ROSIE'S BLOG
  • Jammy Bloggers
  • Instructions
  • Gallery

Not a sandwich short of a picnic

13/6/2014

0 Comments

 
Every year we go to a nearby open air theatre who hold a series of plays during the Summer. The performances are mostly Shakespeare but there are sometimes their take on Dad's Army ( brilliant ) The Wind in the Willows ( also brilliant with an actual river going across the stage ) and this year it will be Alice in Wonderland. So this year's programme is As You Like It, which we went to last night, then Alice in July, followed by The Taming of the Shrew in August. All of the performances seem to coincide with someone's birthday, or anniversary - or both - so the picnics often take on a party atmosphere. We are usually lucky with the weather and in ten years of doing this I can only remember twice having to eat our picnic inside.
Picture

Everyone busy picnicking in the early evening sunshine whilst members of the cast in their costumes tend the gardens so that we feel part of the play before it starts.

There is a bit of pressure with the picnics though - we usually share out the work and the various elements that need to be prepared but inevitably you sometimes end up with too many chairs but no knives or forks. " I thought you said etc etc" Mostly it doesn't matter though and you can make do.It is also easy to have that extra glass of wine and then spend the first Act fighting to keep your eyes open until coffee and port in the interval gives a well needed boost of energy.
For the first performance of this year, or indeed any year, we are a smaller group so tend to make the picnic more like old fashioned tea, with sandwiches and cake and other delicious bits and pieces. I was in charge of sandwiches this year and made Tomato with Basil & Sea Salt Butter, and Egg & Cress with Orange Spiced Mustard Butter. Both are easy peasey to do but have a lovely piquant flavour to jazz the sandwiches up a bit. Here's how:-


Basil & Sea Salt Butter

Mix 250g softened unsalted butter with 50g finely chopped basil leaves, juice half a lemon, some freshly ground black pepper and a teaspoon fine sea salt. Beat together until well combined and then use to make some delicious tomato sandwiches.

You can try with mint, parsley, or oregano and egg, salmon or cheese sandwiches - or anything you fancy!

For the Orange Spiced Mustard Butter just mix 4-6 tablespoons of Orange Spiced Mustard into 250g unsalted butter until evenly combined. Again, I made egg sandwiches but you could easily use this with cheese or cold meats.

Alice in Wonderland is the next performance in July and I am coordinating the picnic production which will be for around 15 people! Everyone gets an email with what they need to bring whether it is equipment, food, drink or some of all three! We usually have one person in charge of the coffee, with port and chocs as well. If it has been a hot day I will take some Limoncello along as well, nice and cold in the cool box. There are proper tablecloths and napkins but we haven't yet brought the candelabra along - though if it was dark we might! Even if you haven't got a play to go to an evening picnic in the cool of the day is a very civilised way of spending a relaxing time with friends.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Rosie Jameson

    Wife
    Mother
    Nanny
    Working to preserve preserving

    GALLERY
    RECIPES
    JARS

    Archives

    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    April 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    alldishes.co.uk

    Categories

    All
    Apple Pear Plum Jam
    Apples
    Apricots
    Basil
    Beeswax
    Beeswax Furniture Polish
    Beetroot
    Blackberry & Apple
    Blackcurrant-jam
    Blackcurrants
    Brussels Sprouts
    Candied Peel
    Carrots
    Cherries
    Chickens
    Chilli-jam
    Chinese Style Plum Sauce
    Citric Acid
    Classic Fruit Collection
    Classic Vegetables Collection
    Cordials
    Courgettes
    Cucumbers
    Dalemain Mansion
    Dan Lepard
    Defra
    Eggs
    Elderflower Cordial
    Elderflowers
    Fiery Bengal Chutney
    Gift Cards
    Giftwrap
    Ginger
    Ginger Cordial
    Gooseberries
    Greengage Chutney
    Greengage Jam
    Greengage Leather
    Greengages
    Greengages In Eau De Vie
    Herb Jellies
    Herbs
    Herb Salts
    Herb Vinegars
    Jam And Similar Products (England) 2013
    Jam Consultations
    Jam Jar Shop
    Jam Making
    Jam & Preserves Calendar
    Jam Regulations
    Jarcessorise
    Ketchup
    Kiwi Fruit
    Lemon Curd
    Lemon & Dill Mustard
    Lemon Vinegar
    Limes
    Limoncello
    Mango Chutney
    Marmalade
    Marmalade Awards
    Master Classes
    Mincemeat
    Mobile Recipe Site
    Mustard
    Mustard Balls
    Mustard Seeds
    Pam Corbin
    Passata
    Pears
    Pesto
    Piccalilli
    Pickled Eggs
    Pickled Sprouts
    Pineapple
    Plum Jam
    Plum Sauce
    Posters
    Pressure Canning
    Quince
    Raspberries
    Raspberry Jam
    Ratatouille
    Recipes For Mobile
    Red Cabbage
    Rhubarb
    Roasted Tomato Passata
    Rosie Makes It Easy Clubs
    Salad Cream
    Seville Oranges
    Soft Fruit
    Strawberries
    Stuffed Cucumbers
    Sugar
    Sugar Debate
    Sugar Ratios
    Summer Frocks Collection
    The Big Feastival
    The Still Room
    Tomatoes
    Vivien Lloyd
    Waterbath
    Waterbathing
    Wedding Favours
    Winter Fruit Compote

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Jammy Bloggers
  • Instructions
  • Gallery