VIRTUALLY SPEAKING

           I am making that boo-boo face...the one with the pouty lower lip. All of the exciting parties that were lined up for the weekend were cabashed by a nasty upper respiratory. Sooo, making my lemons into lemonade (sheesh...I would so much rather have the slices floating in a vodka and tonic right now!), this post is about a virtual picnic. 

            Louise, of the amazing blog, Months of Edible Celebrations has invited me to a virtual picnic and I chose the letter Z for my contribution. Please stop by her blog not only to see the other picnic fare, but to wish her a happy birthday too.

            I am going on a picnic and I will be bringing some really cool Z things...this is one reason why...

From the garden, summers bounty always includes an abundance of zucchini, and from that zucchini I always make zucchini bread.

The cookbook featured above, from the Pennsylvania Farm Women has no less than 10 recipes for this summer-time treat. You can read about it in this post.

As you can see in the mosaic above, a zucchini bread made with walnuts and sprinkled with powdered sugar is often served in our house. It is one of those simple party foods that most people can identify with. 

In addition, I will bring to the picnic this amazing summer squash tart that stars of course the zucchini. I learned to make this in a cooking class at our local Taste and Technique cooking school. It starts with a simple store bought frozen puff pastry dough. You bake the dough flat (which means you have to poke it thoroughly with a fork before you bake it). With the pastry on a baking sheet, you spread your favorite tomato jam, or pesto sauce, or what ever you like on it, fan the zukes and summer squash over the top and bake for around 20 minutes in a 400 degree oven.  Crumble some lovely goat cheese over the top of the tart and voila, you have a scrumptious addition to your picnic.

Thanks so much to Louise for inviting me to her picnic...it has been a fun diversion from the runny nose and hacking cough that I am currently contending with.

Personally, I think all of the delicious picnic food will be even better if packed in this fabulous picnic hamper...I love that shade of blue! I found this on Kaboodles web site.

This post is being linked to Little Red House for Mosaic Monday and Smiling Sally for Blue Monday, and of course, Months of Edible Celebrations for the picnic inspiration.

An update to the picnic...here are the links to the other participants and their amazing additions...this is some fantastic picnic!! Thank you Louise...you are a wonderful hostess♥

A- Artichokes Steamed and Dressed with Mayonnaise 

http://maefood.blogspot.com/2012/06/artichokes-for-louises-picnic-game.html

 

B-Baked Beans

http://moveablefeastscookbook.blogspot.com/2012/06/picnic-game-baked-beans.html

 

C-Cauliflower Tabbouleh

http://bookcasefoodie.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/cauliflower-tabbouleh/

 

D-Dunkin' Donuts ~ With Maple syrup & Honey Frosting

http://kristygourmet.blogspot.com/2012/06/dunkin-donuts-international-picnic.html

 

E-Eggplant Casserole

http://yummychunklet.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/eggplant-casserole-for-international-picnic-day/

 

F-Frosty Summer Salad with Cranberry, Pineapple & Beets

http://pattietierney.blogspot.com/2012/06/picnic-game.html

 

G-Goat Cheese Mixed green Salad with Cocoa Nibs

http://dyingforchocolate.blogspot.com/2012/06/g-is-for-goat-cheese-picnic-game.html

 

H-Not Yet

 

I-Not Yet

 

J-Jubilee Sandwich

http://petrafoede.de/blog/2012/06/22/a-sandwich-fit-for-a-queen/

 

K-Key Lime and Ambarella Juice

http://www.lilnut.net/2012/06/key-lime-and-ambarella-juice.html

 

L-Limoncello Pine Nut Biscotti

http://www.bakeawaywithme.com/2012/06/im-going-on-picnic-and-im-bringing.html#more

 

M-Mini Meringue Kisses

http://themorethanoccasionalbaker.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/picnic-game.html

 

N-Nougat Brownies

http://i-lostinausten.blogspot.fr/2012/06/nougat-brownies.html

 

O-Ozark Pudding 

http://retrorecipe.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/picnic-day-ozark-pudding/

 

P-Paletas de Chabacano y Manzanille (Apricot-Chamomile Popsicles)

http://www.girlichef.com/2012/06/paletas-de-chabacano-y-manzanilla.html

 

Q-NOT YET

 

R-NOT YET

 

