Picnic Series-The Last Leg, Installation 6

Post By: Guest Blogger, Kiersten Washle

        
          Who likes doing dishes? A show of hands? Though I cannot actually see you, reader, I am 99% positive you are not sitting at your computer raising your hand. I have literally only met two people in my life who like to do dishes, point being, when it comes to parties, no one volunteers to use their personal   cutlery and dinnerware. Why? Because no one in their right mind wants to throw a party, cook food and clean house in preparation for guests only to have to wash all those dishes as soon as the guests leave. Dishes for 20 could take more time than most are willing to spend. Thank goodness we live in a modern society, right? There is this fantastic new invention called disposable plastic ware! Go ahead, "oooh" and "ahhh", take it in. Now stop. I hope it was clear that the three previous statements were meant to be delivered with the utmost sarcasm.
         Of the aforementioned facts, a few of them do ring true- 1. No one enjoys dish washing, 2. We live in a modern society with lots of convenient tools available, 3. Plastic-ware does exist.
         Really though, it is time to get with the program, there is a way to avoid dishes without utilizing plastic whose destiny is to end up on a landfill. Your items need not be plastic, there is yet another option.  Along with the advent of plastic dining ware came another, a dining ware that was biodegradable. This is clearly the better option; it is readily available online and is about as inexpensive as the other options. Few people are aware of the the fact that biodegradable forks, knives, spoons and plates, bowls, and even cups are all out on the market. With either product, you can still escape the monotony of dish washing...
         This is the last segment about picnicking so we just thought we would end by reminding you that there are environmental options out there for almost everything you do. Please go out and enjoy your summer but do not forget that your choices have long term effect, making the environmentally friendly choice is not only good for you, it is good for the generations to come.

Here are links to websites where the products mentioned above are available:

• http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=181
• http://www.sustyparty.com/?gclid=COnwk8HUgLECFQHDtgod32ticg
• http://www.biocutleries.com/?gclid=CNaLpdLUgLECFWyHtgodvkPELQ
• http://www.smarter.com/se--qq-biodegradable%2Bdinnerware.html
• http://www.foodservicewarehouse.com/education/biodegradable-dinnerware/c5263.aspx

Picnic Series- Installation 5

Post By: Guest Blogger, Kiersten Washle

A Piece-It-Together Picnic!

When you want to picnic but you don't want to go out and get all the necessary food, it is time for a piece-it-together picnic. The idea is similar to that of a church luncheon; everyone brings a dish they enjoy or have on hand. All you have to do is call a few friends, just decide a time and place. Then you all show up with one edible item. By the time you and your group of friends are assembled, you should have quite the nice little array of food. Now enjoy the food, fun, and fellowship as you all dine out amongst nature's beauty! 

Picnic Series- Installation 4

Post By: Guest Blogger, Kiersten Washle

Meet the Bento Box-
This is the Japanese version of a lunch box. Bento roughly translated means "convenience", and what is more perfect for a picnic than something convenient? Typically Bento Boxes are compartmentalized so that you have several small portions of different types of food. In many Japanese households the homemaker spends time each morning to prepare their spouse  and children special Bento lunches.

How does this relate to picnics? Well, Bento boxes were too neat not to mention. Instead of the mason jar mentioned in the first installation, try mixing it up and using a Bento Box. You can use the box, but still stick to American cuisine, or you can use the Box to get inspired. There are plenty of ways to make picnic food in a Bento Box. This is another neat little way to spice up a picnic. If you are feeling especially creative you can try creating little pictures with your food! (Whoever said it is impolite to play with your food was right but, hey! This is a picnic! Have at it!) We are going to share our favorite Japanese inspired picnic item-Sandwich Sushi, followed by some really neat pictures of Bento Boxes whose makers were clearly inspired!

Sandwich Sushi Recipe:
Chicken, Cheese, & Carrot on Wheat


Ingredients:
2 Slices Wheat Bread
Thinly Sliced Chicken Lunch Meat
A Few Carrots, Grated
A Pinch of Shredded Cheese

A knife, Cutting board, and Rolling Pin are also helpful to produce optimal results.

Directions:
1. Take your two slices of bread and cut off the crust (It doesn't flatten out nicely.) Once the crust is cut the lay one end of one of the slices on top of the other end, they should over lap only about 1/2 and inch. With the bread touching, use the rolling pin to roll each piece really flat. The part that was touching should have stuck together leaving you with one long piece of bread.
2. Now layer in your lunch meat and carrots, when you lay them on the bread leave a 1/2 inch border around the perimeter. This will allow the bread to stick when you roll it up.
3. Take your bread, chicken, and carrots and roll it into a cylinder, you should have a long thin roll, pinch the bread together at the seam.
4. Now cut the roll into thirds, you are done! A Japanese cuisine inspired sandwich!

