This afternoon was slam-packed with activity. The kitchen was a mess with all of the prep work for tonight’s picnic and bulk meals for the week. I didn’t need a snack, but I did taste-test a few items like the pasta salad so that helped tide my hunger. Here are some of the products –
Packed lunches for Monday + Tuesday. You’ll have to wait to see what’s inside! The husband is going to pack me a surprise lunch on Wednesday and I’ll be able to eat at home after lab on Thursdays.
A bunch of brown lentils ready for speedy dinners or lunches:
Whipped Banana Oatmeal ! We made 2 cup’s worth and packaged them into 1/3 cup portions. I’ll let y’all know how it is reheated, but I have a feeling it’ll be good. I don’t think I’d make it in bulk if I didn’t have a morning time crunch this summer, but when you need it to go, it sure beats microwaved instant oatmeal.
Musical Picnic
Started the picnic with a glass of wine . Would you believe this is a plastic glass!?
The guys –
The gals –
For the 100* heat –
For the picnic (and for lunches) we made a HUGE batch of vegetable pasta salad . It made about 16 cups! The binder was made from greek yogurt and was perfectly sticky (and healthy!)
Here’s the recipe, although most of it was just estimated. You can play around with all of the parts to make your own style:
1) 16 oz package cooked bowtie pasta (my desire for bowtie shape outweighed my desire for whole wheat pasta)
2) Veggies of your choice
- 2 zucchini, chopped + cooked
- 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped + cooked
- 1 cubanelle pepper, chopped + cooked
- 1 bag mixed green beans, halved + cooked
- 1.5 cups frozen peas, thawed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
3) Dressing:
- 1 cup Fage
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 3 tbsp fresh dill
- S + P to taste
Toss all together! I roughly estimated the salad to be about 125 kcal per cup, give or take 25.
We also made a fruit salad consisting of:
- Cantaloupe
- Blueberries
- Fresh mint
- 2 tbsp coconut
It was an excellent combo!! The mint really made the dish.
Christy brought peach-plum hybrids . We came up with many different names for the combo. It was very interesting and good – more peach than plum but with plum "meat."
And for dessert, we packed Trader Joe’s Molasses cookies for all –
My plate!
And a splash more wine with dessert –
The symphony was great! They played Beetles songs, broadway, oldies and more. Check out the crowds!! This event has because SO popular. It’s every Sunday night in June, and we hope to go to all of them this year. Picnicking is my favorite part of summertime!
I’m feeling a little hungry but I’ve GOT to get to bed. I’m off to get a good night’s sleep before my first day of school! Gotta take a quick cool shower first because i’m all sticky from 3 hours in the summer heat.
Mia says
Hey Kath!
Im guessing that you added unsweetned coconut to your fruit salad?
VeggieGirl says
What a fantastic Sunday – love that pasta salad! :0)
Heather says
The banana oatmeal is really good reheated- you may need to add a splash of milk to it before heating, though. I usually make several days’ worth in advance and take them to work 🙂
Becca says
I wish I could get as organized as you!
Maureen says
Kath,
Looks like you had one of my favorite evenings. Live music and a picnic!
We made your tilapia parchment packets tonight. (Although, I sub’d red snapper for tilapia, and julienned zucchini for the carrots.) Cooked on the grill rather than the oven, because it was over 100 at 6:30 tonight in Arizona. 🙂 Delicious – a nice twist from the usual Asian cooking style that is my”go to” with fish.
We had it with a lovely white sangria.
magpie says
Yes! Mint does always make a fruit salad 🙂 The coconut was a good addition too!
Lauren says
Looks like fun!
For the iced tea you had this afternoon is that literally just hot tea cooled? do you do anything differently or put anything in it?
i always hate drinking my hot tea once it cools down, so why do so many people like iced tea?
Romina says
Your lunch packs are adorable! Can’t wait to see what’s inside. =)
Maureen says
PS- where did you get those plastic wine glasses? we are total wine glass snobs, and would like to have some plastic ones that look nice for picnics, drive-in, etc. I would love to find those!
TIA!
Richelle says
Picnics are one of my fave parts of summer too (probably because they involve food.. haha)!
I’m in love with that molasses cookie, it looks so incredibly chewy!
Kath says
Mia,
Yes it was unsweetened organic coconut, which I buy at EarthFare.
Lauren ,
It was Karen’s homemade tea. It was sweetened with splenda. You brew it hot and then chill it. It’s quite refreshing.
Maureen ,
Glasses are from World Market 🙂
Kath
jenna says
Looks like SO much fun! I love to do those kind of things in the summer! I want one of those molasses cookies…too bad there are no trader joes around here 🙁
SarahH says
Lauren you must not be from the south! 🙂 I could drink a gallon of sweet tea everyday..winter or summer.
Molly says
beAtles…just sayin’