Picnic Foods

[donnyandcathy]

We are throwing a big surprise party for my oldest daughter that has graduated this year, on Sat. We are doing a picnic outside at a park. Of course the main foods will be Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Chips, Baked Beans, Pasta Salad, and a big graduation cake.
I am not going to eat any of that, but I need to know some things I can prepare to take, that would stay good in the heat, and also blend in with what we are having. I would also like to make a raw dessert.
Any suggestions? I know some of the guest will be trying my food, so whatever I bring I would like for people to say
"Wow, this is the way you eat?" ;)
So, I would like it to be extra good.

Thanks
Cathy

[klomasius]

My suggestion is almost always RPs raw brownies, they are a hit with my SAD friends.

Also, perhaps a yummy cheezecake decorated with fresh strawberries, raw cookies, raw cinnamon scrolls, sweet crackers with sweet 'cream cheese' dip, homemade raw food bars, delicious exotic fruits etc.

[EZ rider]

I like watermelon at picnics. :)

[HolyGuacamole]

We picnic a lot and I always take fixins for onion bread sandwiches:
*onion bread
*eggless spread
*rich cheddar sauce
*avocados
*tomatoes
*sprouts/arugula/greens
I keep everything separate and then just build sandwiches from there depending on what everyone wants. Trust me, if anyone TRIES one of these, they will definitely be impressed. They are incomparably delicious.
That and a big bag of kale chips, and maybe some guac and crackers? Pure picnic food and YUM!

I also like to take huge sprout salads like the one I described in your other thread, but I top them with lots of tomatoes, avocado, maybe a handful of olives... I have had strangers in the park oohing and aahing over my sprout salads many times.

We took these very foods to a VERY UN-raw chip, hamburger, and hot dog laden birthday party for my little 9 year old niece recently. Most of the people there (some of them cattle ranchers - this is in very rural Texas), both kids and parents, practically never touched a vegetable or fruit in their lives by their own account, and everyone was very into my food. I'd only brought enough for my own family because it was a 4 hour drive, we were staying for 2 days, and I only had a small cooler, but if I'd had enough to share the kids would have been all over our food.

Will be interested in hearing what everyone else suggests. I love to picnic!

[contessa20]

We had a bar-b-q for my son's 10th birthday a couple of weeks ago and while everyone else ate their burgers, potato salad and ice cream cake I had my own dehydrated burgers (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=17016), corn salad (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/blog.php?b=13899), watermelon and raw ice cream cake. Next bar-b-q I'm making confetti slaw (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/blog.php?b=14780). Yummm.

[Visorblue]

I'm rather fond of a raw version of Broccoli Delight that I found -- made some last night as a matter of fact. Watch the agave and the onions as I found both to be a bit much in my first batch. Should please most non-raw foodies, too.

http://www.naturallysavvy.com/images/stories/food/recipes/broccolisalad250by200.jpg

Shannon Leone's Broccoli Salad

Main Ingredients

* 5 cups broccoli, chopped into small florets
* 1 1/2 cups raw sunflower seeds
* 1 cup red onion, minced
* 1 cup raisins, organic

Dressing

* 1 cup RAW cashews
* 1/4 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
* 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
* 3 tablespoons agave nectar
* 1/4 teaspoon Celtic sea salt
* 1/4 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed


Methods / Steps

1. Blend the dressing ingredients until smooth.
2. Pour over the broccoli, onion, sunflower seeds and raisins, and toss well.
3. Serve with a big grin knowing you are serving a healthy dish that tastes great!

From: http://www.naturallysavvy.com/food-and-nutrition/recipes/broccoli-salad

[ReneeH]

I'd take any of these:

Fruit Salad
BLT Sandwich on RFT (They would be surprised that the "Bacon" is Eggplant! ;)
Marinated Mushroom (Alissa's), Kale Salad, Zucchini Rice Pilaf (Cornbleet's)

[donnyandcathy]

Y'all are WONDERFUL!! I think we all need to get together and have a picnic!!
Thank you for all your yummy ideas, they look GREAT!!
I will let you know how it goes. My mom was being so sweet, and told me today she was going to make a raw salad for me. I asked her what was in it, and everything sounded o.k. except for the white wine vinegar, and one other ingredient that I can't think of right now. I told her I didn't think those ingredients were raw, but I felt bad telling her, since she was trying hard to fix something for me :(
I could send her some of these recipes, and she could make one of these for me ;)

Thank you again SO much!!
Cathy

[spicyfull]

Green Bean Cassarole from my files""

1 recipe Alissa's Mushroom Soup
1 1/2 lb. fresh green beans
2/3 cup onions, diced
1 teaspoon Bragg Liquid Amino's
1 1/3 cups recipe Alissa's Marinated Onions
Sea salt and pepper to taste

Mix all the ingredients, accept the recipe Alissa's Marinated Onions which you will sprinkle on top after mixing the other ingredients. Dehydrate for 5-6 hours to allow flavors to intertwine.

IMPORTANT: Feel free to alter the amount of green beans and diced onions as my amounts may be off.


The one I'm using is this (found on Gone Raw):

Ingredients:

fresh green beans
1 batch mushroom soup, water reduced by half, http://www.goneraw.com/recipes/5722-...-Mushroom-Soup
¼ cup red onion, sliced very thin
½ cup chopped mushrooms
2 pieces of your favorite onion bread, sliced into thin strips and dehydrated until crisp
Preparation:

1. I bought very fresh thin green beans and then cut them into small strips (French cut). You can either freeze them and thaw to soften or dehydrate them for a while.
2. When you make the mushroom soup, cut the water to half the amount called for in the recipe in order to make it thicker.
3. Mix green beans, onion, mushrooms and soup.
4. Then top with the strips of onion bread. It can be warmed in the dehydrator if desired.