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Skål! A Small But Mighty Midsommar Picnic Kickoff

Social distance midsommar picnic guests

The way time seemed to move these past few months on pandemic-pause, the only indication that we weren’t reliving the same day over and over was the fact that the days kept getting longer. In the Before Times, the approach of the summer solstice would mean it would soon be time for our annual Scandinavian Midsommar picnic, which for many years kicked off our summer picnic season. Time was that upwards of 100 people would crowd around the old tree in Mineral Springs to eat smörgåstårta (a savory sandwich cake), gravlax, herring, meatballs, and tubes of Abba fish roe; weave wildflowers into floral crowns; and down shots of aquavit between rousing choruses of “Helan Går” and other Svenska snapsvisor.

While we knew that a traditional Midsommar throwdown wasn’t realistic this year, we couldn’t bear the idea of skipping it altogether. So, we decided to do a modified version for this social-distancing moment. Together with our frequent co-conspirators, Clare and Jonas (one of many real-live Swedes who regularly participate in these Scando-celebrations and ensure that no one can accuse us of crass cultural appropriation) and friends Susanne and Mary, we gathered in Riverside Park, on what was almost the longest day of the year, for a Mini-Midsommar.

To ensure proper distance, we set up individual picnic blankets for each with a table in the middle to hold the food. I will point out that if we were to be following social distancing to the letter, each of us would have brought our own food, drink, and supplies and just sat near one another. But since we all love cooking and sharing, we prepared individual servings for everyone. (Dr. Fauci may not have approved, but Melissa Clark recommended the same approach for a responsible backyard cookout.)

We made mini-smörgåstårta (which were, frankly, tastier than the full size), rhubarb aquavit, fruit, and cheese. Clare and Jonas brought individual servings of homemade gravlax, cinnamon buns, perfectly sweet fruit and cream in jars, and Susanne brought wee spinach quiches (GF, as it happened), pickled beets with yogurt, and flaky little lemon tarts that were more-tart-than-sweet and more-tiny-pie-than-tart.

We composed little cheese boards and plated the assorted foods for each party. We poured and passed around glasses of aquavit, sweetened with a little juice from macerated strawberries.

Photo: Jonas Gustavsson

We forgot to sing “Helan Går,” but Clare sang a beautiful rendition of “Summertime” as the sun set. And we made at least one flower crown.

Putting this picnic together drove home the inherent oxymoron that is socially-distanced socializing. But after months of hiding out in our apartments, long after the novelty of Zoom cocktail hour had faded, this felt like a reasonably calculated risk. We tried our best to stay six feet apart, wore masks until we ate, kept the hand-sanitizer close, and lingered long into the dying light of the evening.

