European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 26, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse The Many ways of serving Chicken make it Ideal for taking along on a family picnic be it by Basket or insulated bag As is More often the Case these Days. Picnic Delight by Carrie White Cox news services ome things have gotten better Over the years take picnic lunches time was when a picnic meant a Bologna Sandwich Ealen on a paper plate rather than stoneware. Sometimes in i was Lucky a bag of chips and canned pudding were thrown in and you know what happened next the Sandwich look a dive into the nearest trash can and the chips and pudding were the sum total of lunch later this usually meant a Slop at the Market Lor an after lunch Almond Joy Chaser. Thinking Back those memories make me sweat Al the very least they make my cholesterol level jump. I attribute much of my dislike Lor prepackaged goods to those clays but picnics Don t have to be unhealthy nor do they have to be As Boring As Bologna sandwiches. Picnics at least for me. Are one of the More pleasant ways to eat a meal. Maybe it s because i Don t look at the goods i pack As being necessarily any different than those eaten at Home. Happily i have quite a bit of practice preparing goods Lor a picnic because that s How spouse and i spend most lunch Breaks. We re the ones silting in the Park every Day with the red and White Check ered Tablecloth and acrylic stemware Lor our old Chicago Seltzer luckily at work there Are refrigerators to keep our midday meal cold until 1pm previously i purchased fancy Dan decorator totes at a local stationery store to haul it All m a Nice bag seems to add to the occasion. Now i be switched to an insulated bag that keeps everything during the walk to the Park. What we pack varies each Day Al least Lor spouse. And i do like to Experiment Wilh different goods. For example it s not uncommon Lor him to unwrap a Tortilla filled with leftover stir Fry from the night before. A toothpick keeps it closed and Lin Loil on one end allows him to eat in without drips Down the tie alter slicing the top Oil a Green Pepper or Large Tomato and cleaning out the pulp. I might Stull the vegetable with an egg salad made with peanuts or a tuna salad made Wilh Curry and raisins. Tuna salad the Normal american kind also works Well with Cucumber. We Call these Cucumber the vegetable is washed Slit Lengthwise and seeded leaving a canal Lor the tuna or other salad. The Cucumber can be skinned depending on preference. The same procedure can to used with summer Squash. Chicken is a great lunchtime Lood because of its diversity alter boiling Chicken parts during the weekend Wilh some onion Salt and Pepper the meal can be stripped from the Bone and Frozen in packages to be used when needed the packages will defrost overnight Lor use the next morning. One of the ways to prepare Chicken includes mixing it with Olive Oil to moisten the meal and then using a touch of sesame Oil Lantro and sesame seeds along with mandarin Orange slices. That mixture is Good in tortillas or Stul cd in pita bread. Also with boiled Chicken we Combine Green chillies grated Monterey Jack cheese sliced Black olives diced red onions and Cilantro. This is also Good As Lillig for a Tortilla pita or Taco Shell. Yes you can eat Taco shells cold one of the easiest goods to make Lor lunch is also a healthy one it s pasta salad. It makes Good use of vegetables loll Over irom the night before that Good of boiled Chicken also can be used or just about any meat Lei Over irom last night s dinner. Green onions make a Nice addition to a pasta Salod As do Irish Juicy tomatoes Garbanzo Beans and Artichoke hearts a bit of fresh grated cheese is a delicious touch. To keep in moist i use italian salad dressing. Again not liking Many packaged products i make my own from Viz cup Olive Oil v cup red wine vinegar 1 Tablespoon sugar and 2 Teaspoons Dijon Mustard. Thick slices of cold cuts also make a Good Tortilla in which other goods can to wrapped. A mixture of cottage cheese and Iresh fruit chunks goes Well inside a thick slice of Turkey kept closed with a toothpick. Likewise Wilh a cutting of pastrami fix a titling of chopped egg Black olives Cilantro and collage cheese or Yogurt. Don t orgello put a tinfoil Cap on one end so the filling does t fall out salads Are always a Good Choice. To Don t make them with lettuce but rather with cabbage. That Way you can put the dressing on Belore you leave the House in the morning and it won t gel soggy. Wilh the cabbage we Combine grated Carrot Jacama. Red cabbage chunks and Garbanzo Beans a Light Sprinkle of Basil and Parmesan also is added even when we Don t make a salad there is some Type of vegetable dish included in the lunch hamper sometimes it is just Tomato and onion slices combined with some italian dressing Carrol Jacama and celery Sticks also Are wrapped in a dampened paper and surrounded by lint Oil. What to take along choose the right containers so Hal you arrive Al your picnic spot with hot Loci still hot. Cold Lood still cold and the Vinaigrette on your salad rather than in the Bottom of your picnic Basket Clear Glass Over Sale storage bowls with tightly thing lids Are both portable and Prelly perfect Lor the Job. Carry hot dishes in the same colourful casseroles in which they were baked wrap the entire casserole in several layers of newspaper to keep in the warmth. Inventory All the utensils needed Lor both the Lood and beverages a Corkscrew in you Are serving wine Forks in everything in the Basket in t linger Lood keep a list and Check things off As they re packed so they Don t gel left behind. Wrap glasses and bowls in clean dishcloths. They will protect the dishes and Are great Lor cleanup. Take along a Sheet of plastic to sit on or to place under a picnic Basket or Tablecloth ii will come in Handy in a Shower threatens to Dampen the occasion. Pack some zip top bags listed with wet. Thin washcloths Lor cleaning lingers and picnic surfaces. The bags can be used to carry Home dirty utensils or leftovers. Don t forget the insect repellent. Humans Aren t the Only creatures that recognize Good Lood when they see in. New York times Page 14 the stars and stripes Friday a
