As it's National Picnic Week in the UK next week ( 16-22 June) I just had to share my favourite way to eat food - in the great outdoors!
In truth it isn't just on those rare sunny days in the UK I like to eat outdoors - I actually love to eat and drink picnic-style all year round, I'm weird like that...
I think a cup of of tea, a sandwich, even a muffin or biscuit somehow tastes better when eaten in the open air - haven't a clue why...it just does.
Packing all your food, crockery, cutlery and drink is a bit like packing for your holidays. Going on a picnic is a fun, almost childlike thing to do, forget formality, kick back, relax and sit cross-legged on the floor to devour your picnic goodies instead.
You can go formal, to a degree, if you still want to though - think posh picnic baskets, real glassware and food like smoked salmon, herb and black pepper oatcakes, gourmet crisps, pate, quail's egg versions of scotch eggs, accompanied by champagne and a wonderfully English summery dessert of Eton Mess (meringue, berries and cream).
For the informal version grab cheese, baguette, crisps, salad, accompany it with wine, beer or lemonade and finish up with shop bought chocolate cheesecake.
Picnics shout fun, adventure and, strangely enough, romance. It's about forgetting work, stress and worries and chilling out for a few hours.
Pick a spot by a lake, on the beach, in the woods, a flower-filled meadow, on top of a hill or even in your own back garden - it doesn't matter where, it's all about relaxing, enjoying delicious food and drink, good company and the great outdoors.
My picnic hamper must haves:
* Sundried tomato hummus eaten with pepper and herb oatcakes
* Fancy hand cooked crisps
* Potato salad
* Chunks of cheddar cheese, slices of red onion and crackers
* Blueberry muffins
* Cawston's Apple & Ginger Juice
WIN - Up For Grabs 3 Ebooks!!!
To win an ebook copy of my latest novel If You Only Knew (yes, there is a picnic scene in the book!) please email me your Picnic Top Three:
* Favourite picnic spot
* Favourite picnic food
* Favourite person to share your picnic with (can be someone actually in your life or a celebrity!)
Email me at info@zannamackenzie.co.uk and I'll pick my favourite top three to each win a copy of the book!
About If You Only Knew:
Faith owns The Coffee Pot in the outdoor adventure sports
mecca of Derbyshire’s Peak District. She hasn’t had a man in her life for a
while, as she’s been too busy serving cakes to weary rock climbers and mountain
bikers to find time for the complications of a relationship with the male of
the species.
At least, that’s what she tells herself. The truth is that
since she got her heart broken she’s had problems trusting men.
When she meets Zane, one of the new owners at the Carrdale
Extreme Sports Centre, Faith finds herself enjoying his company even though
part of her can’t help wondering why he’s so reluctant to talk about himself.
Then the past comes back to haunt her in the shape of Zane’s
business partner Matt, who just happens to be the guy who broke Faith’s heart
all those years ago.
With Matt out to cause trouble and Zane keeping secrets
Faith’s life is about to get very complicated indeed…
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