Picnic Ideas and Recipes

Bring a taste of the garden to your favorite summer dishes by featuring fresh, delicious herbs in every bite. These fun variations on classic picnic recipes showcase your homegrown flavors.

Your Summer Picnic Time Menu

• Iced Herb Gazpacho
• Fresh Tarragon Potato Salad
• Garlic Mayonnaise
• Herb Fried Chicken
• Chocolate-Peppermint Fudge 

Quick Tips for Cooking with Herbs

While you're preparing this delicious herb-flavored fare, keep these tips in mind:

• The flavors and aromas of fresh herbs are more complex and delicate than those of dried herbs.

• If you must store fresh herbs, do so in the refrigerator. Cold slows down deterioration.

• Herbs grown in full sun generally are more flavorful than those grown in a hothouse or in shade.

• Make sure herbs are completely dry before cutting them. Wet herbs stick to your knife and turn to mush.

• Use a very sharp knife for chopping herbs.

• Most herbs are best added only during the last 15 minutes of cooking so their aromatic oils remain intact.

Lynn Alley is a freelance food and wine writer living in San Diego, California.