Customer Reviews

PICNIC: 125 Recipes with 29 Seasonal Menus

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First off, it is nigh impossible to find a decent cookbook for less than $..., but to find a great cookbook for under $... (Amazons price), is a true discovery.

But we need to beg the question: even if it is a bargain, do you need another book just for picnics? I mean, picnics are simple, right? Chicken, potato salad, wine, salt, pepper and some napkins. Well, if you have picnic atrophy and go only once a year, then youre fine with the Colonel. However, if you, by chance, plan to cultivate the cultured outdoor dining side of you, Stovel is your mentor.

Stovel breaks up the book into the four seasons, and within each season she gives multiple menus (Spring 6, Summer 12, Fall 7 and Winter 4 menus). Each menu normally has five items. For example: Stovels, Spring Day-Hike Picnic menu has: grilled chicken fillets in a spinach wrap, artichoke salad, carrot sticks, gingerbread and fruit, with herbal iced tea. Her menus are thoughtful, flavorful, and balanced by having only one or two unique items out of the five. Her recipes are easy to follow and very tasty. This is a text only, there are no photos of the plates.

I thought Picnics were fun, kinda fast, intimate (like for two) and cheap. But the recipes here are for eight people! I have never had a picnic with eight people. I have had a church gathering and a Super Bowl sporting event, but not a picnic with eight people. Perhaps Stovel comes from a large family and see her readers bringing mom, dad, grandma and the five kids along; but in todays world of virtual families, recipes for eight are an overkill. Thus, because my picnics are for two, every recipe has to be cut in half and then I still have a picnic basket of left overs.

Also, sometimes, the ingredients for these recipes doubled my weekly grocery budget. For example, the ingredients for the Artichoke Salad (pg.16) set me back $16 by the time I bought three jars of marinated artichoke hearts $9, six sun-dried tomatoes [you gotta buy the whole jar] $4, mushrooms, scallions, etc. Or consider the Fresh Fruit Bowl Kaleidoscope costing more than $17 not counting the Grand Marnier Liqueur which is a heart-stopping $4, just for 50ml.

These points aired, this is a wonderful book that has recipes that can be used year round, picnic or not (Try Tantes Coffee Cake and Currant Oat Scones - Excellent). Picnic is an excellent buy for the money. Recommended. 4 stars

In Picnic, DeeDee Stovel draws upon her extensive experience and expertise as a cooking teacher and family chef to present 125 recipes with twenty-nine seasonal menus for creating that perfect picnicking experience. From Taco Salad; Sour Cream Chocolate Cake; and Thai Grilled Shrimp Appetizer; to Rice and Peanut Crispy Bars; Baked Chicken Fingers with Dipping Sauces; and Banana Frosty; Picnic has wonderful recipes for every possible outdoor outing from the mountain valley to the sandy beach, from the backyard to the National Forest. Planning to have a picnic? Then begin with browsing through the pages of DeeDee Stovel's Picnic!

"A picnic evokes thoughts of leisure, relaxation, and enjoyment of the outdoors. It can be a still life in the open air or a boisterous frolic on the beach. Some picnics celebrate a special occasion, some offer the opportunity for friends to gather, and others provide an excuse for breaking the routine of daily life." ~DeeDee Stovel

Are you dreaming of sipping hot chocolate out in the snow or nibbling on brownies after skiing, then there is a lot to offer even in the winter. DeeDee Stovel is a caterer and cooking teacher who is also the author of "Weekend! A Menu Cookbook for Relaxed Entertaining." The recipes in this cookbook are family favorites so most are for eight people. You can easily cut the recipes in half or plan to have leftovers. The picnics for Romantic outings are designed for smaller quantities.

