Summertime Picnic Menu

You'll love this delicious and healthy menu for your summer picnic!

Summertime Ham Sammies
Rainbow Pasta Salad
Sunshine Fruit Kebabs
Bubbly Sunset Punch

Summertime Ham Sammies:

Thick sliced black forrest ham (or whatever type of ham you like best)
One granny smith apple peeled, cored, and sliced thin
Mozzarella slices
Coarse grain mustard- you can omit this
Butter
Whole grain bread

We're basically making a gourmet grilled cheese sammie!  Lightly coat one side of each slice of bread with butter, and the other sides of the bread with the mustard.  This way the outsides will crisp up in the pan, and the insides will get all melty and creamy with the mustard.  Basically you layer the ham, apple slices, and cheese slices between the bread, and saute' on low heat until the crusts are golden brown and the cheese is lovely and melty!


Rainbow Pasta Salad:

1/2 lb Rainbow noodles- cooked, you know the ones- red, green, and white noodles.  You can also use whole wheat pasta!
1/4 cup finely sliced carrots
1/4 cup finely diced roasted red peppers
1/4 cup mild banana peppers
1/4 cup green onion
1/2 cup grape tomatoes chopped
1/2 cup fresh spinach leaves

For the dressing you'll need
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tbsp coarse grain mustard
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
salt & pepper
whisk together and pour over ingredients.-  this salad tastes best when you prepare it the night before!

*the great thing about a vinaigrette dressing is that you don't have to worry about keeping it cold!

 
Sunshine Fruit Kebabs:

1 pt. strawberries chopped to bite size
1 pt blueberries
3 or 4 peaches peeled and chopped to bite size as well
2 large bananas
1 cup of red grapes

arrange items on kebab sticks and top with my favorite fruit salad dressing:  raspberry preserves(seedless), lime zest, and lime juice


Bubbly Sunset Punch:

This recipe isn't that healthy lol, but all things in moderation right?

The night before your picnic prepare one package each of strawberry and blue raspberry koolaid (use less sugar so it's a little tangy), and place in ice cube trays to harden overnight.  The next day combine:

1 2ltr sprite or lemon lime soda
1 bottle of white cranberry & strawberry juice
1/2 the strawberry ice cubes
1/2 the blue raspberry ice cubes

basically you'll need two 2ltrs of sprite or lemon lime soda of choice and two bottles of the white cranberry & strawberry juice for all your ice cubes.  As the ice cubes melt it mixes together so wonderfully to create the most deliciously refreshing punch!  You'll love it!

I hope you try this menu or choose one or a few items from it to taste!  Trust me you'll love it!  XOXO