Why Not Have A Picnic?

Post By: Guest Blogger, Kiersten Washle

Picnic Installation Number 1

        Picnics have been around for quite a while and they aren't going anywhere anytime soon.  Perfect for dates, casual get-togethers, or pure family fun, picnics range anywhere from casual to more romantic. They are a great way to enjoy the outdoors and spend quality time with loved ones. The sun is shining and birds are singing; it is the perfect time to grab a picnic basket and a friend, head to a shady spot and enjoy the afternoon.

Picnics are ideal because they are so simple, honestly the hardest part is deciding what you want to eat! Personally, our favorite picnic food is a yummy mason jar meal. Recently these little meals have come into vogue, applauded for their simplicity, utility, and the fact that they are just so darn adorable! You can put anything you like into a mason jar, just layering the foods you will mix to make your meal. The trick is to put the wet ingredients on the bottom, then you can have salads and pasta that will keep fresh all day. When you are ready to eat just give the jar a little shake mixing all the ingredients. 


Here are two of our favorite mason jar meals:

Salad with Grilled Chicken
First put in the dressing of your choice, add your grilled chicken, then add a layer of spinach. Next put in some shredded lettuce, some mandarin orange slices, perhaps some shredded carrots and top that off with a little more lettuce and spinach. You can also add croutons, sunflower seeds, or sliced almonds, it is all up to you and what you prefer on your salad!

Almost Spaghetti
Take your mason jar and drop in some marinara sauce. Then add your cooked noodles, we enjoy using fun noodles like penne and farfalle, but you can use any variety. Fresh basil leaves sprinkle on top, lastly add your favorite cheese, we recommend fresh mozzarella balls or shaved Parmesan.

With mason jars you don't have to make a meal, you can also bring all the components of a meal in separate jars. By keeping everything separate and refraining from mixing the ingredients until you arrive at your destination, everything stays extra fresh.

DIY Summer Fun: Bird Seed Hearts

By: Guest Blogger, Kiersten Washle

Everyone loves the company of a few coo-coo birds, and no, we are not talking about your in laws, we mean actual birds! The beautiful kind that fly around and chirp happy tunes. In honor of our feathered friends CloverFields would like to present this do it yourself project: Make your own bird seed hearts. They look like this:

This way you can give
 the birds a little something
 for brightening our days
with their cheerful chatter.

Bird Seed Hearts Directions

Materials Needed:

Nonstick spray

Here are some of our supplies

Heart-shaped cookie cutter (any shape of your choice will do)

Skewer or Straw

Cardstock

Twine

Bird Seed hearts made with the below recipe:

Recipe:

(Found online- Make 12 2” hearts)

4 cups Bird seed

¾ cup Flour

3 tsp. Corn Syrup

½ cup water

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

            Mix all the above ingredients together in a large bowl.

Spray the inside of the cookie cutter with nonstick spray.

Place cookie cutter on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Spoon the mixture into the cookie cutter, pressing mixture down firmly with a metal spoon. (The more you press the more solid the shape will be)

Use the chopstick, straw, or skewer to make a hole at the top of the heart, remove chopstick. Gently pull the cookie cutter away.

            Re-spray the cookie cutter and repeat the above steps.

            Let the hearts dry 6-8 hours.

Almost Done! 

When you are done you have these adorable little bird seed hearts perfect for gifts, or for your own enjoyment. With a little piece of twine they make a lovely addition to any tree!