Picnicking on the Prairie

My lovely daughter came home for two weeks from her home in Colorado Springs.  Looking for a fun, family outing for a warm, Saturday night, we decided to go see Brandi Carlile play with the Symphony at Conner Prairie--our two favorite things:  live music and picnics! 

My garden has been overflowing with basil and tomatoes so we decided to have a Mediterranean bent to our picnic menu.  We chose a yummy couscous salad (my daughter’s favorite), sliced tomatoes in a pesto sauce, a Chianti sausage, cheese, and a dessert made with cream cheese, blueberries, and strawberries. 

I went into Vine & Table to pick out the wine.  My daughter is a die-hard Riesling fan, so I chose her favorite, the Dr. L Riesling, but I needed a red that would be summer picnic friendly.  After quizzing me on my menu selection, Jeff suggested that I serve Feudo Arancio Nero D’Avola from Sicily.  He mentioned the wine would have enough fruit forwardness to drink in the heat, but not so much that it would overpower my couscous salad.  I tend to like the old world wines, so this was an exciting choice for me. 

I returned home with my goodies and began the picnic preparations.  My daughter and her hubby pitched in and my kitchen was all abuzz.  She packed the baskets, the boys chopped and diced and I made everything beautiful.  As the sound of my loved ones laughing and working filled my ears, I stopped and admired the scene…better than any Norman Rockwell…..somewhat of a symphony…a beautiful combination of knives chopping, the aroma of lemon and basil, and David Gray playing in the background.  *Sigh* I am happy. 

I began the salad by boiling a cup of water and pouring a cup of couscous in the pan with a dab of olive oil.  I turned off the heat and covered the pan.  A yellow pepper was in the broiler until it was good and charred and wonderfully peel-able.  I then put the charred pepper in a paper bag to rehydrate for a few minutes.  V diced the two fresh tomatoes from my garden along with a green onion and a cucumber.  My son-in-law chopped basil, oregano and marjoram and I made a dressing of a cup(ish) of olive oil, juice from a whole lemon, a teaspoon of cumin, a clove or three of garlic, and a pinch of cayenne.  We added the peeled, chopped yellow pepper.  The daughter served as quality control and of course, I had to second the opinion.  The Man and the son-in-law were like little birds walking over with their mouths open, waiting to be fed.  It passed the test with flying colors.  Our baskets were filled to the rim of goodies lovingly prepared and we set off for the Symphony. 

As the sun began to set, we poured ourselves a glass of the Nero D’Avola and made a toast - “Here’s to beautiful picnics, beautiful weather, wonderful music, and family we adore.” 

Becky blogs at The Divorced Diva’s Guide to Survival  www.divorced-diva.blogspot.com