Time For A Picnic

Did you know there are 21 Wednesdays until Christmas?

And there are just 9 more school holidays until my youngest child turns 16.

Each summer holiday we schedule the holidays to ensure we maximise the time we have. 9 more school holidays aren’t that many. Are they?

Click here to read how we scheduled last years summer holiday from school.

But this holiday we haven’t found the time to sit down and make our schedule – yet. It’s been a busy one with lots to do. Although the kids are still finding opportunity to say they are bored. Like now. When Mum sits down to type the odd blog post it’s the ideal opportunity to stop what they are doing and try to stop me also. It’s a kid thing I guess.

Today is a rare day where we haven’t anything in the diary despite not yet having scheduled.

Time for a picnic me thinks.

Particularly as yesterday I spent the day in London at a blogging event run by Making Sense Of Sugar.

The day focused on making healthy and inspiring lunch boxes for kids.

I came away enthused to make more effort with the lunchbox lunches we (note the word ‘we’) prepare at Chez Wright. Because lunch boxes aren’t just for school, they’re for home and holidays also.

So, we raided the fridge to rustle up today’s picnic.

Unfortunately the weather deterred us from making our way to the local park. Rather we invited friends to lunch and had our picnic from the kitchen table, popping outside to play when the sun came out.

One item was very popular. The dip that Manju Malhi (the celebrity chef) had shown us how to make at yesterdays blogging event.

A super simple (& clean) recipe – just how I like it.

Heat some peppercorns with cumin seeds, then leave to cool.

Whip up approx. 4 tablespoons of greek yoghurt, add the (now grinded in a pestle and mortar) cooled peppercorn and seeds with a pinch of paprika.

The verdict – the picnic, and especially the dip, was a success.

Even the British weather could not put a dampener on it.

Do you have any picnic favourites you’d like to share? We’re always looking for food inspiration at Chez Wright.

And also have you found time to schedule your summer holidays?