Recipes for the Long Weekend
Recipes for the Long Weekend
Delicious ideas for picnics and brunch in celebration of the *unofficial* start of summer entertaining. Recipes for Picnic Muffins, Sandwiches & Pies, plus Hot Cakes, Breakfast Tacos — you name it.
With Labour weekend making the unofficial start of summer entertaining and all the merriment that comes with it — it’s time to come out of hibernation and dust off those cobwebs, we’re dining al fresco! (or pretending, at least).
With this in mind, we wanted to quickly pop in and share some of our best-loved picnic recipes to carry you through the next few weeks, plus, to really lean into the long weekend deliciousness — easy ideas for brunch at home.
Picnic Recipes
We’ve always been a picnic family — as soon as the sun peeps out, we’re ready to pack a hamper and head outside to enjoy the fresh air. Even in the middle of winter, you will find us cozied up in the garden with a thermos full of hot soup and a fire to keep us company. One of the reasons why we love a picnic is that it’s an easy way to make an everyday activity feel special. The simple act of laying a rug on the ground, unpacking a bag of goodies, and eating with your hands, in the outdoors, creates a moment of pure childlike joy. And the best part — it’s pretty much free.
The food doesn’t have to be overly complicated — even a piece of cheese and some crackers will pass as a picnic for us. If you’d like to make something special, here are some of our favourite recipes we keep coming back to.
Annabel’s famous Bacon & Egg Pie is so good that her husband Ted proposed to her the first time she made it for him! We still make it often, especially for picnics. Rose’s Picnic Pie is a veggie version packed with greens, caramelised onions, and feta.
A frittata is another good option — naturally gluten-free and wonderfully filling, they are so easy to throw together. This Spanish Tortilla has just four ingredients which makes things very straightforward, and is incredibly delicious (we will caveat by saying this is not a traditional Spanish tortilla — our version uses much less oil and has a shorter cooking time).
This gorgeous Zucchini Frittata is also fab for when you have a little more time up your sleeve. When it comes to transporting frittata, there are options! If we aren’t going far, we will often take the whole pan and frittata covered with a clean tea towel, as-is. Alternatively, you can turn the frittata out onto a large clean plate and wrap that with a clean tea towel. It is precious cargo, so make sure you look after it! If there is hiking involved and you need to keep things light — slice the frittata and wrap it in paper towels, followed by tin foil (the paper towels absorb any excess moisture, and foil ensures it is sealed), and then pop it in a reusable plastic bag. Or make individual frittatas, baked in Texas muffin pans.
It’s hard to beat a good Chicken Mayo Sandwich — succulent poached chicken, creamy mayo, toasted nuts, crunchy celery, fresh herbs, and fluffy bread hit the spot like no other. If you want that super-fresh sandwich effect for a picnic, pack the freshest sliced loaf you can find, mix the filling in a bowl, keep it chilled, and assemble your sandwiches on the spot. They'll never taste better.
For sweet treats, we love making these lovely Rhubarb & Raspberry Picnic Muffins in the springtime as rhubarb comes into season. Their crunchy crumble topping is wickedly delicious. Annabel’s Chocolate Fudge Slice is another crowd pleaser — it’s hard to go wrong with biscuits, chocolate, nuts, and butter!
All Things Brunch
A long weekend is the perfect opportunity to indulge in a hearty brunch. Learning how to make a cafe-style brunch from the comfort of your own home is such a fab way to save money, plus you get to make it just how you like!
As well as being a picnic family, we are an egg family (as you may have already guessed). Eggs are such a great food — a nutritional powerhouse, eggs contain a wide range of micronutrients, and are relatively affordable, widely available, and versatile. Remember, not all eggs are created equal — make sure you always buy free-range eggs (ideally from a local farmer who you know and trust). Battery cage eggs, as well as being unethical and terrible for the environment, contain fewer nutrients (free-range eggs usually contain higher levels of Vitamin D, antioxidants, and omega-3s).
We can’t get enough of these fab Breakfast Tacos — we started making them together on a family holiday in Mexico years ago and they are still on the regular repertoire. Try and hunt down some corn tortillas to serve them with (we like the Tio Pablo brand, or if you are in Gisborne, check out the homemade tortillas from La Tortilla Shop).
These Shakshuka Eggs are also an excellent contender for weekend brunch winners and are great for feeding a crowd. Recently, Rose has been adding a can of drained rinsed butter beans in with the tomatoes for extra fibre and protein and loving the result.
A quick and easy recipe we make very often is these Turkish Eggs, also known as menemen. This simple egg scramble is probably Turkey's national dish, and everyone has their own way of making it. In our house, it's become a regular that works equally well for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Even if you don’t need to eat gluten-free, you’ll love the lightness of these Gluten-Free Corn Fritters. Served with a generous spoonful of guacamole, a handful of chopped cherry tomatoes, and poached eggs — you could be brunching on Tamaki Drive!
If you are celebrating (or perhaps overindulged the night before) here’s a fab and delicious recipe for a Bloody Mary to whip out at your next opportunity. You can make it as spicy as you like — just make sure everything is ice cold.
Lastly, for those with a sweet tooth, you can’t beat these divine Ricotta Hot Cakes. We often use ricotta in hotcakes, cakes, muffins and pancake batters — the acidity helps tenderise gluten and prevents proteins from forming, and it adds a lovely light texture and keeps baking moist. We like these with yoghurt and lemon curd, but they are equally delicious served with bacon, bananas and maple syrup.
If you are in need of a cozy long weekend activity, we recommend making a big batch of this tasty Honey & Olive Oil Muesli. Your future self (and your wallet) will thank you! It’s so much more economical than buying storebought, plus it’s not too sweet and healthy enough to eat everyday. We especially like to pair it with Greek yoghurt and poached fruit. Use maple syrup to make this vegan.
That is all from us for now. We hope the sun peeps out for you!
Enjoy the festivities.
With love,
Annabel & Rose xxx