A beautiful summer day, an icy glass of tangy, fresh lemonade, and a wonderful picnic out in a hayfield under a big, billowy sky - what could be better? It's a timeless country menu of comforting summer picnic dishes (including the easy recipe for classic lemonade). Join us on our picnic with friends on the farm.
I grew up on a farm, so getting back out into the fields is my happy place. There, I feel grounded and free. It's that big open sky, the smell of the earth, and the silence that is so loud it feels overpowering. It's where I can find who I am again.
And the chance to share a glorious picnic in the fields with good friends is a special blessing.
We got together with our fellow picnic adventurers, Nicoletta and Loreto of SugarLoveSpices, to enjoy a deliciously hearty picnic in the hayfield of our friends Harvey and Ronaye's beautiful family farm in Parkland County. What a fantastic day it was - the sun shone out between big fluffy white clouds, the air was warm with a slight breeze rustling the grasses, and the sound of birds and grasshoppers lilted soothingly in the background. We put aside our chores for a few hours and spent a carefree afternoon playing out in the field of this rural Alberta farm. It was a bucket-filling kind of day.
It's a Beautiful Day for a Country Picnic! Come Join us . . .
The guys have a lot of fun setting up the hay bales that Harvey procured for us to form a makeshift table and benches.
Raymond, also a farm boy, just loves any chance to get back on a tractor.
It's a Meal-in-the-Field Picnic
Our hayfield picnic is an easy one - we can just drive out to the field and choose the best spot for a picnic. We unload our gear and don't have to schlepp it very far.
The men head off to get the hay bales and Nicoletta and I get our picnic ready. We've packed our picnic basket with red and blue checkered tablecloths, gold-coloured fabric napkins, and enameled dishes. Wooden crates transport our utensils, mason jars, thermoses, and jugs of fresh flowers, a must-have for all of our picnics. The colourful bouquets were picked from our garden this morning and lend an air of festive charm to our colourful table setting.
After the 'hay table' is set up, we cover it with a plastic liner, then our red-checked tablecloth and a blue one for the little side 'table'.The flowers get pride of place, then the serving dishes and a flat wooden box to hold the mason jar of lemonade and other drinks are placed at either end. We tie the napkins in simple knots and set out the enameled soup bowls.
Some Tasty Vittles
*** COUNTRY PICNIC MENU ***
Split Pea and Ham Soup
Homemade Dinner Buns, Gluten-Free Bagels
Thinly-Sliced Cold Roast Beef
Dill Pickles, Assorted Mustards, Creamed Horseradish
Beet and Bocconcini Salad
Grilled Corn Pinwheels
Apple Galette with Chantilly Cream, Raspberries
Fresh Lemonade, Water, Hot Coffee
Stack the Hay Bales and Set the Table
- Split Pea and Ham Soup - it's a belly-warming classic chock full of onions, carrots, and meaty ham chunks in a thick, creamy pea purée. Pack this flavourful soup in a wide-mouthed thermos to keep it warm, and you'll have guests asking for seconds.
- Homemade Dinner Buns and Gluten-Free Bagels - there's nothing better than fresh bread still warm from the oven, but if you've got a good bakery, pick up some crusty buns or an artisanal loaf. If you have gluten-free diners in your crowd, a few gluten-free bagels or buns are a thoughtful option.
- Cold Roast Beef - This star of the show is convenient because it's actually best if made the day before and chilled, so it cuts smoothly into thin slices. For extra flavour, make sure to season the outside of the roast with salt, pepper, and your favourite spices before roasting, like Loreto did.
- Dill Pickles, Assorted Mustards, and Horseradish - we brought along our favourite homemade dill pickles (Ronaye's recipe), a sharp mustard and a sweet mustard, and sinus-clearing creamed horseradish that everyone loves. A bowl of cherry tomatoes from the garden is a fresh addition.
- Beet & Bocconcini Salad - this tasty red beet salad is perfect for picnics. It's loaded with fresh basil, and the addition of soft and bouncy little bocconcini balls that turn bright pink makes it a definite winner.
- Grilled Corn Pinwheels - what a fun way to eat corn! Loreto grilled them for extra charred flavour, and these slices off the cob are delicious served at room temperature, too.