Photo: Jonas Gustavsson

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Who says you can’t picnic in the winter? Emergin Who says you can’t picnic in the winter? Emerging from Winter Solstice and thinking back to our Santa Lucia picnic a couple of weeks ago in Central Park. We planned for cold, grey weather - all the better for wearing our candle crowns - but instead we got one of those glorious warm December days that happen sometimes. There were Santa Lucia saffron buns, Jansson’s Temptation,potato soup,  homemade gravlax, meatballs, pickled beets, cheeses, glögg, aquavit, and cookies galore. And one Swede to make it all official. Oh, and halfway through a group of singers showed up with bells and Christmas carols. It was kind of perfect. Grateful to my creative picnic pod for making winter picnicking a tradition we will continue. 📸 @jonas_snapsalot . #picnicfancy #picnicpod #santalucia #solstice #lightiscoming
This year, how about a small, outdoor Thanksgiving This year, how about a small, outdoor Thanksgiving inspired by Sean Sherman @the_sioux_chef ? In anticipation of the holiday, our small picnic-pod gathered in Central Park for a four-course meal of recipes from this beautiful and inspiring book. We started with deviled duck eggs and crispy bean cakes, a mushroom and sweet potato soup, followed by a salad with griddled squash, and a main course of cider-braised turkey thighs served with wild rice pilaf and three sister’s mash. Dessert was autumn harvest cookies and amaranth bites. It was the perfect meal in these imperfect times. I can’t recommend this book enough - both for the storytelling and the recipes. You can follow Sean Sherman’s work at @siouxchef , natifs_org and @indigenousfoodlab.  This holiday, consider donating to the Indigenous Food Lab in Minneapolis to help them feed tribal families in need. Link in bio. 📸: @jonas_snapsalot #siouxchef #thanksgiving #friendsgiving #socialdistancing #indigenouslivesmatter #indigenousfood #pandemicpicnic #picnicfancy
Good Morning!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ Good Morning!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The weather is moody here in NYC, but tomorrow morning looks like it will be sunny and gorgeous! What better way to enjoy than to whip up these super-easy lemon scones, grab your favorite coffee, and head out to your favorite spot for a breakfast picnic!  Recipe link in bio!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For us, that spot is lower Riverside Park, overlooking the Hudson. What's yours?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#picnicfancy #simplerecipe #makeitnice #picnicrecipe #picnics #picnicinspo #picnicgoals #eatoutside #dinealfresco #simplefood #easypicnic #lemonscones #breakfastpicnic #easyscones #sconerecipe #encouragement #hudsonriver
✨Happy Friday!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It's P ✨Happy Friday!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It's Pimms o'clock somewhere! What we love about a good Pimms Cup is that you can really make it your own, with whatever garnish captures your fancy. It's also easy to make a pitcher, which you can put in a jar and take outside to a croquet match or...... a picnic✨🧺.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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RECIPE:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1 bottle Pimm's No. 1 Cup⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1 bottle sparkling lemonade or ginger ale⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1 -2 sliced cucumbers (not optional) along with the garnish of your choosing: citrus, assorted berries, stone fruits, sprigs of mint or rosemary are all good options.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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INSTRUCTIONS:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1. Play a game of croquet or involve yourself somehow in a polo match, sailing regatta, or Wimbledon).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2. Retire to the lawn, veranda, or gazebo. (A stoop or black-tar rooftop will do.)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
3 Fill a pitcher (or jar!) with ice, add a 50/50 mixture of Pimm’s and sparkling lemonade or ginger ale, and stir together with sliced cucumber and fruit.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
4. Hello, I make that Pimm’s O’Clock!  Serve with salty snacks and suddenly that dank back alley you call your “outdoor space” is the Garden at the Goring Hotel. Cheers!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#picnicfancy #simplerecipe #makeitnice #picnicrecipe #picnics #picnicinspo #picnicgoals #eatoutside #dinealfresco #simplefood #easypicnic #pimmscup #pimmsoclock #picnichappyhour #garnishgalore #pimmsno1 #summercocktails #picniccocktails #croquet
Sometimes you just want a picnic without all the c Sometimes you just want a picnic without all the cooking. Enter Perfect Picnic! At the end of a long week we were excited to meet up with some friends we hadn't seen in ages in Central Park (at a distance, of course!) With no time to cook, we decided to try out Perfect Picnic NYC since that was exactly what we were going for.⁣
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We ordered the 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘯𝘪𝘤 which was plenty of food for all of us. It came with 8 delicious mini-baguettes, from fresh goat cheese and fig to prociutto with blue cheese and pears. There was a generous cheese platter, a big salad, chips, lemonade and cookies for dessert. All delivered to our door in an adorable tote with little picnic blankets, included.⁣
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Perfect Picnic also offers full-service picnic experiences. Gorgeous set-ups for special occasions, catered by them, or in partnership with local restaurants. Looking to propose? I would give them a call.⁣ ✨🧺@perfectpicnicnyc 
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#perfectpicnicnyc #picnicfancy #localrestaurants #eatlocal #picniclove #eatoutside #picnicreview #centralpark #bigbackyard
The hibiscus flowers used in tea originated in Afr The hibiscus flowers used in tea originated in Africa. In Senegal, it is known as Bissap. Ghanaians know it as Sobolo, and in Nigeria, it’s Zobo. In Jamaica, it’s called sorrel and is typically combined with grated ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and rum or wine for a festive Christmas punch. In Mexico, it is called Agua de Jamaica and can be found nearly everywhere.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Happily, it is easy to make and the perfect refreshment for hot summer days:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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INGREDIENTS:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2 cups dried hibiscus flowers⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
8 cups water⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
sugar, honey, agave syrup, or another sweetener of your choice⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Cover hibiscus flowers in fresh, cold water and let sit overnight.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Strain the flowers through a cheese-cloth-lined sieve and sweeten to taste.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Serve over ice.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#picnicfancy #simplerecipe #makeitnice #picnicrecipe #picnics #picnicinspo #picnicgoals #eatoutside #dinealfresco #simplefood #easypicnic #aguadejamaica #hibiscustea #simplerecipes #hotaugustnight #aguasfrescas
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