June 26: Great American Picnic Day
Hi everyone. Zulah Talmadge here with this The Shady Pines Gazette news brief. While folks around town are starting to get ready to celebrate the Fourth of July, here’s one way to get an early start. 
We found an excuse to get some picnic ideas right now!
This time honored tradition has its very own day. Yep, it’s true. Traditionally celebrated on the last Saturday in June, which means the Great American Picnic Day is this weekend. So here is your excuse to pick a great place and start by packing a feast of your own and heading outdoors.
Enjoy your meal in a local park, after a long hike, on the beach, or in your own backyard—just make sure you clean up your trash!
A Little History
The ideation of the modern-day picnic can be traced a long time ago in history! It was originally done during the Medieval Hunting gatherings and Victorian Garden Parties! The only difference was these outings were reserved for mostly upper class folks and there used to be multiple meal courses during this time!
In 19th Century England, a wealthy Londoner established “The Picnic Society” which was done to promote social gathering through picnic! These picnics were sort of potlucks and everyone had to participate! So, history shows us why picnics are a great way to spend quality time with friends and family. It seems from these old photos we found, you had to dress up to go to these picnics. That’s not the way we do it now, is it?
Something New to Pack
Naturally when it comes to ideas for anything food related, I turned to our very own Edna Sanders, Edna’s Kitchen is THE place for neighbors to stop in and discover something tasty. She’s also known for chocolate chip cookie recipe that won the blue ribbon at the State Fair. When I told Edna about the Great American Picnic Day she got all excited.
“Maybe I can find a recipe that might be something new for folks to try. I’ve got it. Here’s something I think the whole family will like. It’s a BLT sandwich as a salad and it’s easy to make. 
Best of all, if the kids still want a sandwich you can use these ingredients, add some lettuce, and there you go!”
Summery BLT Salad
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups cooked pasta (This is bow tie)
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes (You can use a mix of regular tomatoes and cherry tomatoes)
- 1/2 cup chopped bacon
- 1 avocado, pitted and diced
- 1/2 cup grilled sweet corn, removed from ear
INSTRUCTIONS
- To assemble salads, lay pasta on plate and top with lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, avocado, and sweet corn. Serve with your choice of dressing.
- To stay true to the classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich, consider some sort of creamy dressing that contains mayonnaise
So there you have it. This Saturday you now have a perfectly good reason to get outside and share a meal with friends and family.
And, thanks to Edna, you even have a new recipe to try.
Enjoy your picnic!
If the weather holds, going on a picnic tomorrow sounds like a great idea.
This is terrific. I like Shady Pines
I never knew the history of picnics.
A national picnic day. Leave it to Shady pines to know that
I really like this recipe. I’m going to try it picnic or not.
A national reason to picnic. I love it!
Love it!!! Thank you!
You’re welcome!