Here are some Bento Boxes for inspiration, these would not only spice up a picnic but also entertain the children and the child in us all!

Picnic Series- Installation 3

Post By: Guest Blogger, Kiersten Washle

At the farm we believe that you are what you eat, so why not enjoy a healthy treat? This is the third installation of the picnic series and the topic for today is finger food. Finger food is one of the greatest parts of picnicking, no silverware, no mess, no worries. As great as finger food is, there is one problem: often times people think their only finger food options are of the packaged and processed variety. Today we want to showcase some options that are both simple, bite-sized, and healthy.

Recipe 1: Grape Caterpillars
 Ingredients:

• A Package of Grapes
• Cooking Icing (Betty Crocker brand comes with a easy to squeeze package) 
• A few mini Chocolate Chips
• Skewers

 Directions:
1. Wash your grapes. Push about ten grapes onto each skewer.
2. Take your icing and make two circles (as large as you can make them) on the first grape in the line.
3. With 2 mini chocolate chips, make eyes by placing one chip in the center of each icing circle.

Recipe 2: Stuffed Cherry Tomato Poppers
 Ingredients: 

• Cherry Tomatoes
• Prepare Salad of Your Choosing
• Mellon Baller (for scooping out the seeds and pulp)

 Directions:
1. Slice top off of cherry tomato. Scoop out the inside of the cherry tomato using the melon baller. Lightly salt inside an turn upside down on paper towel to drain excess liquid.
2.Stuff with your favorite prepared salad and there you have it! Below are a few prepared item we suggest:

• Wild rice salad
• Quinoa
• Tuna Salad 
• Orzo Salad

Recipe 3: Fruit in a Lemon 
 Ingredients:

• 3 Lemons
• 1 Apple
• Grapes
• 1 Orange, peeled
• A knife
• A grapefruit knife would be helpful to hollow out the lemon, but as long as it gets hollowed out, you can use whatever works. 

 Directions:
1. Wash your lemon, cut the top off and set aside. (We are going for a container here, so when you cut your lemon do not half it.) Hollow out the lemon. Repeat with the other two lemons.
     ~We won't be using the insides but feel free to use them for a nice refreshing glass of homemade lemonade.
2. Chop a washed apple into small bite sized chunks. Set aside.
3. Wash your grapes and pull them off the stem, set aside.
4. Separate your peeled orange into slices. Set aside.
5. Mix all the fruit together and divide evenly into the lemons.
6. Replace the top of each lemon and use a piece of ribbon, twine, or a rubber band to hold it tight.

Now you have a nice fruit cup! The lemon's natural acidity will keep the fruit fresh and the thick skin will keep it a little cooler than plastic ware.

That's all for today folks! Stay tuned for the next installation of the summer picnic series!

Picnic Series- Installation 2

Post By: Guest Blogger, Kiersten Washle

The last picnic post talked about mason jar meals and those little fellows are certainly yummy adorable, but what do you do if the contents of a mason jar just aren't enough to fill you up? This brings us to today's topic--- the side dish.

Robin is to Batman what the side dish is to any meal or picnic, a very important part of the team of course! We have concluded that side dishes are very important, but the side dish itself remains unannounced. After much intense deliberation we decided that the best side dish for a picnic would be a fresh fruit or vegetable.

After packing your meal, grab another mason jar and throw in some fresh fruit, succulent strawberries, sour or sweet apples, firm grapes, or a mixture of them all! Though it may sound cliche to say, the possibilities really are endless.

Never Deal with Apples that Look Like This Again

Since fruit was our recommendation, we have to admit that there can be problems. Problems like, "The Brown Apple Problem"-we have all faced it. Cutting apples can get messy, they are full of sweet, tart juice which unfortunately seems to ooze out as soon as you break the skin.  Due to this, it is great to go ahead and cut them ahead of  time, but then you have to deal with the unappetizing brown color that occurs as the apple oxidizes. This problem seems like impending doom, entirely unavoidable, however, it is avoidable! Fear no more!


Avoiding Brown Apples Tip 1:
Cut your apples into the shape you want, slices or bite sized chunks, and put them in your picnic ready mason jar. The trick to keep them from browning is to pour in a little bit of a lemon lime soda, Sprite or Mountain Dew, into the jar. You only need about a fourth of the jar filled, easy to find in your fridge. This will keep your apples the lovely creamy color of a crisp freshly cut apple.

Avoiding Brown Apples Tip 2:
Cut your apple into slices and then go into your office and grab a rubber band. Now treat the cut apple like a puzzle, put the pieces back together into the shape of the apple. (Picture Left) Place the rubber band around the middle of the apple, this will hold the apple together like it hasn't been cut. Doing this will keep your apple fresh; all you have to do for and easy treat is remove the rubber band.

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.