I love a good picnic. They feel so British and are a reminder that summer is here even if it is blanketed in overcast cloud. They don’t always come in the form of a red-chequered blanket laid out underneath the shade of a tree with a wicker hamper basket, bursting with treats. Sometimes all they need is a dry patch of sand, a smooth surface of a rock, a garden bench, or everyone huddled in a car when it’s pouring outside. They always taste of adventure and the great outdoors. I love lots of different things to munch on at a picnic, plenty of different filled sandwiches, scotch eggs, pork pies, crisps, fruit and a large wedge of homemade cake. And of course, where you are going sometimes dictates what you are going to eat- salt and vinegar crisps always seem to taste ten times better when eaten at the seaside.
Every good picnic must have sandwiches and even though sandwiches are so easy to make, don’t you find when someone else makes your sandwiches they taste far better? And that’s why I slightly cheated and went to the lovely people at the Cheshire Sandwich Company. I had my favourite “War of the Roses” cheese savoury sandwich, a combination of Lancashire and Wensleydale cheese, onion and red pepper mixed together with mayonnaise, served with mixed leaves and locally made Mrs Darlington’s apple chutney. Here they also sell a selection of lovely homemade cake bars, it was a difficult decision but I chose the very naughty looking rocky road and a flapjack. Then it was trip to the supermarket to buy some crisps – again another essential, I have to put crisps on my sandwiches, I just love that crunch! I was feeling old school so went for salt and vinegar squares and Wotsits for Steve. I bought a selection of fruit – grapes, raspberries and strawberries, which I have to admit I left in the fridge at home oops! Then I was requested to buy some Milky Bar yogurts – I gave Steve the look of disgust when he requested theses, “Milky Bar yogurts are not picnic food!” But it would have been cruel of me to dismiss his request, and in fact they made a very nice addition to our picnic! H xx
