Summer Picnic Recipes | A Moveable Feast

Take advantage of the warm weather and cook up a menu of our favorite al fresco foods for a summer picnic. Plus, a guide to some of our favorite picnicking spots around New England.

[slideshow post_id=”557519″] Picnicking is both nostalgic and completely of the moment. You pack up the old family picnic basket on a whim. It’s summer–carpe diem! It allows a civilized immersion in nature, forcing you to slow down, make an effort, set the scene. And although science hasn’t proven this fact, we all know that food tastes better outside. Anyone who has awakened to the smell of coffee and pancakes cooked over a campfire can attest to this.

With all that in mind, I’ve created a fresh summer menu you’re welcome to eat anywhere but that’s particularly friendly to the demands of al fresco dining. The main course–bread stuffed with ham, cheese, and scallions–is eminently portable; the grilled corn and watermelon salad are both delicious at room temperature; and the blueberry-nectarine tart is simple and rustic, a special finish without much fuss. Pack some ginger limeade in a thermos and you’re ready to hit the trail.