8 Recipes To Take On A Picnic Date
What fun is a picnic date when you don’t pack your own food?! Don’t go for take out or fast food when it comes to going on a picnic date. Making and creating your own finger foods and snacks for you date is all the more fun! Here are some easy and delicious recipes that you and your date can share under the shade on a blanket on your next picnic date!
1. Skewers
When I say skewers, I’m not talking about grilled meat. I’m talking about melon balls, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and other fruits! Just stick any combination of fruits, vegetables, and cheese on little skewers so you and your date can enjoy a cute little variety!
2. Chive Potato Salad
What’s a picnic without potato salad?! Potato salad is a classic picnic dish, and it is so easy to make and eat! This specific recipe isn’t your traditional potato salad recipe, but it is surely just as good and tasty! Simmer 2 pounds of potatoes in salted water until they’re tender, and then run them under cold water. Then, cut them into bite sizes. Puree 1/2 cup of fresh chives, 1/3 cup of olive oil, 2 tbsp of white wine vinegar, 1 tsp of dijon mustard, salt and pepper to taste, and 2 tbsp of parsley. Add your pureed mixture to the potatoes and toss to combine!
3. Watermelon Tomato Feta Salad
Picnics can get a little hot, so cool things down a bit with this refreshing watermelon tomato feta salad! Cut up a whole baby watermelon into cubes and arrange onto a platter. Top the watermelon with 1/2 cup of fresh mint, 1/4 cup of chopped red onion, 12 oz of cherry or grape tomatoes, 2 tbsp of olive oil, 2 tbsp of fresh lime juice, 1 tsp of honey, kosher salt and pepper, and crumbled feta! Toss this all together and enjoy!
4. Cracker Jack and Pretzel Treats
Satisfy your sweet tooth cravings with these chewy and delicious cracker jack and pretzel treats! First you’re going to start off by buttering a baking pan. Next, you’re going to melt 1 and 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter over medium heat until it is fully melted. Remove the butter from the heat and add in a 16 oz bag of marshmallows, and stir it until it is fully melted. Fold in pretzels, cracker jacks, peanuts, and salt until evenly combined and coated! Press this mixture tightly into the baking pan, and let it cool. Once everything is cooled, cut it into squares!
5. Buffalo Chicken Tortilla Roll-Ups
Eating chicken wings on a date can get a little messy and embarrassing, but you won’t have to worry about that with these insanely good buffalo chicken tortilla roll-ups! In a mixing bowl, combine 8 ounces of light cream cheese, 1/4 cup of crumbled blue cheese, 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and 2 tbsp of sour cream. Toss in 2 cups of shredded chicken with 1/2 cup of buffalo wings sauce. Lay a tortilla out flat, and thinly spread the chicken mixture and roll your tortilla up tightly. Put the tortilla in the fridge and keep it in there for about 2 hours. Take it out, cut into wheels, sprinkle some chopped green onion, and enjoy!
6. Spicy Corn Salad
This corn salad is extremely easy to make, and gives a the perfect kick you need on a picnic! Grab a mixing bowl and mix together 3 cups of corn kernels, 6 sliced radishes, 1/2 jalapeno, 3 tbsp of fresh lime juice, 2 tbsp of fresh cilantro leaves, and 1 and 1/2 tbsp of olive oil. You can salt and pepper your mixture for taste, and keep in the refrigerator for a couple hours to chill!
7. Raspberry Tart
Since it’s summer, raspberries are fresh and ready to be used! Start off by preheating your oven to 400 degrees. Unfold one sheet of frozen puff pastry a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and cut 3/4 inch border around the pastry. Bake the sheet in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until crispy and brown. Take the pastry sheet out and cool for about 15-20 minutes. Use a mixer to beat 1 cup of heavy cream and 2 tbsp of sugar. Spread this mixture on the puff pastry and top with a bunch of raspberries. Easy peasy rasp-berry!
8. Cranberry Basil Spritzer
What better to wash all that picnic food down than with a refreshing spritzer? In a medium sauce pan, bring a cup of water and a cup of sugar to a boil. Dissolve the sugar, remove from the heat, and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Strain the syrup and let it cool for at least an hour. In a pitcher, combine the syrup, 2 cups of unsweetened cranberry juice, and juice from 4 sliced limes. Fill the pitcher with club soda, raspberries, and basil leaves and serve in a cup of ice!
