Holiday Picnics and the World's Biggest Coffee Morning

We think of picnics as a very British thing, with families and friends gathered around to share sandwiches, chicken drumsticks and sausage rolls. 

Though its origins go way back to the turn of 17th / 18th Century France, where 'pique' referred to everyone bringing a little something to contribute and 'nique' a thing of little or no importance - well, we gave them 'Le Weekend' so it's a fair swap.

 

But our picnics are primarily family fun where Mum provides all the 'little somethings', each of which being of 'great importance'.

Perfect picnics

So, what do you bring and how can Stokes Sauces help - here's a few ideas. Firstly - you don't have to trudge miles over meadows to some distant river bank ... a picnic in the garden can be just as much fun.

Stokes egg mayonnaise sandwiches. Forget brown and healthy, use nice thick slices of a fresh white batch loaf. Boil the eggs so the whites are firm but the yolks are still soft and yellow. Cool, shell and cut into nice thick chunks. Fold a couple of big spoonfuls of Stokes Real Mayonnaise and a dollop of Stokes Tomato Ketchup.

I like it just like that but you can cut some cress into the mix as well. It's just yummy.

Coronation chicken boats. Shred or cut two cooked / cooled chick breasts into a large mixing bowl. Add three desert spoons of Stokes Coronation Sauce and half a 180g tub of Philadelphia cream cheese and fold to coat the chicken. Instant, smooth and oh so full of flavour. Pull the leaves off a baby gem lettuce to make the boats and spoon a good helping of Coronation Chicken into each.

Individual salad jars. This is a great use for empty washed Stokes Sauces jars. Mix a nice salad in a bowl - watercress, baby spinach, diced cucumber, chopped peach or mango (or both), cooked cooled conchiglie pasta shells, some tinned drained corn kernels, sliced chopped red pepper - whatever you want. Now pour over some extra virgin olive oil (to stop the ingredients sticking) and flavour with a generous glug of Stokes Raspberry and Balsamic Dressing. Stir and spoon into your jars then screw on the lid.

Lemon Syllabub. Now for an instant burst of lemon desert. In equal quantities, stir a jar of Stokes Lemon Curd into the same amount of whipped cream (again this is great fun served in Stokes jars). Spoon into portions and serve with some oh so buttery shortbread biscuits.

Stokes Lemon Curd is made with British free range eggs and is deliciously thick and creamy. Just spread it in toast and put a smile on everyone's face.

You'll have lots of family favourites yourself - why not share some of your own ideas with other Stokes Sauces customers on the blog or via Facebook LINK.

It's the World's Biggest Coffee Morning for MacMillan Cancer Support 

on 30th September. 

Find out more here and join in - so let's get baking.

Click on the image above to follow a lovely Mary Berry Victoria Sponge Sandwich recipe - no soggy bottoms there.

Stokes Blackcurrant Jam Muffins.

...or, just spread lavishly on cream scones - delicious.

2 eggs, 125ml vegetable oil, 250ml semi-skimmed milk, 200g golden caster sugar, 400g self-raising flour, 1 teaspoon of salt and a jar of Stokes Blackcurrant Jam to hand.

Heat the oven to 200c / 180c fan or gas 6. Line 2 muffin trays with paper muffin cases. Beat the eggs than add the oil and milk. Add the sugar and continue beating to a smooth batter. Sift in the flour and mix to a batter - lumps are good, so not too smooth. 

Now add 2 or 3 dessert spoons of our Blackcurrant Jam to create a swirl through the mix. Fill the cases two thirds and bake for 20-25 minutes. When they have risen, are firm to the touch and a skewer comes cleanly our when tested, they are good to go. Cool and enjoy.

Take a look at our full range of 'extra' jams by clicking the image or here. 

They are packed with real fruit, lots of it, and each jar oozes with natural colour and flavour.

 

How are you getting on with decorating those jars  ?

Get creative. Get the children to paint your empty Stokes jars this summer, take a picture and e-mail them to me HERE , and we'll send a money box lid to the best five each week across the Summer until 5th September 2016.

Post your creations on Facebook LINK

Time for a simple treat

After all that baking, preparing, painting and fund raising - it's time to put your feet up and enjoy an award-winning treat - add a generous helping of British smoked bacon to your Stokes Tomato Ketchup - oh yes, that's wonderful.

Simple, honest, delicious

 FOOD MADE BETTER 

www.stokessauces.co.uk