6 Perfect Picnic Recipes

Since the temperature outside is getting higher and higher everyday and the weekend is almost there, why not grab a basket and go for a picnic for a Saturday or Sunday lunch? I have just found some easy to make delicious meals and snacks recipes that you can prepare just before heading out to the forest or a nearby meadow. 

Take a look:

Classic picnic dishes, like this egg salad sandwich, are fun to make at home the night before a picnic and something delicious and light to eat under the midday sun. And feel free to ramp up the classics — instead of just making roast chicken sandwiches, throw some spice in there with this chicken tikka salad. With dishes like these, everyone else at the picnic will wish they’d made what you did.

Picnics inspire healthy eats, so something like this nutty quinoa tabouleh with tomatoes, cucumber, and mint would make the perfect addition to a picnic spread or workday picnic lunch. Then, there is pasta, which always seems like a treat in the middle of a workday, so why not make it the night before and let lunch feel a little extra indulgent? This simple pasta recipe has pecorino cheese, tomatoes, and parsley, and relies on the naturally delicious flavors of high-quality, fresh pasta.

So, the question remains…what will you pack for the first, illustrious outdoor lunch of the year?

1. Dijon, ham and asparagus roll-ons



By far, this is one of my favorite recipes I have ever come across. My mom taught me this one years ago when she first served it to our family for a holiday brunch. Ever since then, these asparagus roll-ups have been on my "top-picks" list. Not only do these taste wonderful... they are so easy to make and will only take you 15 minutes tops from prep to finish.

Recipe here: http://www.thedailymeal.com/dijon-ham-and-asparagus-roll-ups-recipe

2. Chicken tikka salad

I love salads and it makes me sad that such a fantastic cuisine does not have more varieties of salads. Our salads are normally served alongside the other main course dishes, to provide crunch and freshness to the meal. I crave salads that are main courses in their own right, have all the textures of a meal but on one plate, and are so much lighter than a full meal. This is one of those dishes – it is a salad I have built around chicken tikka, is easy to make and you can add or take away any salad vegetables you like. The dressing is delicious and creamy, reminiscent of Caesar salad dressing in consistency but lighter and fresher. If you make the dressing in advance, it will thicken as it sits so loosen with a little water or oil and re–season to taste. The end result is delicious and satisfying without being complicated.

Recipe here: http://www.thedailymeal.com/chicken-tikka-salad-0

3. Quinoa Tabbouleh

This spin on the classic Middle Eastern salad, "tabbouleh," swaps traditionally used bulgur wheat (which you could also use) for nutritional, superstar quinoa, which is high in "complete protein," meaning that it includes all nine essential amino acids. Serve it as a dinner side dish or store it covered in the refrigerator for a healthy and filling go-to snack.

Recipe here: http://www.thedailymeal.com/quinoa-tabbouleh

4. Egg Salad Sandwich

This simple egg salad recipe makes a hearty and delicious side dish that's great for picnics or backyard barbecues.

Recipe here: http://www.thedailymeal.com/egg-salad-sandwich

5. Quick and Easy Pasta with Pecorino, Tomatoes, and Parsley

 

When you have fresh pasta (that you either made yourself or bought), you really don't need to do much to it because it's already going to be so good. That's the reason why this recipe works so well. Fresh, silky noodles topped with quartered tomatoes, nutty and creamy Pecorino cheese, and chopped parsley. Add a little olive oil and you're in business. Great for a weeknight meal or when you don't really feel like doing much at all.

Recipe: http://www.thedailymeal.com/quick-and-easy-pasta-pecorino-tomatoes-and-parsley

6. Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Garlic Confit and Baby Arugula

What is it about melted cheese? Just about anything oozing with melted cheese tastes delicious — like melted mozzarella on a flatbread pizza; sweet, nutty Asiago in a luscious mac and cheese; or earthy fontina in an unbearably sinful fondue with chipotle and tequila.

But perhaps the simplest recipe — the most adored of all — is the grilled cheese sandwich. When prepared with a crusty bread and stuffed with a cheese that melts to perfection, it is essentially irresistible. Here, this beloved sandwich takes on a gourmet twist. The secret ingredient: garlic confit!

When garlic is gently poached in olive oil, it becomes sweet, with a subtle flavor. The cloves become so soft that you can spread them on your toast — or in this case, in your grilled cheese sandwich. Pair the mellow garlic confit with zingy baby arugula and a nutty, pungent aged Cheddar, Gruyère, or fontina, and every luscious bite is mouthwatering.

Recipe: http://www.thedailymeal.com/grilled-cheese-sandwich-garlic-confit-and-baby-arugula

Read for this weekend's picnic?! Let's go!

(source: http://www.thedailymeal.com/6-perfect-picnic-recipes)