Is it going to be your 4×4 that has a group clustered around it at picnic time? Will your point-to-point picnic be the ultimate? Follow our advice and you’ll have…
Picnic recipes
Coronation pheasant vol-au-vents
With their light, crispy layers of buttery pastry, vol-au-vents are best eaten in the great outdoors. You can start from scratch with the cases but no one will judge you…
Venison sausage pinwheels
Combining all the things that help make elevenses such a joy, these venison sausage pinwheels are a perfect sturdy treat to have out in the field. When choosing a cheese,…
Asparagus and walnut pesto pasta salad
Asparagus and walnut pesto pasta salad Making the most of asparagus season, this pasta salad has a refreshing, herby, tangy sauce that works beautifully with the nutty, buttery cheese. We…
Hot-smoked trout and watercress tart
Hot-smoked trout and watercress tart Studded with fresh watercress and succulent trout, this tart makes a fabulous lunch or addition to an Easter feast. Serves 8 You will need a…
How to make Welsh cakes (and why they are different from scones)
Welsh cakes are quick to put together and cook. Studded with sweet currants and laced with fat, they make an enjoyable change to scones. Wondering what the difference is between…
Nduja devilled eggs – perfect for point-to-point picnics
Nduja is a spicy, spreadable pork sausage. It originates from Calabria but we now also make some amazing versions here in the UK. I’m a particular fan of The Real…
The best picnic dips: pea and mint hummus and tuna pâté
Don’t allow your culinary standards slip for an al fresco feast, says Philippa Davis. Dips are easy to make ahead and a hamper essential. So try our best picnic dips…
Pasta alla Norma: pasta for picnics
Recreate a night of open-air opera in your own garden with an al fresco feast and family talent. Philippa Davis’ pasta alla Norma hails from Catania in Sicily and is…
Strawberry and mascarpone profiteroles with salted caramel sauce
Are you after a sweet treat to parcel for a friend and drop on the doorstep? Or something gloriously indulgent to pack in the picnic hamper? Philippa Davis’ strawberry and…