Food & Drink

What to Pack in Your New Picnic Basket

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Enter for a chance to win this gorgeous handcrafted Peterboro Classic Picnic Finished Basket to bring on your next picnic! This wood basket boasts plenty of room inside for a throw, dinner for two, and a shaker of freshly-made cucumber gimlets!

And don’t forget to pack this delicious Tortellini Chicken Salad from Picnic by author DeeDee Stovel. This classic blanket-feast fare is reimagined with an irresistible vinaigrette.

Tortellini Chicken Salad

Serves 8

INGREDIENTS

6 chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced
9 ounces fresh tortellini pasta
3 stalks of celery, sliced
1 medium purple onion, chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
¼ pound smoked Gruyère cheese, cut into ½-inch cubes
½ teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepperVINAIGRETTE
¾ cup cider vinegar
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon dry mustard
¾ cup corn oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Place the chicken breasts in a large pot and barely cover with cold water. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer the chicken for 20 minutes, or until it is just cooked through. Let the chicken cool slightly in the liquid.
When the chicken can be handled, remove the meat from the bones and cut into ½-by-3-inch strips.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet, add the garlic, and sauté until golden brown. Remove the garlic and reserve. Add the chicken to the skillet and sauté for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Cook the tortellini in a large pot of boiling water according to the directions on the package. Drain and rinse quickly in cold water.
Toss the chicken, reserved garlic, tortellini, celery, onion, green pepper, Gruyère, salt, and pepper to taste in a large bowl.
TO MAKE THE VINAIGRETTE, put the vinegar, honey, and both mustards into a blender or food processor and process until blended. While the motor is running, slowly drizzle in the oil and blend until creamy. Pour over the salad and stir well.
FOR THE PICNIC, pack the salad in a covered container and chill in the refrigerator until it is time to pack the basket.

Good luck; We hope the lucky winner will have lovely weather for the first outing!

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Recipe from Picnic
by DeeDee Stovel

Somehow food just tastes better in a beautiful outdoor setting. In Picnic, DeeDee Stovel offers 28 picnic event ideas and more than 125 recipes—packable repasts for every season, including a Tailgate Picnic, a Fall Foliage Picnic, and an Apres-Ski Picnic. Wine and beer selections accompany each menu.

This month only—save 69%!