S-Strawberry & Kiwi Chocolate Tart

http://diadesigns.com/blog12/2012/06/27/strawberry-kiwi-chocolate-tart-gluten-free-vegan/

 

T-Thai Fish Cakes in Pita Pocket

http://herfrozenwings.blogspot.com/2012/06/thai-fish-cakes-in-pita-pockets-picnic.html

 

U-NOT YET

 

V-NOT YET

 

W-Watermelon With Fresh Mint and Lime

http://mycookinggallery.blogspot.com/2012/06/watermelon-with-fresh-mint-and-lime.html 

 

X-NOT YET

 

Y-Yam Bake

http://retrorecipe.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/picnic-day-ozark-pudding/

♥, Susan

 

 

           

 

Comments

[Eileen]

Hello, Susan! I hope you are feeling better now. Sorry, you had to miss all the parties. :( Your Zucchini bread look and sounds delicious. Wonderful mosaic and photos. Thanks for sharing, I wish you well. Take care!

[Lavender Dreams]

I hope you are feeling better, too. I sure would love to have some zucchini bread..I haven't made it in years!

[Vee]

Oh no! I'm sorry that you've been under the weather.

This picnic looks like one I'd very much enjoy...very colorful, tasty food, fresh fruit, zucchini bread, yummers!

Thank you for the links, too.

[Valerie]

I could go for a virtual picnic. There would be fewer calories in it. I love to make zucchini bread in season. Valerie

[Jenna Ericson]

How crazy... on my weekend up in Hunterdon, I ended up sick as well. I spent a day and a half in bed. We'll have to hang out watching movies or something when I get home tomorrow.

Z was a fantastic letter choice, though!

[Sally]

That is so blue-tiful!

Thanks for sharing your blue picnic basket.

Happy Blue Monday, Susan.

[Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook]

Hope you are feeling better! I think you have a fantastic picnic with the zucchini bread and tart.

[Leah H.]

Get well soon:) Like your virtual picnic..

Visiting for Blue Monday- hope you can stop by..

http://www.cassandrasminicorner.com/2012/06/summer-escapes-pool-cover.html

[GED online]

Amazing post and very interesting stuff you got here! I definitely learned a lot from reading through some of your earlier posts as well and decided to drop a comment on this one!

[[email protected]]

great photos of some of my favorite edibles.....take some vitamin C and call me in the morning!

[Diann @ The Thrifty Groove]

Well, everything looks yummy. That picnic basket is so cute! Happy Blue Monday!

[Joy]

Love that basket!! We have not been picnicking in a very long time. The bread sounds great. :)

[Priscilla Bahr]

Feel better soon Susan so you can enjoys these yummy taste treats!

[ellen b]

Ugh! I hope you are feeling real good soon. Loved all your mosaics. I'd love a piece of that Z. bread right now...
Blessings!

[Wandering Thought]

Oh and this is a picnic that I will miss? The dishes are all so yummy looking and fresh zuchini are the best!

[Pat in New York]

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear you aren't feeling well, Susan! I hope you get better soon.

Your virtual photo picnic is so amazing! I love your zucchini bread and tart. That picnic basket is gorgeous! I love the blue color of the accessories.

Thank you for your kind words and prayers for Colorado! I have been so worried the past few days, even though the fires are not near where my children and grandchildren live -- the entire state seems to be burning!

[Serafin fijit friend]

I always spent my half an hour to read this web site's articles or reviews all the time along with a mug of coffee.

[Louise]

What an amazing job you did Susan. And all while not feeling well. Sometimes those summer coughs can sure latch on. I do hope you are doctoring it with some honey and as someone suggested, Vitamin C. Watch it though so it doesn't get worse we sure wouldn't want you to miss the Picnic!!!

Your abundance of Zucchini goodies will be most welcome at the picnic. Especially since there are no zucchini in my neck of the woods as of yet:)

Thanks so much for playing the picnic game, Susan. Your kind words are greatly appreciated:) I hope you feel better real soon, Louise.

[thistle]

What a great idea! I wonder what the person with the X is going to pick! They got a really hard letter!

Hope you are feeling better!

blessings,
karianne

[kitchen flavours]

Hi, I'm stopping by from The Picnic Game. You have a wonderful garden! All that lovely Zucchinis homegrown in your own garden, I'm practically drooling over them! And your bread looks wonderful!
Sorry to hear that you have been under the weather, hope you are feeling much better now. Take care!

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