National Picnic Month!
July is National Picnic month!
In honor of National Picnic month we wanted to share some recipes and ideas for a picnic with in-season produce that will keep the heat of summer at bay under those shade trees and in the fields for the long hot days! For more information on National Picnic month’s origins check out this article explaining what’s in the name and some suggestions on enjoying the month!
Picnic season is here—but so is produce season
July holds many food celebration days, including “Pick your own blueberries” day on the 10th! Don’t be sad if you’ve missed the day, the entire month can be used to celebrate it by making some delicious blueberry recipes and taking them out for your picnic! Blueberries are in peak season from early July to around mid-August.
You could try these amazing blueberry picnic bars or if you’re more adventurous, try making some blueberry and red onion jam or some blueberry and brie grilled cheese fit for any picnic basket and lunch on a hill! Blueberries aren’t just for pies anymore!
July is also National Pickle month!
Don’t let the blueberries steal the show just yet! Pickle month comes just in time for the cucumber harvests to begin (Mid-July - Mid-September).
Pickles are the perfect addition to any picnic basket as they can be used as a side or a condiment. Pickles can also be canned and sealed or made as “refrigerator pickles” that may take a day or two to absorb flavor before they can be enjoyed.
Also a great addition to pickles, garlic (in season June - August) and peppers of both the hot and sweet variety (in season June - September) can create a variety of flavors that is unmatched in store-bought varieties as well as customizable to your own tastes! If you fancy yourself adventurous enough for the spicy garlic pickles, try this recipe for yourself and take it out on your next picnic!
Late but not forgotten: National Apple Turnover Day July 5th
Where would we be without the beginnings of apple season ? The fourth of July sees many apple pies but also the celebration of apple turnover day on the 5th! Apple turnovers are easy ways to take a pie out of the pan and into the picnic basket!
Apples are easily able to find their way into savory dishes too such as this recipe for Apple Chicken Cheese Galette (essentially a folded up crust around the ingredients creating a pie-like structure without the pan) or Apple Tarts with Onion, Cheddar and Thyme.
And if you can’t get your hands on apples to make that pie you’ve been craving, no worries! Zucchini can be used as a substitute for apples in a variety of dishes and recipes including this mock apple pie. Zucchini can also be substituted in the above recipes for a new twist on an old recipe.
Check back here for more recipe ideas and leave comments below to suggest recipes of your own for picnic month, pickles, apples, blueberry and zucchini! We will be updating the blog biweekly and hope to bring you more delicious recipes, food holidays and more throughout the year!