sky is the limit".
    Why limit yourself to burgers and dogs...?
    
    Sue O.

	Ok folks... I need ideas.

	In mid October, I'm planning a party and I would like to have
	sort of a "tailgate picnic", weather permitting.  I'm planning
	to set up a keg of beer outside, bottles of wine and soda, and 
	have frisbee, tossing a football around, maybe dunking for apples
	for the kids (or maybe I'll have them make a scarecrow).  But
	for food, I'm stuck.  Every time I've had a party in the past,
	I end up spending half my time in the kitchen making things!  
	So I would like to make everything ahead of time and just bring 
	it out.  I'd like to do something a little different from having
	assorted salads, grillables, and sandwiches so I'm asking you
	for assistance.  But remember, I'm not cooking once the party
	starts so make ahead and reheat is the key!

	I was considering some sort of Harvest Theme but all I can come
	up with is Apple Pie!  Hmmm... I might have a pie baking contest
	come to think of it!  Maybe chili served in a pumpkin?  

	Any suggestions would be appreciated!

	Karen

    Hi Karen,
    
    The easiest method to have a big party is to have everyone bring food.
    Things that I have found good heating up for a party calzones, any
    type of pasta, chili, baked ham, turkey sliced up, any type of rice or
    pasta casserole, quiche, scalloped potatoes, burritos. 

    Order an extremely large submarine roll from your local baker.
    Procede as in making little subs.   Set it up on a long picnic
    table as a center-piece.  Set a killer knife beside for guests
    to hack off what they need.  Rattan baskets of potato chips,
    healthy salads, and other goodies one would normally have with
    subs surround this center-piece.  

    justme....jacqui

I'd kind of like to make this like an old fashioned picnic, something
that might occur back in the late 1800's after the harvest.  Hot food
might be best given the weather will be cool in mid October.

The menu so far:

Veggies and Dip
Seasonal Fruit Salad
Hot Crab dip with Fritos
Cheese and Crackers (and pepperoni?)

Cheese Chowder (not sure about this one)
Chili (in a pumpkin)
Beef Stew 
Fried Chicken
Cornbread
Scalloped Potatoes
Garden Vegetable Casserole 

Apple pie

Hot apple Cider
Beer
Wine
Soda

More ideas would be appreciated!

Karen