June 18th was another one of those crazy food holidays – International Picnic Day. Am I the only one wondering why it was on a Thursday this year? Shouldn’t it always be on the weekend? Whatever, that got me thinking about what I like in a picnic basket. Picnic baskets these days are generally used for bringing plates, glasses and utensils and a cooler is where you keep the food and drinks.
I asked a few of my friends what they’d expect to see on a picnic if I was the one filling the basket and cooler. Some thought it might be grilled seafood with a fresh fruit salad; others thought it would be steak in a flavorful marinade with a German style potato salad. If you asked my kids, they’d tell you barbecued chicken would be at the top of my list with some grilled corn on the cob. All of them would be right but sometimes I want to keep it really simple and have hot dogs and hamburgers – it’s the all-American picnic!
In addition to the main course, I always like to include something for dessert. My daughter eats gluten free so I need to be careful with baked goods. This week I’m sharing a recipe that’s perfect for a picnic basket or to serve at home. (Look for it here in a couple of days!) It’s a peanut butter rice crispy treat. The original recipe has a dollop of whipped cream or perhaps a scoop of caramel ice cream on top and then it’s topped with a sweet, crisp shard of brown sugar bacon. Don’t want to worry about ice cream or whipped cream? No problem – they are great right out of the pan!
What do you think of when you’ve been invited to a picnic? Hot dogs, ribs, deviled eggs? The choices are endless, only limited by your imagination, the foods your family and friends enjoy and the amount of cooler space you have!
Fire it up!
Chef Eric