What do we do every time we want to celebrate someone or something? A dinner, lunch or, if the weather is good, a picnic is always an option, right? So, why not celebrate our way to celebrate? Yes, it sounds weird, but that is correct. This month (the 18th of June, to be precise) is World picnic Day. So, for that reason, this month’s article will bring you how to prepare a good picnic and different spreads and of course our fun facts about our king of celebrations.
The word picnic comes from the French “pique nique”, and it started thanks to our French friends. According to my research (you know me, always looking for that fun fact), picnics began in France after the French revolution in the 1800s, when people were allowed to go out again to the country's royal parks.
It slowly started spreading around, and it was our friends in England who made it part of their social occasions. Think Jane Austin and her books or inspired movies. If you haven’t seen Pride and Prejudice, or something more modern as Bridgerton, please, do yourself a favour and go watch it or we cannot be friends anymore, hahaha.
Our English took it a step up and gave the picnic a more elaborate menu. The menu would feature a wide range of cold meats and pies that took days to prepare. And they also had games to entertain their guests.
With all this, a picnic could last hours or even the whole day. And, to make it even more of an official event, they decided to organize a Picnic Society, which would meet regularly near the Pantheon in London.
But not everything is sunshine and sunflowers. Picnics have been used as a way to protest, too –if a protest includes food and laughs, I think it's my type of protest. In 1989, the Pan European Picnic protested in favour of German reunification, held along the Hungarian and Austrian border.
And not too long ago (last year, to be exact), we saw many people in France and Australia organizing picnics outside restaurants to protest vaccination rules.
After spreading all around the world, our picnic comes back home big time. Because France achieved a world record on Bastille Day, when it organized a 600-mile-long picnic along its coast to celebrate the New Millennium.
But the question is how to prepare a good picnic?
The answer: there is no rule. You can just grab your lunch and a blanket and sit in a park (even a park bench if you prefer), and you are done. That is my favourite way to have lunch, to be honest.
But if you want to be more elaborate, there are certain things to consider:
The place:
Any park will do but think of a place that can have nearby toilets, easy access, shade (in case of a sunny day, or consider bringing something for sunshade.
Blanket:
If you are considering buying one, I recommend choosing one with waterproof material on the bottom. That way, you don’t have to worry much about wet grass.
Games: you can have a second blanket for games so your guests can rotate between the food blanket and the games blanket. Here, wooden lawn games are the king: Jenga is always a winner, and if you can get the big-size Jenga, even better. Ring toss it’s always fun, and why not honour our dear Jane Austin with a good game of croquet.
The food: think easy food to eat. Vegan cheese platters, fruits, veggies (carrot and celery stick with hummus are always a winner), different types of dips, crackers, and chocolates.
You can add cakes, sandwiches, or some more elaborate dishes. But consider that people might be standing, so the use of cutlery sometimes is not the best option.
Here I leave you a few ideas:
The ultimate Avocado Sandwich:
Ingredients:
2 slices of wholegrain bread (or any bread you like)
3 slices of vegan Brie cheese
½ avocado (the other half can be used in a smoothie or guacamole)
4-6 cranberries, dried (6 cranberries = 10g)
½ small tomato (the other half could also be used in guacamole)
1 small handful arugula/rocket (1 small handful = 10 g)
½ tbsp balsamic vinegar
Instructions:
Start with the bread. You can toast it or not; I prefer it slightly toasted. While that’s happening, cut the avocado into slices. Slice up the tomato and brie too.
Wash the arugula and cut the cranberries in half. Assemble everything on one slice of bread and drizzle the balsamic vinegar on top. If you don’t like vinegar, add pesto to the bread slice that goes on the top. Now just "close" the sandwich with the second slice of bread. Give it a little squish to stop any naughty bits from sliding out, and you’re done.
Vegan tuna sandwich
Ingredients
1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed
1/2 cup celery chopped
1/2 cup red onion chopped
1/3 cup vegan mayo
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/8 cup parsley chopped
1 teaspoon kelp flakes
1 teaspoon ground flaxseed optional (for omega)
Tomato
Lettuce.
Instructions
Mash the chickpeas using a potato masher until broken down.
Add in the remaining ingredients, except tomato and lettuce, and mix until combined.
Place the chickpea tuna in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to chill before serving.
Prepare the bread by lightly toasting it. Add one layer of mayo if you wish, then a layer of lettuce, our vegan tuna mix, tomato (finely sliced), and then cover up with the other slice of bread, and you are done.
Babaganoush (roasted eggplant dip)
Ingredients:
1 large eggplant
2 garlic cloves, skin on
1/2 lemon, juiced
2 tbsp tahini
1 1/2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
4 green onions, finely chopped
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Place eggplant and garlic on a tray. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes or until eggplant is soft. Set aside to cool for 15 minutes.
Cut the eggplant in half lengthways. Using a metal spoon, scoop out flesh onto a chopping board. Roughly chop, then transfer to a bowl.
Squeeze flesh from garlic into a small bowl. Now, add 2 tablespoons lemon juice, tahini, 1 tablespoon oil, and salt and pepper.
Mash with a fork until well combined, and stir into eggplant with three-quarters of the green onion.
This is optional, but I like to add a few drops of liquid smoke. Definitely a game-changer.
Transfer to an airtight container. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Serve with crackers, carrots, cucumbers, capsicum, and celery sticks.
And you, how are you going to celebrate? Tag us in your pictures or send us a message and let us know.
Happy World Picnic Day!
