Hi everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend. Today Mary Ann, Annie, and I are joining some of our food-savvy blogger friends for some summer picnic inspiration. For those of you new here I just moved from a 5,000 sq ft home to a 2,000 sq ft home. Oh, and did I mention that we also sold our lake house within the same week? Needless to say, complicated picnic food is not in my wheelhouse right now. Today I am going to show you how to prepare the lazy woman’s picnic, or a picnic you can create anytime without the stress. Let’s take a look at my simple picnic using grocery store ingredients.
We spent most of the weekend unpacking and organizing but I prepared a picnic within minutes that we could take to our daughter and son-in-laws for Memorial Day. I had three considerations, it had to be simple, Summer needed to like it, and the decor needed to be carefree. I think I accomplished all three and we had a fun, relaxing day. This was our greeting.
Jenna has a beautiful new pool that they added last year. This year they added an outdoor kitchen and eating area that is protected from the sun. We set the table under the pavillion by the pool.
I prepared the ice cream sandwiches the night before. I used Tate’s bakeshop cookies (white chocolate & macadamia & double chocolate) and Haagen Daz vanilla bean ice cream. They were super easy and survived the two-hour trip beautifully (packed in ice)
Ice Cream Sandwiches with Tate Bake Shop Cookies & Haagen Daz Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 1 bag tates bake shop double chocolate cookies
- 1 bag tates bake shop white chocolate macademia nut cookies
- 2 cartons Haagen Daz Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Instructions
-
Soften Ice Cream slightly, place one scoop of ice cream in between two cookies. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze. Pack tightly in ice if taking to a picnic,
The morning before leaving I assembled the muffuletta sandwiches. There is basically nothing to do but assemble them. I bought all the ingredients at the grocery store. I used ciabatta rolls since we do not have authentic muffuletta rolls here. If you don’t mind spending the $$$ you can order authentic muffuletta’s from Central Grocery here.
I used Emeril’s recipe for Muffuletta.
Emerils' Muffuletta Sandwich
Ingredients
- 8 ciabatta rolls
- 1 1/2 cups muffuletta spread
- 8 ounces salami thinly sliced
- 8 ounces cappicola thinly sliced
- 8 ounces mortadella or deli ham, thinly sliced
- 4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese thinly sliced
- 8 ounces provolone thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Pickled pepperoncini for garnish
Instructions
-
Assemble early in the day so the bread has time to absorb olive oil. Spread both sides of roll with olive spread. Layer meats and cheeses. Drizzle with olive oil, wrap in plastic wrap. Serve with pickled pepperoncini as garnish.
The truffle potato chips are super simple as well. I purchased cape cod kettle chips but you can use any good quality chip. I used the recipe from my recipes here.
Slice up a seedless watermelon and woila mission accomplished, with very little effort!
SHOP SIMPLE PICNIC
I picked up three bunches of sunflowers at TJ’s on the way up. When I arrived I grabbed some greens and buddilea from Jenna’s yard, plopped it all in a bucket and placed it on their table with a couple scarves and bookends from Jenna’s fireplace.
A good time was had by all and no one had to work!! You might also enjoy Project Design Simple Summer Entertaining Tips.
I Had planned to purchase a cute picnic basket, plan an elaborate picnic, and head to Big Sur. Here are the cute picnic baskets I found. I promise I will do that another time when time is not at such a premium.
FABULOUS PICNIC BASKETS
I warned you it was super simple! I almost backed out of this post due to lack of time. The beauty of this simple picnic using grocery store ingredients is it is carefree and easy. If you are looking for something a little more challenging, I am sure my foodie friends have some great ideas. Pop over and visit:
Hi Cindy,
Simple would have been picking up ready made sandwiches and salad from the deli. You put together a lovely and delicious picnic by making sandwiches (muffulettas are my favorite), making dessert the night before, and fancying up potato chips. Obviously you’ve never been on picnic where the bag of chips gets thrown on a blanket with a bucket of chicken from the drive thru! The flowers and table centerpiece are beautiful and make everything look really special. I like your style Cindy!
