A Memorial Day Picnic

Updated April 18, 2007
Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro

Memorial Day weekend marks a time when you get out of the house and find a lush piece of grass to set up a picnic with family and friends. Assembling your favorite portable-ready appetizers and dishes ahead of time makes traveling with food a breeze. Don't forget to pack the cooler filled with fruits and veggies for snacking. 

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Greek Chicken Grain Bowls

Credit: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford; Food Styling: Victoria Cox

Greek Chicken Grain Bowls Recipe

These mediterranean-inspired grain bowls are perfect for make-ahead meal prepping. Hearty and filled with various flavors and textures, this is the kind of packed lunch you’ll be satisfied with all week long. 

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Fiesta Bowls with Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette

Credit: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford; Food Styling: Victoria Cox

Fiesta Bowls with Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette Recipe

Bookmark this one for your weekend meal prepping session, folks. Loaded with a variety of vibrant veggies and finished with a zippy chipotle-lime vinaigrette, these vegetarian-friendly rice bowls are the perfect make-ahead meal for packed lunches. We opted to go with brown rice for the base of our bowls, but feel free to use white rice or whatever grain you have on hand.

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Chimichurri Beef Meatball Hoagies

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Victor Protazio

Chimichurri Beef Meatball Hoagies Recipe

These deliciously flavored meatballs served on hoagie rolls or French baguette rolls will be the new favorite at your weeknight dinner table or your neighborhood football party. The sauce makes plenty for cooking the meatballs, and there's even enough to spoon over the sandwiches for a boost of flavor.

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Niçoise Gnocchi Salad

Credit:  Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Karen Rankin; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Niçoise Gnocchi Salad Recipe

Haven’t made it to the grocery store in a minute? That doesn’t mean you can’t whip up an impressive dish. This lovely, snackable take on a salad Niçoise is composed largely from pantry items, like canned tuna and roasted red peppers, plus a couple of common refrigerator staples—frozen green beans and eggs. We use packaged gnocchi, shelf-stable gnocchi as a creative swap  for the fresh potatoes typically found in a salad Niçoise.  Dressed up with a super simple vinaigrette this “throw-together” salad could easily pass for a well-planned. In other words, keep this one in your back pocket for the next time you need a last-minute appetizer for entertaining. 

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The Perfect Lobster Roll

Credit: Greg Dupree; Styling: Audrey Davis

The Perfect Lobster Roll Recipe

Neptune Oyster in Boston and Red's Eats in Maine, on which this recipe is based, are Mary-Frances Heck's two favorite lobster rolls, and both give the option of butter or mayo. Offering that choice means they can't hide anything about the quality of their lobster.

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Potato Salad Carbonara

Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Styling: Blakeslee Giles and Audrey Davis

Potato Salad Carbonara Recipe

With potatoes, pancetta, eggs, and cheese...what's not to love about this Spaghetti Carbonara turned potato salad? Try this served alongside barbecue chicken or pork and slaw. If you don't want to make the homemade aioli (which is really worth it), use 1/2 cup of store-bought mayo. You can also use bacon instead of pancetta, if you like. 

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Summer Melon Salad with Ham and Mint Vinaigrette

Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey

Summer Melon Salad with Ham and Mint Vinaigrette Recipe

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Celery, Apple, and Almond Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Celery, Apple, and Almond Salad Recipe

Crunch rules in this fall salad. Cut the celery on a diagonal for long, thin slices that will match the shape of the apple slices. We like a tart-sweet Pink Lady or Fuji apple here.

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Tahini Chicken Salad Sandwich

Credit: Sara Tane

Tahini Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe

Nutty, creamy, and of course, topped with greens, tomatoes, and onions, this hearty, easy-to-prep chicken salad sandwich is the perfect, packable lunch. Eat it immediately, or wrap it up and allow the rich, deep flavors of the tahini run into your hearty, toasted bread.

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Picnic Egg Salad

Credit: Greg Dupree

Picnic Egg Salad Recipe

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Make Lemonade

Credit: James Carrier

Make Lemonade Recipe

Give sodas the heave-ho and replace them in your picnic plans with refreshing Basil Lemonade. Like the rest of our menu, you can make it ahead for an easy morning exit. Adults will find it's also a perfect mixer for tequila, rum, whisky, or vodka.

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Tasty Treats

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro

Tasty Treats Recipe

With their peanut butter cookie crusts and chocolaty cake centers, these diminutive desserts offer a fun twist on the traditional peanut butter cup. Better still, Peanut Butter-Fudge Cups are an easy-to-transport dessert that needs no cutting or serving.

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Summer Picnic Menu

Summer Picnic Menu Menu

Enjoy sandwiches, salads, cool drinks and cookies along with the warm weather, fresh air and–of course–good company.

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Tasty Treats

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro

Tasty Treats Recipe

With their peanut butter cookie crusts and chocolaty cake centers, these diminutive desserts offer a fun twist on the traditional peanut butter cup. Better still, Peanut Butter-Fudge Cups are an easy-to-transport dessert that needs no cutting or serving.

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