Ideas for picnic foods

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I might be going to a picnic on Saturday and I need ideas on what to bring…I was thinking of either creamy noodle salad OR a chickpea salad.

Now the thing is, I’ll be going on the subway, and both of these foods are cold and/or mayo-based…Even though they’ll be sealed and I’ll be in air conditioning for the most part, it’s still at least 2 hours out of the fridge.

The host said since I’m coming from so far I don’t have to bring anything, but I kind of feel bad about going to potlucks and not bringing dishes :frowning: I figure if I can make something that won’t go bad its worth a try.

Any suggestions/advice?

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Re: Ideas for picnic foods

How about a chana chaat? That's basically a chickpea salad....but without the mayo...and is just as delicious.

Or some type of stuffed pastry. Patties stuffed with keema or ground chicken. Spring rolls or samosay.

Cutlets?

A quick stir-fry? You can even incorporate your noodles in it...and that way you'll have a noodle dish sans the mayo.

An easy pasta dish or a casserole.

Or a dip such as hummus with something that goes well with it.....like wedges of pita bread or pita crackers. You could even buy one of those premade trays of assorted veggies and dip...or the frut and cheese platter. You can get a dessert....either premade or baked.

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Re: Ideas for picnic foods

well the chickpea salad I was going to make was going to be: feta cheese, chopped onion, bell pepper, cucumber, with a lemon-based dressing....the veggies and cheese wouldn't go bad would it?

the other one i was going to make was macaroni, with chicken, chopped apple, grape, celery in a mayo + sour cream sauce

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Re: Ideas for picnic foods

They both sound delicious. If you're worried about the mayo, go with the first salad. The feta will be fine. But here's some info that you might find interesting:

"According to "The Association for Dresses and Sauces," commercially available mayonnaise can be left out of the refrigerator for a long time and still be safe. Apparently, the eggs used in commercial mayo are pasteurized, killing bacteria like Salmonella. Also, they say, commercial mayo is sufficiently acidic to be unfavorable to bacteria that may be introduced after opening the jar."

"Commercial mayonnaise, due to the addition of acids like vinegar or lemon juice, has a pH between 3.8 and 4.6, making it an acidic food. There is a misconception that foods like potato salad can make a person sick if left out in the sun, due to the mayonnaise spoiling. This is false; the pH of mayonnaise prevents harmful bacteria from growing in it. Left out of refrigeration, mayonnaise will develop an unappetizing taste and smell, due to other types of bacteria and molds that can spoil it; but will not make one sick."

And the info below is from the Hellmann's Mayo website:

IS IT SAFE TO TAKE FOODS PREPARED WITH MAYONNAISE ON PICNICS?

We recommend the following to help keep all "picnic food" safe:
• Chill well before packing.
• Carry to the picnic in an insulated container with ice packs.
• Keep out of direct sunlight.
• Discard leftover picnic food immediately rather than carrying home to serve later.

"Mayonnaise by itself contains ingredients such as vinegar, lemon juice, salt and a preservative, which inhibits the growth of bacteria. Many of the foods that are typically used with mayonnaise, such as chicken, ham, or potatoes, are much more susceptible to bacterial growth than mayonnaise itself. When combined with mayonnaise, they can reduce the effectiveness of the preservatives in the mayonnaise. An environment that enables harmful bacteria to grow is created when these food combinations are stored in non-refrigerated temperatures."

^Maybe this will put your mind at ease and help you in making a decision. I personally love creamy salads and the chicken salad sounds delish.

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Re: Ideas for picnic foods

Interesting. Thanks RV!

If it was just me, I wouldn’t mind but if other people are gonna be eating it :hehe: I 'd rather not take the risk…esp since I’ve never “cooked” for anyone else before.

Another option I have is to just take the ingredients and throw the chicken salad together at my friends house (we’re going to leave together).

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Re: Ideas for picnic foods

You dont have to take the food. You could say to all others that you will be arranging all the cutlery, blanket and drinks. This way you wont have to worry about the fact that the food will be out of the fridge for two hours.

On the other hand if you still wanna cook something then i'll say make simple chicken or egg-mayo sandwiches (just single ones so that they are easier to eat). just use very soft bread and if u wrap them in cling film then they will turn out exactly the same i.e. fresh.

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Re: Ideas for picnic foods

^That's a good idea. I say go with that. You could even just take a bowl with the chicken, pasta, and other ingredients......and use the mayo at your friend's house. Mayo is usually found in people's houses....she may have it and you can ask her. That way you won't have to worry about taking it with you on the subway without refrigeration. If you explain your concerns to your friend....I think she's understand. Or just take ur own jar of mayo with you. A salad is easy to throw together....not time consuming at all. It'll all fall into place. Have fun :)

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Re: Ideas for picnic foods

You could make a cold pasta salad.

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Re: Ideas for picnic foods

Just take dessert, you can never have enough dessert! Banana bread with cream-cheese and walnut frosting? Coconut bars, apple pie?

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Re: Ideas for picnic foods

Oh the host is very understanding, she even said I don't have to bring anything at all since I'm coming on the subway.. :D

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Re: Ideas for picnic foods

Personally I wouldnt eat a salad with chicken and mayo in it if I knew it had been out for a few hours. Id prefer the chickpea one you mentioned, that sounds yummy, or a dessert where you dont have to worry about anything happening to it. Plus a dessert, like a tray of brownies or cookies, might be easier for you to carry so far on the subway

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Re: Ideas for picnic foods

how about channa chaat with imli ki chutney?Or as someone else already suggested, simple sandwiches like chicken and mayo, or mashed boiled eggs and butter sandwich. You can add some herbs to the egg butter mixture, like coriander/spring onion etc. along with salt and black pepper. If wrapped properly in cling film, these stay fresh for hours.