Summer is here and that means more time to get outdoors with your family and friends. There is nothing better than a lazy Sunday walk followed by a delicious picnic in the park, on the mountain, or at the beach.
If you’re out of ideas of what food to pack, Rhodes Quality has you covered with convenient, easy-to-make and wholesome goodness that is sure to put an end to the cries of ‘oh no not another tuna sandwich.’
Try these quick tasty, sweet, and savoury treats the next time you are packing a basket to head outdoors: from a gherkin cheese ball to crispy chicken and avocado wraps or Hawaiian pizza pancakes, jam filled shortbread cookies or a chickpea trail mix; there’s something for everyone.
Gherkin cheese ball
No-stress appetiser, perfect for outdoor dining.
Ingredients (serves 8)
Method
130 g (± 8 whole) Rhodes Quality Sweet & Sour Whole Gherkins, chopped
250 g (1 tub) plain cream cheese
80 ml (⅓ cup) sour cream
250 g (1 cup) grated cheddar cheese
2.5 ml (½ tsp) garlic powder
45 ml (3 Tbsp) flat leaf parsley, chopped
salt and freshly cracked black pepper
100 g (1 cup) pecan nuts, chopped
To serve: crackers or bread
Place the cream cheese and sour cream in a large bowl and mix until smooth.
Stir in the sour cream, cheddar and garlic powder until evenly mixed.
Add the Rhodes Quality Sweet & Sour Whole Gherkins and the parsley and stir to mix.
Season to taste.
Chill the mixture for 30 minutes.
Spoon the mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap and use the plastic wrap to shape the mixture into a ball.
Roll the ball in the chopped nuts.
Serve with crackers or fresh baguette.
To prepare for a picnic: Roll the mixture into individual small balls.
Crispy chicken and beetroot wrap
Crunchy and fresh, these are an excellent wholesome meal on their own. Prepare and wrap individually ready for your picnic.
Ingredients (serves 4)
Method
250 ml (1 cup) Rhodes Quality Sliced Beetroot in Vinegar, drained
250 ml (1 cup) Hinds Southern Coating Original
400 g chicken breast fillets, sliced into even strips
125 ml (½ C) all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten
oil for frying
Wraps
4 wraps
500 ml (2 cups) mixed salad greens, washed
To serve: lemon wedges and mayonnaise (optional)
Toss the chicken strips in the flour and shake off any excess.
Dip the chicken strips in the egg and then toss in the Hinds Southern Coating until evenly coated.
Deep fry in hot oil until golden and crispy.
Drain on a paper towel to remove excess oil.
Heat the wraps.
Top with lettuce.
Top each wrap with a serving of Rhodes Quality Sliced Beetroot in Vinegar.
Divide the chicken between the wraps.
Top with mayonnaise if using.
Chickpea trail mix
Crunchy roasted trail mix, perfect for lunch box munchies, picnics or a hike.
Ingredients (makes 5 cups)
Method
1 x 410 g can Rhodes Quality Chickpeas
15 ml (1 Tbsp) brown sugar
15 ml (1 Tbsp) ground cinnamon
250 ml (1 cup) pumpkin seeds
100g (1 cup) walnuts, toasted
125 ml (½ cup) sunflower seeds
125 ml (½ cup) chocolate chips
500 ml (2 cups) popcorn
Drain and rinse the Rhodes Quality Chickpeas.
Lay the chickpeas out in a single layer on a clean dish towel.
Pat as dry as possible and leave to air dry for a further 30 minutes.
Place the chickpeas on a baking sheet that has been lined with baking paper.
Roast in an oven that has been preheated to 180°C for 10 minutes.
Mix together the brown sugar and the cinnamon.
Remove the chickpeas from the oven and toss in the cinnamon sugar.
Return to the oven and roast for a further 15 minutes or until golden.
Turn off the oven and leave the chickpeas to cool and crisp.
Toss the cooled chickpeas with the remaining ingredients.
Store the trail mix in an airtight container.
Hawaiian pizza pancakes
Savoury pancakes perfect for packing. You can make these ahead of time, cool and portion to save for later.
Ingredients (makes 12)
Method
1 x 50g sachet Rhodes Quality Tomato Paste
1 x 440 g can Rhodes Quality Pineapple Pieces in Light Syrup, drained
250 g (2 cups) self-raising flour
1 ml (¼ tsp) salt
300 ml (1 cup +3 Tbsp) milk
1 egg
150 g ham, chopped
sunflower oil for frying
Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl.
Whisk together the Rhodes Quality Tomato Paste, milk and the egg.
Whisk the milk mixture into the dry ingredients, beating until a smooth thick batter.
Stir in the Rhodes Quality Pineapple Pieces and the ham.
Allow the batter to stand for 10 minutes.
Heat a little oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat.
Use a 65 ml measuring cup to scoop the batter onto a non-stick pan and shape quickly into rounds.
Fry only two pancakes at a time.
Cook until the pancakes have bubbles on the top, then flip them over and cook for an additional minute.
Repeat with the remaining batter.
Cool, portion and freeze for later use.
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