Great Ideas For Your Next Family And Friends Picnic

Organising fun trips out for the family is always a great thing to do at the weekend. Once summer is over many of us get back to our working lives and the idea of heading out for a day of fun might be far from our minds. 

Enjoying our free time is something so important and we should take the time now and again to get out of the house and try something new. There are lots of different ways that we relax and spend our time, whether you look for Further informaton about Chatbots, take a class in cookery, or simply try a new sport. But one super fun idea we want to share we you today is going for a picnic with family and friends. 

Here are some of the foods you can make when heading out to the beach or a local park for an amazing picnic with the people closest to you. Of course if you’d rather not make the food yourself, you could enjoy a delicious Portland brunch instead!

Crispy chicken and avocado sandwiches 

This recipe is one that will please everyone who tries it, and it is super simple to make! 

Ingredients: 

• 2 chicken breasts, butterflied 
• 2 tbsp flour 
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper 
• 1 tsp smoked paprika 
• 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese 
• 4 ciabatta rolls 
• 1 large avocado 
• Juice of 1 lime 
• Salt
• 4 beef tomato slices 
• Spinach 

1. Place your chicken on a board and season with spices on each side, salt, and then sprinkle flour on each side to lightly coat. 
2. Heat a pan with ½ inch of oil and add your chicken breasts. Pan fry on each side for 4 minutes. 
3. Once you have flipped the chicken over, add some Parmesan on top while it cooks, and then at the last minute flip your chicken once more so that the Parmesan goes crispy and browned. 
4. Take out and let cool. 
5. To prepare your avocado, scoop out and mash the flesh until it is nice and smooth, season with some salt and add lime juice for freshness. 
6. To assemble your sandwiches, layer on a bed of spinach, then your chicken, beef tomato slice, and big dollop of avocado. Smash together and enjoy! 

Smoked salmon bagels 

This next recipe is a classic for any picnic or brunch and it is one that is super quick and easy to make. 

Ingredients: 

• Smoked salmon slices 
• Bagels 
• Cream cheese 
• Chives 
• Alfalfa sprouts 

1. To create this simple sandwich, first cut your bagel in half and optionally lightly toast the surface. 
2. Spread on some cream cheese, and sprinkle some chopped chives over the top. 
3. Once done, add your smoked salmon over the top, and finish with a garnish of alfalfa sprouts. 

Chicken salad sandwiches 

When making food for a picnic you might notice that a lot of the options are sandwiches or wraps. This is because they are easy to make and easy for hand held eating. This next recipe is super simple and a great way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken. 

Ingredients: 

• Rotisserie chicken 
• Multiseed loaf
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise 
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 
• 1 tsp red wine vinegar 
• 1 tsp dill 
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Cucumber 
• Mixed leaves 
• 1 Celery stalk 

1. In a bowl, mix your mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, dill, lemon juice, and chicken. Season with salt and pepper and taste. 
2. Add different elements to taste, and then spread this mixture onto a slice of seeded bread. 
3. Chop your cucumber into small cubes and dice your celery finely. 
4. Add to the sandwich on top of your chicken mixture, along with some mixed leaves. 
5. Spread some butter on the top slice of bread, press down, and cut in half. 

Chocolate cake slices

Every picnic needs a few sweet treats, and today we have some irresistible treats for you to enjoy. These chocolate slices are the ideal option for a family and friend picnic and everyone will love them! 

Ingredients: 

• 90g self raising flour 
• 20g cocoa powder 
• 110g softened butter 
• 110g sugar 
• 1 large egg 
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 100g milk chocolate chips 
• 100g white chocolate chips 
• 100g icing sugar 
• 20g cocoa powder (for icing)
• 2-3 tbsp water 

1. In a bowl, cream together the sugar and butter until smooth. 
2. Add your egg and whisk the mixture until it is light and fluffy, this will take a few minutes. 
3. Fold in your flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder carefully to ensure you don’t lose all of your air. 
4. Add chocolate chips and mix until combined. 
5. Grease a baking sheet and add your mixture – spread out evenly. 
6. Bake at 190C for around 15 minutes and then take out to see if it’s cooked. If not, give it another few minutes. 
7. Let cool completely. 
8. Mix icing sugar, cocoa powder, and water in a bowl until smooth and thick – you may need to adjust icing sugar and water amount here to create an icing that is runny but thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. 
9. Pour the icing over your chocolate cake. 
10. Chill for 1 hour, then slice into small rectangular portions. 