- Apple Galette with Chantilly Cream - Nicoletta's apple galette pie is perfect for picnics with its tender crispy whole wheat crust. Don't forget to pack a mason jar of stabilized whipped cream to add a luxurious touch to this delicious dessert. We served it with fresh multi-coloured raspberries picked from the garden just before we left for the picnic.
- Fresh Lemonade, Water, Hot Coffee - nothing beats a cold glass of lemonade on a hot day. And if it's made with fresh lemons, it is like pure nectar of the gods. This one's not too sweet and soooo refreshing (recipe below). We also packed a jar of cold water and a thermos of hot coffee, which goes so well with the apple galette.
Now, let's make that wonderfully fresh and easy lemonade - a picnic classic.
Only Three Ingredients for Fresh Lemonade
To make fresh lemonade, you'll need:
- lemons
- sugar
- water
How to Make Easy, Fresh Lemonade
You'll just need to stir the sugar into the water until it's dissolved. Then squeeze the lemons until you get enough juice - cut the lemons in half and squeeze them with your hands, use a reamer, a handheld juice press, or an electric juicer - and add the juice to the sweetened water.
Kitchen Frau Tip
You'll get more juice from lemons if they are at room temperature. Also, if you roll the lemon back and forth on the counter while pressing down firmly on it, you'll loosen the cells inside and they'll release more water.
A Country Picnic to Remember
What a great day!
Other Picnic Inspiration
We really enjoy having picnics! What better way to spend time with friends in a beautiful location and eating delicious food?
See our other picnics for some great recipes and inspiration, along with lots of practical tips for hosting a memorable themed picnic of your own:
- Gluten-Free Sausage Rolls and a Glorious Autumn Picnic
- Homemade Tomato Soup and a Late Fall Picnic by the Lake
- Lemon Mousse and a Fun & Games Picnic
- Scotch Eggs and a Scottish Picnic at the River
- Baked Zucchini Frittata Loaf and a Farmers' Market Picnic
Or, how about doing a fun & fancy Afternoon Tea picnic or brunch? It's a wonderful way to treat yourself and your friends to some special time together.
- Gluten-Free Victoria Sponge Cake and a Lovely Summer Afternoon Tea Picnic
- Coronation Chicken Salad Sandwiches and a Perfect Afternoon Tea Picnic
- Butter Pecan Bars and a Glowing Afternoon Tea Picnic in the Orchard
- Raspberry Meringue Kisses and a Dreamy Blue & White Afternoon Tea Picnic
- Cheesecake Cupcakes and a Festive Christmas Brunch
Check out Nicoletta and Loreto's blog, SugarLoveSpices, for their fantastic Grilled Corn Pinwheels recipe, plus their photos and story of our country picnic.
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Guten Appetit!
Classic Fresh Lemonade
Ingredients
- 7 cups (1.68 litres) water
- ¾ cup (150 g) sugar
- ¾ cup (180 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice, from 3-4 large lemons
- fresh lemon slices, optional (from an extra lemon)
- ice cubes and/or mint sprigs, optional
Instructions
- Put the water into a large pitcher (2 litres/2 quarts or larger).
- Add the sugar and stir vigorously until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Juice the lemons (cut them in half crosswise and squeeze them, use a lemon reamer, or a handheld lemon juicer) and measure to get ¾ of a cup (180 ml) of juice. (Tip: Set a strainer over the measuring cup to catch seeds and pulp.)
- Add the lemon juice to the sweetened water, and stir to combine. Add lemon slices if using them. Cover and chill the lemonade. Add ice cubes and mint sprigs at serving time, if desired.
- Makes ~8 cups (2 litres) of lemonade.
Nicoletta
What a fabulous narrative accompanied by gorgeous pictures, Margaret! You described our picnic day so well. Loved every minute of it, from the planning to enjoying all the foods and that delectable lemonade.
Margaret
Thank you so much, Nicoletta❤️ I absolutely love having our picnics, too. Brainstorming together, planning, preparing, setting up - every bit of it is fun, and then especially enjoying the final result of our labours. Looking forward to the next one!