Homemade picnic

[Regiment]

Hopefully meeting up with a special lady and want to do a little home made picnic that we can eat indoors on the living room floor as we enjoy each others company and a movie in the background, my question is what does everyone recommend for picnic food.
I was hoping for 2 desserts, including a chocolate one and a cheesecake. I also want to do something like an Italian flatbread with a pizza like topping but hoping for 4 items in total for my basket.

Any ideas?

[V8mate]

Four, you say?

[Regiment]

I was thinking more a long the lines of a baked cheesecake,try and find a recipe for a really nice lemon one and also include star fruit somewhere. Probably chocolate ecclairs as well as my second dessert. A nice flatbread topped with Italian ham, cheese, tomatoes and a bit of greenery and then something else.

[V8mate]

Does she definitely like desserts? Plenty of wimmins will turn down one, let alone two.

Of course, some would also eat four, if they were offered.

[Regiment]

V8mate said:

Does she definitely like desserts? Plenty of wimmins will turn down one, let alone two.

Of course, some would also eat four, if they were offered.

Yes, she does but don't want to do something heavy as she's coming back from an illness so no large fudge cakes just yet .

[V8mate]

If she's still recuperating, I think a spread which she can pick and nibble at would be best. Does she like olives, antipasti, tortilla chips and nice dips, a couple of nice cheeses and posh BfC, some julienned vegetables, maybe some gherkins... that kind of thing?

And just one dessert. Even I could't eat a piece of baked cheesecake AND an eclair*.










* This might be a lie, but the point stands.

[Regiment]

Might be a better idea, to have some nice cheeses with the topped flat bread. The bread she can tear off bits. With the desserts, she has said that she'd love to just laze in bed and curl up with me with a good dessert watching a good movie, that's why the dessert is important .

[V8mate]

Regiment said:

Might be a better idea, to have some nice cheeses with the topped flat bread. The bread she can tear off bits. With the desserts, she has said that she'd love to just laze in bed and curl up with me with a good dessert watching a good movie, that's why the dessert is important .

Well after cheesecake and an eclair, careful if she gags!

[Regiment]

What would your recommendations be for dessert?

[V8mate]

This time of year... tarte au citron, those little chocolate GU puddings, fruit crumble and ice cream?

[condor]

I'd go with a quiche, some good quality ham and a light green salad.
Nice slab of bread and butter - bit of cheese and pate....nice bottle of red wine to accompany

[IanMorewood]

Regiment said:

What would your recommendations be for dessert?

Strawberries and pouring cream, you can improvise on serving suggestions but if your looking for some inspiration check out the food scene in 9 ½ weeks

[V8mate]

IanMorewood said:

Strawberries and pouring cream, you can improvise on serving suggestions but if your looking for some inspiration check out the food scene in 9 ½ weeks

I'm assuming that this 'picnic' is happening soon. Strawberries are crap at this time of year.

[IanMorewood]

V8mate said:

I'm assuming that this 'picnic' is happening soon. Strawberries are crap at this time of year.

The plan wasnt to eat them. :P

[V8mate]

IanMorewood said:

V8mate said:

I'm assuming that this 'picnic' is happening soon. Strawberries are crap at this time of year.

The plan wasnt to eat them. :P

Ah. Gotcha. Well they'll definitely be plenty hard enough to shove 'em up each others arses.

[/crazygermans]

[Regiment]

I've got so far...

Cheese & Tomato flatbread - http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/cheeseandtomatof...
Fruit tart - http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/no-fuss_fruit_ta...
Vanilla Icecream - http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/vanillaicecream_...
Quiche Lorraine - http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/quichelorraine_7...
Fresh Strawberries

Any ideas on a good white wine or something non-alcoholic to go with that, not a fan of dry whites and not a fan of reds. Thank you for all the suggestions so far.

Find some great suggestions for wine here.
http://wine.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Best_Picnic_Wines

Edited by Regiment on Sunday 6th January 19:31

[TIGA84]

I wouldn't bother poncing around making Ice cream, you can buy briliant stuff nowadays.

The fruit tart looks excellent, the cheese and tomato flatbread and the "Quick Lorraine" look intensely boring if I'm honest.

Does it all have to be cold stuff? A warm spatchcocked chicken marinated in lemon, black pepper, olive oil etc on a board with some good butter, a decent mayo a bunch of watercress and a fresh baguette would be my idea of a quality picnic, just sitting aorund and tearing it apart. Maybe some homemade coleslaw (check Jamie Olivers recipes for it, they are incredibly simple to make, creme fraiche etc)

The tart would follow that brilliantly.

Couple of ice cold Bitburgers or a jug of Pimms Royale (Champagne or Prosecco instead of Lemonade) and you're away.

[Regiment]

Sounds good, get rid of the flatbread, add a beautiful herb marinated chicken, a homemade coleslaw and a baguette. Sticking with the Ice cream and quiche though.

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chicken-recipes...