Mini apple and blackberry pies 

There is nothing better at a picnic than the most amazing juicy apple and blackberry pies. During autumn both of these fruits are in season so now is the time to take advantage of them! 

Ingredients: 

• 2 large Bramley apples 
• 400g blackberries 
• 3 tbsp dark brown sugar 
• Juice of 1 lemon 
• Ready to roll shortcrust pastry 
• 1 egg

1. Peel your apples and chop them into small bite size chunks. 
2. In a pan, add 100ml water followed by your sugar and lemon juice. Allow the sugar to dissolve. 
3. Pour in your blackberries and simmer for 5-10 minutes. 
4. Add in your apple and stew for around 5 minutes – the aim here is to make sure the apples are soft enough to eat but not completely mushy. 
5. Set aside and cool the mixture completely. 
6. Grease a cupcake tin and preheat the oven to 200C.
7. Cut your pastry into circles that are a little large than the cupcake tin shape. Add to the tin and press in to create a pie bottom. 
8. Spoon in your pie mixture to the pies, and then top with another circle. 
9. Crimp the edges with your finger and stab a small hole in the middle with a knife to help the steam escape. 
10. Beat and egg and use a brush to brush the tops of each pie. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown and risen. 
11. Cool completely and to pack for your picnic, put them each into a cupcake case for easy eating! 

Fresh tomato and leerdammer baguette 

If you are looking for a vegetarian option for your next picnic and a meal that is super simple – this fresh tomato and leerdammer baguette is the perfect choice for you. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 large french baguette 
• Philadelphia cream cheese 
• 1 packet, or 8 slices of leerdammer 
• 1 large beef tomato 
• Spinach 
• Butter 

1. Cut your baguette into 4 even pieces. Slice these lengthways in half to create small individual sandwiches. 
2. Spread both sides  with some butter and then some Philadelphia. 
3. Add your spinach, then 2 leerdammer slices, then 2 tomato slices. 
4. Top with your bread and press.

Healthy tuna wraps 

For those of you who are looking to stay healthy and fit – these super simple tuna wraps are a great choice and will provide you with a sweet and salty snack. 

Ingredients: 

• 4 tortilla wraps 
• 1 tin tuna 
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise 
• 100g sweet corn 
• ½ head romaine lettuce 
• 100g grated carrot 

1. Mix your tuna, sweet corn, and Mayo in a bowl until smooth. You can add more Mayo here to help make a smoother mixture for your wrap. 
2. Dollop some of your mixture onto each wrap and spread out. 
3. Sprinkle on your grated carrot and chopped romaine lettuce. 
4. Wrap up and optionally cut into small rounds. 

Couscous salad 

A couscous salad can be a useful option for a picnic, particularly if you have packed items such as pitta breads and houmous. This recipe is fresh, simple, and makes use of Mediterranean flavours. 

Ingredients: 

• 250g couscous 
• 400ml boiling water 
• Juice of 1 lemon 
• 1 tsp garlic paste 
• 1 bell pepper, chopped finely 
• 50g raisins 
• 1 tsp cumin 
• 1 tsp ginger 
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 finely chopped cucumber 
• 1 tbsp chopped mint leaves 

1. In a bowl, add your couscous, water, and lemon juice. Cover your couscous and leave it for 5-10 minutes to absorb all of the liquid. Fluff up with a fork. 
2. Add to a bowl with the rest of your ingredients and stir. 
3. Take for seasoning and add salt if needed. 

Scotch eggs 

Scotch eggs are a classic for the picnic and these ones will only take an hour to make! 

Ingredients: 

• 200g sausage meat (you can empty skin on sausages into a bowl for this) 
• 6 eggs
• 1 tsp sage 
• Salt and pepper 
• 1 beaten egg
• 200g golden breadcrumbs 
• Vegetable oil

1. Heat up a pan of boiling water and add your eggs. Boil for 8 minutes to hard boil. 
2. Peel of the skin and let them cool completely.
3. Mix your sausage meat with salt, pepper, and sage. Once the eggs are cooled wrap sausage meat completely around them to form large balls. 
4. Dip your ball in some egg, then breadcrumbs, and then add to a pan of hot oil and fry for 3-4 minutes. 
5. Take out and enjoy!