Summer is in full swing, and I don’t know about you, but I’ve already had the opportunity to enjoy a few fun picnic and barbecue adventures this summer. There really is little better than gathering with friends on a warm sunny day to enjoy the weather and eat delicious food!
My favourite was to enjoy a picnic outside is with lots of little tasting dishes so that you can try lots of new things and spend your time enjoying your company, and not running back and forth to the barbecue or oven to check on food that is still cooking.
Recently we enjoyed the amazing picnic you see above filled with products and recipes from President’s Choice. Some of the items like the PC Black Label White Fox Hard Ripened Cheese, PC Beet Hummus and PC Orange Cream Pie (which tastes like a creamsicle!) require little to no prep cutting down your to-do list before you even get home from the store.
Other recipes like the Pico de Gallo Guacamole and Mango Salsa combine pre-made products with fresh items to create a whole new dish with very little work.
But I think my favourite recipe I made for this picnic was the Thai Mango Salad
or the Sweet and Salty Brittle Bars (recipe found below). The peanut brittle makes these just sooooo crazy delicious.
Not seen in the picnic photo above is the prettiest dish I made – the Grilled Sausage and Potato Salad which is a really interesting new take on an old favourite.
I don’t like traditional potato salad, but this vinegar based potato salad that you could serve warm or cold was really tasty!
I’ve linked to the recipes I used above, except for the Sweet and Salty Brittle bars which were created by Kathy Jollimore which I’m sharing below. I followed the recipe as listed except cut back on the honey (because I ran out) and added 2 Tbsp of hemp hearts to the mix.
Nutrition meets fun in these Sweet and Salty Brittle Bars, created by Halifax chef Kathy Jollimore for the summer 2016 edition of the President’s Choice® Insiders Collection. A combination of energy packed chewy granola bars and crunchy candy coated PC Sea Salt Peanut Brittle, they are the perfect road trip companion. Get inspired for more summer food adventures at pc.ca/insiders. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8” pan with parchment so it hangs over the edge. Grease with butter or coconut oil. Stir together the oats and nuts. Add to the prepared pan. In a small saucepan, bring the honey and butter to a boil. Boil gently for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully stir in the vanilla. Pour over the nut mixture. Stir lightly to combine and press into the pan. Bake 25 minutes until deep golden brown. Remove from oven. Place brittle evenly over the top and press into the bars with a piece of parchment. Sprinkle with sea salt to taste. Allow to cool. Cut into 10-12 bars. Best packed individually. Makes 10-12 bars. Chef’s tip: Try adding 2 tbsp. of PC® Organics Black Chia Seeds or PC® Organics Milled Flaxseed to boost the nutrition. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8” pan with parchment so it hangs over the edge. Grease with butter or coconut oil. Stir together the oats and nuts. Add to the prepared pan. In a small saucepan, bring the honey and butter to a boil. Boil gently for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully stir in the vanilla. Pour over the nut mixture. Stir lightly to combine and press into the pan. Bake 25 minutes until deep golden brown. Remove from oven. Place brittle evenly over the top and press into the bars with a piece of parchment. Sprinkle with sea salt to taste. Allow to cool. Cut into 10-12 bars. Best packed individually. Chef’s tip: Try adding 2 tbsp. of PC® Organics Black Chia Seeds or PC® Organics Milled Flaxseed to boost the nutrition.
Sweet and Salty Brittle Bars
Ingredients
Instructions
These are so tasty – and so full of healthy fats and also pack a good protein punch. But watch out – it’s easy to eat multiple servings of these in one sitting without realizing it (not that I’d know…)!
It’s no secret that I love President’s Choice and PC products, so I’m excited to be able to share some with you! One lucky reader is going to win a $50 President’s Choice Gift Card so that you can pick up some goodies from their Summer Insider Collection for your own picnic!
To enter, find this photo on my Instagram feed
and follow the instructions to enter – good luck!
Disclosure: I was provided with free product in order to facilitate this post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.