•

Picnics can be elaborate, but simple is better.

MENUS:

BRUNCH TO GO
Fresh Bagels
Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese
Sliced Onions, -Tomatoes and Cucumbers
Blueberry Crumble Cake
Vanilla Yogurt with Crunchy Granola on
the side
Sliced Melons

cc)

w ROMANTIC PICNIC FOR TWO

= Grilled Honeyed Turkey Kebabs
cL) Asian Napa Cabbage Salad
Lu Peanut Butter and Sesame Pasta
1— Cherries
2 1— Cookies
.

1.1.1

° FAMILY PICNIC AT THE PARK
, L :.
-- Black Bean Gazpacho
Cold Cajun-style Meat Loaf
Green Bean Salad with Vinaigrette

54

Rice Pilaf
Great Breads
Strawberry Orange-Shortcake

VEGETARIAN TAILGATE
PICNIC
Cheeses
Baby Carrots with Roasted. Red Pepper
Hummus
Grilled Vegetable Sandwiches with Pe§tb
Mayonnaise
Tabouli Salad
Mixed Greens Salad with Vinaigrette
Macedonia- di Arance (Caramelized Or-
anges)

RECIPES • •

BLACK BEAN GAZPACHO
(This recipe takes mere minutes to make
with a food processor.)

• 1 pound very-ripe tomatoes, cut into
large chunks
krge cucumber, cut into
to large chunks
npepper, cut into large pieces
edium mild onion, (Bermuda,
Spanish or Vidalia work well),
quartered
• Juice of 3 limes or 2 lemons
• 2-3 cups tomato (or vegetable) juice
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
• Tabasco or other red-pepper sauce, to
taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste

NOTE: The only thing to remember
CHILD'S FAVORITES PICNIC AT when making this gazpacho is to process
each vegetable separately. Place tomatoes
THE BEACH
the bowl of a food processor fitted with
Friendly-Peanut Butter and Jam Mini
steel blade. Pulse until chopped but not
Pita Sandwiches
pUreed (about 5 seconds). Pour into a large
Franks-in-a-Blanket, pre-baked
bowl. Repeat with remaining vegetables.
Add lemon juice, tomato juice, cilantro,
Fruit Kebabs
. .Tabasco and seasonings. Stir and adjust
Fudgy Brownies
seasonings to taste. Pour into a large bowl
with a tight-fitting lid until ready to serve.

(It's even a good idea to put the lidded bowl
in a plastic kitchen garbage bag to avoid
accidental spills. Knot the bag on top.)

ROASTED RED PEPPER
HUMMUS
(It's as good as it sounds.)
• 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained

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Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup tahina paste
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 cup roasted red pepper (canned is
fine, drained)

Combine all ingredients inthe bowl of
a food processor and process until smooth.
If the mixture is too thick, add a little
warm water. Adjust seasonings. Place on
(or in) a serving dish and drizzle with olive
oil or sprinkle with paprika.

ASIAN NAPA CABBAGE SALAD
(This is probably my most requested
recipe.)

Dressing:
Start with:
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive or vegetable oil (not virgin