It's Nearly Picnic Time

Hello Lovelies,

'Hold hard a minute , then!' Said the Rat.  He looped the painter through a 

ring in his landing-stage, climbed up into his hole above, and after a short

Interval reappeared staggering under a fat, wicker luncheon-basket'

'What's inside it?' Asked Mole, wriggling with curiosity.

'There's cold chicken inside it,' replied the Rat briefly;

'coldtonguecoldhamcoldbeefpickledgherkinssaldfrenchrollscress-

sandwichespottedmeatgingerbeerlemonadesodawater-'

'O stop, stop,' cried the Mole in ecstasies: 'This is too much!'

The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame

Picnics are one of my favourite parts of the Summer, there is something lovely about being outside in the open air lazily picking at food.  Eating al fresco seems to heighten the senses, make the food taste better and lets you appreciate the wildlife and your surroundings.

Some of my fondest family memories are of picnics, my mum would fill up our picnic basket with yummy food and bottles of water, then we would set off on a mini adventure.  These little adventures would rarely take us far from home, but that didn't matter.

One of our favourite picnic spots was the riverbank near our house.  We would put down the big tartan picnic blanket, then start on our lunch under the Summer sun, grazing on all the food.  After eating we would buckle our jellies (hello 90's kid) then jump in the meandering river with the dogs in tow.  We would swim and splash around before emerging hours later with numb hands and feet, ready to pull on a snugly jumper and make the short trip home

Those are my childhood memories of picnics, although today my picnics are more likely to be in a park, they can still be made as exciting as they felt age eight. 

I want to do a little picnic series, and give you all some of my favourite recipes, that are both quick and easy to cook if you and your chums decide to have an impromptu picnic this summer.  The first of these is Sticky Honey and Mustard sausages, a picnic must.

Ingredients:

390g   of good quality chipolatas (so get down to your butcher)

2 tsp  wholegrain mustard

2 tsp  English mustard

• Cut your sausages, put them on a tray and start cooking at 180C for 10 mins.

• While they are in the oven mix together your honey and mustard's into a glaze, after 10 mins take your sausages out of the oven turn and pour over the glaze before putting back in for another 10 mins.

• Once removed from the oven leave to cool then box or place in foil takeaway containers to keep them warm for you picnic.  

As well as lovely food/drink and a blanket there are a few other essentials that one will need for an amazing picnic.  

Cutlery:
I have to admit to being a bit of a fingers girl when it comes to picnics, but cutlery would be a must if you have better manners then I do! 

Mugs:
I love Falcon Enamel Ware it is something that has always been in our kitchen cupboards, my Grandma has it as well as my parents and it filled my Uni kitchen.  I love the dishes and tins but the mugs always make me feel like a little adventurer wherever I am, so they are a must for picnics.

Candle:
This isn't just to set the mood, a Citronella Candle will keep all those pesky bugs, who want to feast on you and your food as far away as possible. 

Is anyone else a picnic fanatic like me?