Summer is the perfect time for a picnic. Luckily July is National Picnic Month. Michigan has so many scenic areas to eat al fresco. I have some great recipes from my cookbook, Meals From the Mitten: Celebrating the Seasons in Michigan, to inspire you to get you out of the kitchen and into the great outdoors for your next meal.
Let's start with an Antipasto Salad with Bloody Mary Vinaigrette. This salad is a versatile dish that can be made as a side dish or added to skewers for a hand-held snack. It's not mayonnaise-based, so it won't spoil quickly. I love a great Bloody Mary, so naturally, I incorporate that into this delicious vinaigrette.
I like to prepare a Charcuterie Board if we are entertaining quite a few people at our picnic. I like to add different slices of bread, pestos and mustards so that my family and friends can make their perfect sandwich.
Another excellent picnic dish is this Soba Noodle Chicken Satay. Make this recipe this summer while you are grilling and package the leftovers for a picnic the next day. This dish is perfect hot or cold.
To top off the perfect picnic, you'll need a cocktail. Try these refreshing Blackberry Mojitos with Salami, Mint and Mozzarella Skewers.