Xo
Heidi
Hi Heidi
You made me laugh out loud! I grew up in the Midwest, and my mother was not much of a cook. Trust me I have been to one of those picnics!! Thank you for a good chuckle this a.m!!
We are planning an out door kitchen, so these photos help me with ideas.
Hi Kay
Have fun with your outdoor kitchen!
Cindy,
I’m so happy you didn’t back out…this post is full of great ideas for a simple but delicious, picnic. Everything looks great and I’m sure it tasted wonderful.
Summer is so darling.
xo,
Karen
Hi Karen
I think Covid has taught us many things. One of them don’t sweat the small stuff and keep it simple. Life is too short!!
“Plopping” your sunflowers in with your other garden clippings is florist-worthy work. I would never have thought of ice cream sandwiches when they had to be transported but apparently they did fine. With the stone and tile building in the background and your lovely setting, it looks like you could be somewhere in Provence!
Hi Wren
I wasn’t sure if the ice cream sandwiches would survive either but I packed them tightly in ice in a yeti. That may have something to do with it!
Cindy, I love the simplicity of this picnic lunch. I need to go back and read your post about selling two houses. I am trying to downsize but just inherited a house in Connecticut where I need to empty the contents, etc., etc. I’ve been flying back and forth and it’s been exhausting. We’ve had so many people calling to buy Bella Terra, but the thought of emptying out another house is just too much. So I completely understand how busy you have been. Thanks for the pretty pictures, yummy food and great shots of your family.
Hi Mary
The move was and continues to be an undertaking! We loved our old home and it will forever be our family home. That being said we are enjoying this stage in our lives and are grateful we did it now!
As usual the person who said they barely made any effort – did the most fab post! This was stunning Cindy. You know how to make a picnic lunch gorgeous. I am so trying the ice cream sandwich idea. Both you and Annie also made the pressed sandwiches look amazing… Have to give them a whirl. I loved seeing the photos of Summer. She is really growing. What a lovely yard your daughter has! Loved doing this with you all . x Kim
Cindy this looks amazing! I am so happy you did not back out because you always have the best ideas! I love the sandwiches, the ice cream sandwiches and the flower arrangement. Summer is adorable!
SANDWICHES LOOK AMAZING!
I ASSUME SUMMER ATE EVERYTHING!!
WHAT A FUN DAY!
Elizabeth those tate bakeshop cookies come in a million gluten free flavors. I thought of you!
Um, you call that easy? Making the sauce, making the dessert, truffle stuff and moving? Nope. You’ve got easy mixed up. Puts the rest of us to shame. Not nice.
Love it! Simple is always the answer and all my family would just love that lunch!! Looks like a wonderful day thanks for posting!
Great shoes! Love! Can you share the name please?
Hi Jill
I linked to the shoes in my last post but here is the link https://rstyle.me/+ZqGRXB5Yh59CE0wLk5CJVA. If that doesn’t work look in my post on black and white they are linked at the end!
Cindy! Simple, YES. But so chic and elegant and looks DELICIOUS! Love your outfit too! I’m a firm believer that easy doesn’t have to mean boring! Thank you for including me this month! xo
Love the ideas here. Simple is the name of the game for me. Wonderful ideas and resources. Thank you so much!
So inspirational, yummy and beautiful!
What an awesome party!! Is that the Mexican dress that I gave Summer? I remember buying one small outfit and a larger Mexican dress…but probably not that big. Their backyard is amazing since the last time I saw it. You and I are both on the same “easy” path except I don’t have the moving excuse. 🙂
Cindy, More & more I’m following my husband’s advice, KISS. Keep it Simple, Stupid! Your perfect picnic lunch just proved his point!!! Love your common sense applied to just about everything! Thanks for the inspiration!
You make everything look so beautiful Cindy. I’m so glad you didn’t back out of this post because I am recreating this exact picnic one day soon! Thank you for the inspiration xx
Cindy, I think your choice of bread for the Muffaletta is much better than the round loaf because it’s softer, making it easier to bite into! Jenna’s pool and outdoor space are gorgeous! I love those black pendants!
Hi Annie
Those PB Pendants are good looking aren’t they? They really define that space. Any picnic in my mind needs to be easy to prepare or it defeats the whole purpose of a picnic!!