{"id":1055,"date":"2009-06-24T03:39:24","date_gmt":"2009-06-24T03:39:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marialiberati.com\/blog2\/?p=738"},"modified":"2009-06-24T03:39:24","modified_gmt":"2009-06-24T03:39:24","slug":"an-ode-to-picnics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marialiberati.com\/freshsite\/2009\/06\/24\/an-ode-to-picnics\/","title":{"rendered":"An Ode to Picnics"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\"picnic-basket1\"
\n\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\n\u00a0
\ncopyright 2009, Maria Liberati
\nEditor: Eliza Chute
\nWho can have a bad day, when the sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky? But better question is, who wants to be inside? Picnics<\/a> are a great outdoor activity, whether it’s taking lunch in the park nearby your office, or hiking through the mountains to a beautiful peak point, and settling in there. If you are tired of the same old portable food options you have always been bringing, and looking for easy alternatives, try reading The New York Times<\/a> article by Mark Bittman<\/a> (link below) that outlines 101 20-minute dishes for picnics. My personal favorite thing to bring on a picnic, is a pesto<\/a> and mozzarella<\/a> sandwich. It’s fast and easy to make and even great cold. All you do is spread pesto on toasted bread, add the cheese. I also like to add tomato or sun dried tomato<\/a> for a little extra flavor. (It also makes a nice pesto grilled cheese<\/a> if you are at home, in that case it is especially good with Monterey Jack<\/a>.)
\nAlthough picnics are a great summer activity, picnics on the beach get a little bit more complicated, sandy food is less than desirable. There is nothing worse than the crunch of sand as you bite into a sandwich you’ve been waiting all morning to eat. The key to avoiding such a catastrophe: packaging. First and most common mistake: baskets. Although they are cute and the quintessential picnic accessory, there are holes in them, so sand gets in. Due to the environment of the Beach, I doubt you will be able to have a salad without every bite getting ever more crunchy as it travels from your Tupperware<\/a> to your mouth. Sandwiches<\/a> are probably the best way to go, however if you are really craving a salad try putting it in a whole wheat wrap for a healthier lunch.
\n\u00a0
\nhttp:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2008\/07\/02\/dining\/02mini.html<\/p>\n

\"Reblog<\/a>