Who doesn’t love a picnic? From the townies who flock to the nearest park to countryside lovers who use it as a pit-stop on a long hike, it’s a great summer staple. And for good reason.
An imaginative spread of different ‘picky bits’ will keep your entire brood happy – whether you’re stopping to refuel during an adventure or just enjoying the sunshine in the back garden.
To help you get the most from your supermarket shop at every counter, Morrisons Market Streets experts are here to help. With hints and tips you need before your next al fresco experience, here’s a guide to preparing the perfect picnic…
Say it with a sandwich!
Picnics should be easy to put together and tasty to eat. Whether opting for a classic sandwich or something more adventurous, it’s important to place your fillings between a quality loaf.
At the Market Street bakery counters at Morrisons, expert bakers are making fresh bread from scratch everyday. And even better, they’ll happily slice it for you too, making sandwich making with good quality bread easy.
Seeking filling inspiration? Why not fill a fresh wholemeal loaf with delicious ham and piccalilli. A ham and piccalilli picnic loaf is the perfect addition to any outdoor spread as it’s ready in 15 minutes, is easy to transport and serves up to eight people.
You simply slice the top of a wholemeal loaf before pulling out all the soft bread from the centre, leaving you with a hollow shell of crust. Any of the other fresh bread varieties on offer at the Market Street bakery would also work, like the classic Coburg cob or a tiger loaf.
After brushing the inside with melted butter, layer slices of cooked ham, torn lettuce leaves, sliced vine tomatoes and radishes, slices of mature cheddar and piccalilli. Then repeat the process and place the lid back on the loaf.
Wrap the entire thing in clingfilm then foil or parchment and take it with you for your picnic. To serve, simply slice up with a big bread knife.
Your Go-To Summer Salad
You might think salads aren’t ideally suited to the practicalities of a picnic, but that’s not the case with a classic Italian panzanella.
The Market Street experts at Morrisons heartily recommend it since it’s delicious whatever the temperature and the flavour intensifies over time thanks to the juicy tomatoes. Plus, it travels well too.
Simply rip up some slightly stale bread – ciabatta and sourdough work well – then toast it and add to a bowl of chopped ripe tomatoes, cucumber, shallot (or red onion). Mix well and add some fresh basil leaves.
Dress with extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar, before seasoning to taste. And why not add some extras like anchovy, roasted red peppers and capers for a real taste explosion?
Dip in and out…
Nothing says ‘picnic’ like a good selection of picky bits and dips. But putting together a selection that goes together can be tricky.
For all of your outdoor dining this summer, guacamole is a refreshing choice while The Best Houmous with Chilli Jam from Morrisons is perfect for spicing things up. And when it comes to doing the dipping, you can’t go wrong with crisps, celery and carrot sticks.
You can even introduce radishes, asparagus, fresh fennel, cherry tomatoes, baby corn and sugar snap peas into the mix for something different. Raw cauliflower is also a forgotten favourite!
Alternatively, hand the decision making over to the deli at Morrisons by ordering a Crudites Platter for your next outing, where carrot and cucumber batons, pepper strips, mini breadsticks and six falafel are prepared in store and served alongside houmous and tzatziki.
Sweet treats, baked to perfection!
When it comes to picnics, sweet treats are a must-have staple. But what should you pack to end your lunch in the sunshine on a sugary note?
Well, you won’t go wrong with freshly prepared treats from the Market Street bakery. Morrisons’ range of tasty bakes has something for everyone – from fresh cream cakes to giant cookies.
Are you a doughnut lover? You’re sure to find your favourites fresh from the oven, including the custard or raspberry jam-filled kind and the quintessential sugar ring. Or, for something a little different, why not try the new caramel flavour?
Market Street bakers also recommend putting together a picnic-ready scone pack – where their freshly baked scones can be paired with indulgently rich Cornish Clotted Cream and a dollop of jam. Whether you agree with Devonians or the Cornish, it’s up to you which you spread on first!
And for that added something, top your sandwiched scone with fresh British fruit. It’s the season of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, so these are definitely your best choice.
125 years of Morrisons
Did you know one of the nation’s most beloved supermarkets is busy celebrating a big birthday? This year, Morrisons celebrates 125 years of serving quality fresh food.
To mark the occasion, they’re celebrating the expertise from Market Street – where the butchers, fishmongers and bakers are ready with their skills and advice on how to get the best from their fresh produce, offering services like filleting fish, cutting steak just the way you like, or slicing a freshly made Coburg cob.
With more fish delivered fresh from shore to store, more British meat hand prepared by butchers, and more bread made from scratch, there’s more reasons to shop at Morrisons.
Find out more and shop now at Morrisons.com/market-street