Smart’s National Picnic Week Competition
We love a good picnic here at Smart. That’s why – to celebrate National Picnic Week – we are giving you the chance to win a dozen A4 CHALKBOARD MENU BOARDS.
Simply LIKE our Facebook Page, COMMENT on our Picnic Week post with your Favourite Picnic Item and then SHARE!
Comment anything from a savoury snack to your favourite tipple! You will then be entered in to our competition, which will be drawn next Wednesday (15/06/2016).
To get you in the spirit we are sharing our own favourite location, recipe and activity.
Smart’s Favourite…
…Picnic Location – Attingham Park
In the heart of Shropshire, Attingham Park is a wonderful tribute to the history of the county along with the botanical features of its neighbouring town, Shrewsbury. Just a 5 minute drive from the Smart office we are privileged to call Attingham Park our picnic destination of choice. The grounds boast a river view, a beautiful garden and an array of wildlife, you will be spoilt for choice when setting up a picnic location in the massive estate.
It’s not just good fun for the adults! Attingham Park has a playfield for the kids to enjoy along with a host of sport equipment for some family enjoyment. Or set up your own fun on the vast space of the estate – great for learning to cycle!
…Picnic Recipe – BBC Good Food‘s Falafel Scotch Eggs
A great twist to a classic picnic staple – these Falafel Scotch Eggs satisfy everyone’s curiosity – not just the bellies!
What you need:
-9 large eggs
-1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for rolling
-2 large chopped onions
-2 crushed garlic cloves
-1 tbsp of ground cumin
-1 tbsp of ground coriander
-400g can of drained chickpeas
-1/2 small pack of coriander leaves
-200g wholemeal breadcrumbs
-5 tbsp plain flour, plus extra for dusting
-25g panko or dried breadcrumbs
-3 tbsp sesame seeds
-sunflower or vegetable oil for frying
Method
Put 8 of the eggs in a pan of cold water. Bring to the boil, cook for 5 mins, then quickly lift out of the pan and plunge in a big bowl of cold water to cool. Once cool enough to handle, peel.
While the eggs cool, put the oil, onions and garlic in a frying pan. Fry very gently until really soft and just starting to turn golden. Add the spices and fry for a few mins more. Tip into a food processor and whizz to a paste, then add the chickpeas and coriander leaves, and pulse until finely chopped but not pasty. Stir in the wholemeal breadcrumbs, flour and final egg, beaten first with a fork, with a good amount of seasoning.
Divide the mixture into 8. Take a portion at a time and flatten between your hands (rub your hands with a little more oil if it’s sticking to your fingers too much). Roll 1 of your peeled eggs in a little flour, shake to remove the excess, then wrap the falafel mixture around it, moulding it to completely cover the egg and squishing it together at the joins to seal. Repeat to cover all the eggs. Tip the panko or dried breadcrumbs onto a plate and mix in the sesame seeds. Roll each egg in it to coat. Can be made 1 day ahead, loosely covered with cling film and chilled.
Get a large, deep saucepan and half-fill it with oil, or use a deep-fat fryer. Heat until a bit of bread browns in about 30 secs. Add a couple of eggs at a time and fry, turning, until really golden and crisp, about 2 mins. Lift onto kitchen paper to drain while you cook the rest of the eggs in batches. Season with a little more salt and eat warm or cold.
…Picnic Activity – Frisbee
A great family activity which only needs one piece of equipment – a Frisbee. We love Frisbee because everyone knows how to play and it can be played pretty much anywhere. Something to get up from the blanket for!
A picnic activity is the icing on the cake. If the food is good and the location is good – your picnic is going to be a hit. When choosing an activity – just make sure everybody can be involved.
We hope you enjoy National Picnic Week as much as we will. Don’t forget to enter the competition for your chance to win!