September Picnic on the Farm

by Laura Frerichs, Tastemaker in Residence

Labor Day may have already come and gone, however it is never too late for a September picnic! Let's soak up the last vestiges of summer this month with some amazing picnic dishes. Our family recently gathered with some of our fellow farmer friends for a Friday night potluck picnic, and feasted on roasted beets with toasted hazelnuts drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette, a broccoli quinoa salad, a salad with thinly sliced fennel, pecans, blueberries, and a creamy herb dressing, roasted sweet corn, watermelon tomato gazpacho, corn kernals with lime zest, fresh cornbread, and fresh plums and canned summercrisp pears.  With a light breeze to keep the mosquitoes away and the kiddos frolicking on the playground, it was a dreamy summer evening and we left with warm hearts and full bellies. 

Jalapeno Coleslaw from Serious Eats

Watermelon Gazpacho from NYT Cooking

Buttermilk Cornbread from The Splendid Table

Green Bean & Purple Potato Salad

From a great little website called Love and Lemons this salad is sure to use up a good portion of your CSA box. An exquisite way to highlight those gorgeous purple potatoes. Zesty, healthy and absolutely delicious! If you’ve never tried capers you are in for a treat…you just might start adding them to all your dishes!!!