In this creative work, you can find picnic ideas for every season. This would be perfect as a gift with a basket filled with items needed for some of the recipes. The recipes are a reflection of the favorites on the East Coast, but they will appeal to anyone who loves to go on a picnic. You will find information on:

Picnic Planning
Spring Flings
Summer Spreads
Autumn Outings
Winter Wanderings

DeeDee Stovel loves art and introduces the reader to famous artists who loved to paint picnic scenes. She briefly introduces picnic history and includes information on portable meals from the past.

The useful information includes ideas on how to keep food safe, how to prepare meals to go and how to keep food cold or hot. If you are looking to create "ambience" then she gives recommendations for flowers, mints, candy and other items to add to your checklist. There are two ready-to-go checklists for "Baskets at the Ready." This enables the picnic prone to be ready to travel at the hint of a picnic longing.

Picnics of Interest:

Breakfast in a Meadow
Spring Day Hike
Family Celebration in the Backyard
Summer Canoe Picnic
Beach Picnic
Sunlight Through the Trees Picnic
Music Festival Picnic
Sports-Fan Picnic
Moonlight on a Mountaintop Picnic
Teddy Bear's Birthday Party Picnic
Cross-Country Ski Picnic
Workday Picnic

Recipe Ideas are organized according to the Picnic, but you can even just take one new idea from your favorite chapters and create your own outdoor feast. There are tantalizing recipes for:

Gingerbread
Herbal Ice Tea
Champagne Mimosas
Bundt Cake
Brownies
Apricot Almond Bars
Barbecued Chicken
Red Potato Salad
Grilled Salmon Fillets with Mustard Dill Sauce
Frosty Fruit Salad
Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Tortellini Salad
Fresh Peach Ice Cream
Marinated Pasta Salad
Sun Tea
Petite Lobster Rolls
Cucumber Sandwiches
Gazpacho Madrileno
Cold Rice Salad
Strawberry Cookies
Spicy Beans with Sausage

If I had to choose one picnic book to keep in a basket for spontaneous outdoor feasts, this would be it. There are 125 recipes with seasonal appeal and lots of classic favorites and some intriguing surprises.

~The Rebecca Review

The book provides recipes, ideas, photos - everything you need to keep your picnics fun and creative! Picnics are for everyone and can be enjoyed anywhere - if you are someone who enjoys the fun and relaxation a picnic provides, there is something for you in this book. From the basic picnic to something a little more elegant. From cold winter day outings to the lazy days of summer by the river... there is a menu/recipe/idea for you in this book. We go on different types of picnics throughout the year - at the beach, at the park, on the soccer field or, in the autumn forest - and this book has helped me refresh the ideas.
Also great for people who are just thinking "a picnic sounds like a fun, new thing to do...."

I love to have picnics and have many cookbooks on that subject. Out of my collection, this is the one I go to the most. No pictures, but easy and excellant tasting recipes.

I purchased this for my child's school auction to go with a picnic basket. Attractive book and well worth the price paid.

I made all recipes of one of the menus, everything complemented really nice. Easy recipes with little tips to make them memorable. My husband was totally delighted. Who says you can't have a fancy dinner on a picnic? :) Loved the book, I'll keep on trying other recipes.

If you do a lot of relaxed spring and summer eating outdoors, then you want this book. I may some day use it for a picnic but all of the recipes are great for those who enjoy eating and entertaining outdoors. Most, if not all, dishes can be made hours or days in advance which makes putting the meal together when it is time to eat that much easier.

This was a fine cookbook. There was not as much variety as I would have liked but for the price it was a good buy.

I bought DeeDee's book mainly because of the price. I thought an inexpensive book on picnics: some good recipes and tips - forget it.

On my first inspection only one or two recipes interested me. Well, maybe I just wasn't hungry. I put the book away and tried again later. Nope, nothing here.

Most of the recipes, if not all, are for the wine and brie set picnicing in the Hamptons. If your picnic ideas include hummus with creamed cucumber dressing, garnished with figs that are stuffed with walnut and endive, this book is for you, otherwise look elsewhere.

I really think this book was put through a marketing survey and they felt they could only get the ten dollars for it if they were lucky.