one of my favorite activities to do in may when its warm but not humid, is go to the park and have a picnic, a favorite spot of mine is the rockefeller estate, kykuit in tarrytown, nY.  but i am not talking about lukewarm turkey sandwiches and store-bought potato salad. with a beautiful day and a gorgeous setting, there is no excuse for ugly, bland food. so here are a few tried and true recipes for pretty, portable, and palatable picnic provisions.

side: zucchini and carpaccio salad from smitten kitchen (20 minutes)

sandwich: parisian steak and cheese croissant sandwiches from giada (11minutes)

dessert: espresso chip meringue from giada (1 hour)

drink: berry-guava lemonade from the food network or, if you want a more spirited affair, try the super simple pomegranate spritzer from everything and nothing.

the trick to a good picnic is quality not quantity. no one enjoys lugging a heavy basket around, so try to keep it light, sticking to three satisfying courses that won’t strand you in the kitchen for hours.  if you decide to picnic on a whim, pick up some ready-made treats from your nearest grocery store. a favorite of mine is manchego cheese and olive tapenade on french bread.

also, keep it green! try to use reusable utensils, cups and plates! (this also gives you an excuse to shop for some adorable picnicware)

~carolyn