Tent Sniffing for Beginners

As a festival lover I've mentioned before that it's not all mud, tents and music. There are all sorts of festivals and one of the best must surely be a festival of Food! Even if you are dieting there is joy to be found at a food festival, outside, breathing in the glorious British weather (hopefully sunny and warm, though one never know!) and gazing at the glory of fine local and not so local foods. The chance to discover new goodies, to buy for an impromptu picnic, or something more special. And then there are recipe ideas and demonstrations, competitions and all manner of cakes!

Ooh tis friday, and a chance question on twitter has me thinking about picnics! Someone asked about your favourite thing for a picnic, the one item that makes it perfect. I don't think I can narrow it down to one so I'm going with : Cheese Straws Cheese and pastry in one delicious hit. They travel well (assuming you don't crush them, but warm sun doesn't harm them) they are not messy to eat, and kids like them. Scotch eggs I like the mini ones with the egg scrambled in the middle. Simple to pop into your mouth and another great item for kids. Not so great in the sun, but in a cool box they will last until lunch with out going nasty. Olives I know some kids don't like them, but some do and I love them. DD has grown to love them and they are great with any other savoury food. Great for a snack and go nicely with wine Crisps Golden Wonder for preference and probably salt and vinegar (which I love with an egg sandwich). Though Marmite flavour are also ...

This poor neglected blog is feeling the spring creeping along it's edges, ruffling the grasses. The sun is shining, promising butterflies, warm nights and catkins. Everywhere in our garden new shoots are emerging, I've had to mow the lawn once already - dashing out between hail showers to do it. And soon, very soon, I will find an excuse to get the tents out of the loft for a check up. The one downside of canvas tents is the nervous fear that maybe they weren't BONE DRY when you put them away. That maybe mould or decay (or, as once happened, a mouse!) has crept into the fabric of the tent, damaging it. Last year I left Wilfrid wrapped up for only 3 days while he was wet and when I unfurled him I was horrified to find orange mould. I have since cleaned, scrubbed and dried him, but I admit I'm worried. The spring sunshine calls to the canvas and soon my garden lawn will look like a mini festival. And then I will have the excuse of eating outdoors again. So I have...

Well! It's the end of August (almost) and next outdoor food linky day all the kids will be back at school. Will we all still find time to eat outside? I suspect that a cup of tea in the garden will start to be the only outdoor food I get. But I hope that doesn't stop you finding a recipe to link up - something you plan to try on a next camping trip, a sandwich you think might travel well, not only to school but for a picnic. What items would you add to the prefect end of summer picnic? Have you had a last outdoor meal with the children before school? Do grab a badge and link up below, I'd love to read your post! center "> href =" http :// www . tentsandfestivals .co. uk /search/label/ ofof " title="Outdoor Food on Friday"> img src =" http ://4. bp . blogspot .com/- BFvoDsEdUxY /VXCmIJW9gII/ AAAAAAAAQZo / fmXjckoTDtU /s1600/ rsz _2img_2605%2Bsmall. jpg " alt="Outdoor Food on Friday" style="border:none;"...

I had hoped to eat outside with the family last weekend, either in a pub garden (yes that counts) or a picnic in the countryside. But DD’s sudden exit to a festival changed our plans and hubby and I had a lazy day buying some plants, blogging and snoozing instead. I did drink margaritas in the garden, but I’m not sure that warrants a whole blog post. This weekend I would like to eat outside, I’m hoping the weather will be good enough for us to pitch the tent and get painting it, and that would be a good excuse to spread a blanket out and have a picnic on the lawn. Copyright: JanPietruszk / 123RF Stock Photo   Food eaten outside always tastes nicer, and it’s not hard to organise, especially in your own garden! I will be buying a bag of ice for £1 at the local supermarket and filling the cool box with water, ice and cans of J2O, ginger beer, actual beer and gin and tonics. For the picnic I’ll choose some summer fruits, berries are bright and colourful, encouraging healthy...