From Our Kitchen

Embracing the Season & Eating Outside

When we're travelling, camping, or spending the day at the lake, recipes aren't usually what we need. We need ideas that are flexible enough to work with whatever we've packed, picked up at the grocery store, or have left in the cooler. Easy meals that can be enjoyed on a bench along the path with few utensils, carried in a tote or backpack and ready to go with the flow.

Summer in Manitoba is short. So let’s eat outside. Enter the Picnic Plate.

Right now, there is so much good food around us—fruit at the market, garden vegetables overflowing, fresh herbs, sweet corn, local eggs and all the beautiful produce that makes deep summer what it is.

And this is the perfect time of year to take that food with you—and let it inspire you to make the most of these sweet, late-summer days.

This Week's Simple Step

One of our favourite ways to pack for an adventure is to build a simple picnic plate from things that travel well:

Something filling:
Chicken, boiled eggs, cheese, hummus, yogurt or leftover roasted meat.

Something fresh:
Cucumbers, snap peas, peppers, berries, cherries, watermelon or whatever looks best at the market.

Something hearty:
Baby potatoes, sourdough, crackers, pita, pasta salad or a grain salad.

Something fun:
Olives, pickles, nuts, a good dip, pesto or a little something sweet.

That's all you need. Something satisfying and flexible enough to feed you and your crew along the way.

You don't need a recipe, and you don't need to make everything yourself. :)

Stop at a market stand, favourite bakery, or grocery store on the way. Pick up a few good things. Put them together. Go.

That’s one of the beautiful things about summer food—it can be simple, fresh and completely unfussy, inviting us to step into the moment, be present, and enjoy these fleeting summer days.

Let the food inspire the adventure.

Our free summer recipe guides are only available for download until the end of August! Make sure you scroll down and check them out.

Warmly,