Tuesday, June 17, 2014

It's Picnic Season Again.

Hard Day's Work!
As you can see in the photo, I'm working my assistant to hard.  Actually, I'd really like to have joined her for the nap.  Even Daniel Tiger is napping with her.  I guess she is just worn out.  I'd still love to have half her energy.


We're into summer and that means it's "Picnic Time."  There are all kinds of events going on throughout the summer which call for picnic fare.  Everyone has their favorite side dish to bring to a potluck picnic.  If you don't, you need to get one.

Make sure it is a dish that you enjoy making and eating to begin with or it will never become your signature dish.  Your dish can be a basic staple for picnics or something a little different.  It seems everyone has a potato salad, pasta salad, cole slaw or fruit salad that are quite tasty but are traditional dishes.

There is nothing wrong with traditional side dishes for picnics.  But maybe you want to jazz them up a little.  You could change out an ingredient or two.  Maybe you can find blue potatoes for that potato salad, use Napa cabbage instead of the regular green cabbage for a cole slaw or a unique pasta in a your pasta salad.  Your only limited by your imagination and ingredients available.

Don't forget about fresh corn during the summer too.  All kinds of possibilities there for you with corn salads.  Grilling the corn gives you a different result then if you boil or microwave it as well.

This week's recipes are a little different take on your usual potato and pasta salads.  Wednesday's recipe is for "Sweet Potato Salad" and is just enough different to still be a big hit at your picnic.  The "Orzo Salad with Carrot Dressing" on Thursday is another tasty recipe to try.

It's all about using your favorite ingredients in some fashion for a dish that will have many people asking for that secret recipe of yours.  If you are worried about making an original recipe, don't.  Just take a recipe you like or fits your need and personalize it with some different flavors and foods.

Have fun experimenting as that's half the experience in developing a recipe.  Until next week, "Happy Cooking" and give this week's recipes a try.

No comments:

Post a Comment