A Pinch of Al Fresco

The grey, drizzle-y days may not be calling for much time outside, but as Mother Nature sprinkles in the hot and sunny summer days, sometimes all we want is to find a little shade and enjoy touching grass for a bit.

When the temps start to creep into the 80s, it’s almost hard to find a spot in the park because everyone wants to be outside soaking up the sun.

*Queue Sheryl Crow’s top hits “Soak Up the Sun” and “All I Wanna Do”*

Now that we can safely say that summer is upon us, throwing down a blanket for a nice meal in the shade (or in the sun for us UV lovers) and enjoying a nice meal and beverages is a way to just soak up summer’s finest moments. Fresh air and good eats? Sign me up.

Picnics are great because they can come at almost any time of the day.

You can start your day with a quick trip to the coffee shop to have a picnic in the park with some baked goods from a local spot. Or a lunch time picnic can be filled with snacks that you picked up at a local market. You can really go all out with an evening picnic full of prepared foods or a full takeout meal after a long, hot day.

And the best part is that the homemades can be part of those meals. If you want to go all out, you can prep as much as you'd like. Or if all you want to pack is a blanket and some beverages then pick up foods, that's fully acceptable too.

What’s Cookin’

With all this blanket chatter, you’d probably expect me to show a full spread of all sorts of goods at different times of the day. I'll admit, that hasn’t happened… YET. (These words are both an inspiration to you and me.)

For now, here’s a fun adventure with Lucy on the Wissahickon Trail:

So while I throw these ideas out there, here are a few recipes I’ve had saved that I’d make if I were enjoying some goods on grass or sand:

• Green Goddess Pasta Salad – here’s a great recipe that you can add in as much, or keep as simple as you’d like, to find what works for you. Need a little crossover reference for the dressing? Try out my recipe here!

• Chili Crisp Salmon Panzanella - didn’t somebody recently say that tinned fish are in? Well anyway, this Food52 recipe from the Fishwife team and Vilda Gonzalez caught my eye right away as the perfect meal to prep right before bringing it out to the friends that get it. The take on a nice fresh, bright panzanella is a great balance of textures and flavors.

• Watermelon Feta Salad – this one is a summer favorite. Crisp watermelon with the tangy and creamy feta and a nice bright dressing… chef’s kiss. Make this the nice lunch snack or maybe a dinner side paired with crisp rosé… another chef’s kiss.

• Ham, Brie and [insert spread] Sandwich – I think a sando outside is damn near as perfect as it gets. And this one takes a little inspo from the sandwich I had this weekend (teasing what’s below). Whether you’re into a cold sandwich or a little panini action before making your way outside, here are a few options for this sando:

  • Ham, Brie, Marmalade and Arugula Pressed Sandwich from the kitchn

  • Jambon Beurre Sandwich by Lindsey Eats – Ham, Butter, Brie and Arugula

  • Ham and Brie Croissant with Bacon by Owen Han

Obviously the possibilities for a picnic are endless, and I’d love to be able to go to Trader Joe’s or Di Bruno Bros and pick anything that’s looking good to me that day. That’s the best part about meals outside, just go with the flow and enjoy the fresh air, maybe with a side of people watching.

A Pinch Of Favorites Map: Malvern Buttery

I think about the Malvern Buttery at least once a day. It was one of the first additions to the Pinch Of Favorites map.

The open concept of the kitchen behind the fully-stocked cases of baked goods, both savory and sweet, is just about as perfect of a shop as you can design. Every time I step foot in here, I’m amazed at the amount of food they produce, the flow the workers are able to move in and just the overall appreciation of food they’re able to showcase.

So when my mom asked if I wanted to go this weekend, it was always a yes. The late Sunday brunch followed a morning trip to Cycle Bar with friends, for the first time, to celebrate two friends’ birthdays – torture for some, fun for others.

The food was much needed fuel after a worked-up appetite. And the sandwiches with some sweet treats and cold brew didn’t disappoint one bit.

That Chai Butterscotch Cruffin. Easily the best thing I’ve eaten in the past month, and a top bite of the year so far. Safe to say there was inspiration drawn from this trip to The Buttery… perhaps a tease for something coming up? 👀 Excited to share about that soon enough.

While the weather seems to be all over the place each week, I hope you’re feeling inspired to eat outside, lay down a blanket to share a meal or just get out for a bit.

Make Sheryl Crow proud this week 🤘