Aug 29 2011

Going for a picnic?

Posted by WiseMóna

Posted under: Kitchen

The end of summer is nigh. * Sigh *

Lastweek, with the end of summer looming, we did a whirlwind trip around the island visiting with friends and family in Kilkenny, Dublin, Mayo and Sligo. I was full of vim and vigour, spouting statements like ‘I cannot WAIT for the kids to go back to school’ and I meant it. The Chef & I have had a ferociously hectic summer with extra foster kids flitting in and out of Chez Wise for respite care, and I honestly feel like the only way I will get a well earned break is when they race out the door on Wednesday morning for another year of homework and broken wooden spoons!

Of course. That was all well and good until today. We went shopping with Granny for a few last minute back-to-school items and I started to get a little panic-struck.

Now, when they leave me on Wednesday morning to return to their life of academia, I too must pull my socks up. College starts back next week too. You know what that means – time to stop fecking about on Facebook and Twitter and actually get to work writing the book. No rest for the wicked, I know.

The kids are full of fun and fervour and although adjusting to their new — and much earlier — bedtime, they just cannot wait to load up their new bags and lunchboxes and get this school business back in action. I have been writing a few different articles for the local Galway Now Magazine and our local newspaper the Nuacht Chláir, and I seem to be spouting the same message throughout. Eat local and eat foods that are in season. And stop buying chicken nuggets for your kids!

It is fair to say that the polytunnel has runneth over at this time and we are in the height of my favourite part of summer. The part where you have to give away A LOT of your produce because you cannot eat — or preserve — it all!

With the Electric Picnic going on this weekend, one of my favourite bloggers put a feeler out asking for picnic food ideas. I am not sure why, but it was two vegetarian recipes that popped into my head right away. One, which I will deliver right now is for a kind-of Italian sandwich called ‘Pan Bagnat’ pronounced …. pon bainne (if you are Irish) or pon bonya if you are, eh, not Irish? The other one is for a mustard, cheese and tomato tart which I will feature later this week once I get back on the blogging bandwagon (that is, when the kids have left me alone and are gone back to school and I have more time to sit at home baking and eating bon-bons).

Pan Bagnat

Recipe Type: Sandwich

Author: WiseMóna

Prep time: 10 mins

Total time: 10 mins

Serves: 4 – 6

The perfect picnic sandwich or excellent as an appetiser too.

Ingredients

1 large loaf of ciabatta style bread
15 kalamata olives (pitted)
6 anchovies
3 bell peppers – roasted and de-seeded
400 g cashel blue cheese
5 tablespoons pesto
Olive oil

Instructions

Slice the loaf in half (lengthwise)
Drizzle a decent amount of olive oil on each side
Slather the pesto on both half’s of the inside of the loaf
Layer the cheese, anchoives, peppers and olives on one side
Close the loaf with the other half of the loaf.
Drizzle olive oil on the outside of the loaf and wrap in parchment/greaseproof paper.
Now, wrap in foil and place on a baking sheet and leave in the fridge overnight weighted down with a six pack of beer or something a bit heavier.
The weighting down and overnight process is very important. The flavours of the cheese and the peppers have time to meld together and the end result is pretty darn delicious.
Please note that this is vegetarian friendly. Not my shtyle at all, I know, but I do love this sambo!

This is a versatile recipe. We chose to use Cashel Blue cheese because it is very local and very delicious. However, you could use any creamy cheese you like. And, it keeps for up to a week in the fridge. I think, if you pack this for your weekend away at the electric picnic, assuming we get the lovely cool (and rainy) weather promised, there will be no need to worry about keeping it refrigerated!

We made this to take with us last week when we went to visit my friend Lorna of Garrendenny Lane, in Kilkenny. She prepared a wonderful lasagne lunch and we munched on this alongside a lovely salad. Then after lunch she took us on a tour of her farm, and a walk down Garrendenny Lane and were allowed to feed her goats too!

Lunchboxes lined up!

So here we are. At the end of summer. I am raising my glass to you all with one of my very favourite drinks, a Pomegranate Martini.

Yum Yum Pomegranate Martini

I will blog the recipe for this drink later this week too because I know there are a lot of Mum’s out there going through the same stress as I am and by the time Friday rolls around, you will all have earned your reward!

Those are all the WiseWords I have for today,

WiseMóna

No related posts.

Like this post? Subscribe for free by email to get notified of new posts.

4 Comments + Add Comment

Catherine August 30, 2011 at 5:10 pm

Love the bright coloured peppers! These are known in our family as “leg of the table sandwiches” as that’s what my uncle uses to weigh ‘em down.

Also, I must ask – where are those lovely-looking lunch boxes from?

Reply
- WiseMóna August 30, 2011 at 5:17 pm
  
  Ha ha ha – love the leg of the table! we use bricks sometimes and
  I think that everything looks so colourful during summer
  and certainly tastes better ;0) Oh, I got the cool lunchboxes
  From Lorna over at http://www.GarrendennyLane.com. She has a lit of
  cool stuff – all shapes n’ sizes …
  Thanks for the visit Catherine.
  
  Reply
Lorna - Garrendenny Lane September 1, 2011 at 7:50 am

Oh, I can wholeheartedly vouch for those as perfect picnic food, that was scrumptious, i really enjoyed it and yes, perfect for bringing along to the Electric Picnic or indeed, any other picnic.
Really enjoyed having you over and the kids loved seeing your brood again

Reply
- WiseMóna September 1, 2011 at 8:13 am
  
  Thanks Lorna. The lunch boxes are brilliant by the way. They are the perfect size for pasta salads and rice etc.
  I made sandwiches on brioche yesterday and they fit perfectly!
  I will ‘review’ them later on your site .
  It was great to see you guys too. I can’t wait for our next rendezvous. Lunch at Birr Castle perhaps?
  
  Reply

Got anything to say? Go ahead and leave a comment!

About Móna
I am a native Galway girl that seems to be drawn to professions that rhyme with 'err'. Writer, Mother, Restauranteur, Wedding Planner, Dishwasher, Grass cutter, Cocktail maker. I suppose you could say I am a well rounded entrepreneur.
You can find me here