My brother-in-law says that no food is not picnic food.  I tend to agree.  Obviously, there are some exceptions to this rule- but the over arching idea is- just because you are outside, doesn’t mean you should eat something that isn’t delicious.  Makes perfect sense.

(I also believe that just because you are traveling, doesn’t mean you should dress crummy.)  But that is a different argument.

Tuesday nights in the summer, we picnic at Gas Works Park.  For the first picnic of the year, we started things off right.

We had a cheese course (semi failed, but still delicious) and I decided that since I didn’t know it was going to be 74 degrees, I would bring a spring soup- in case it got nippy… which I didn’t.  No bother…

Look at these delicious ingredients!

This has:

• Carrots
• Leeks
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Asparagus
• Fava Beans
• Green Beans
• Peas
• Cabbage
• Garbanzo Beans

Can’t you taste the wholesome goodness?

PLUS- this is the first time I’ve ever worked with fresh Fava Beans.   Who knew?

Now, this is where it gets dicy.  I stopped taking pictures because my camera died for a bit.  The broth was clear and lovely, the soup delicious, the veggies the brightest of bright greens.

Alas, when I put it in the thermos and transported it over three hours, it turned out looking more like split pea soup.  I had a feeling this would happen.

My clear and lovely broth was muddled and my lovely green vegetables look not so lovely.  BUT it was still delicious and that is most of what counts.

And, like I already said, no one cares when it is so lovely outside.

You might see a plate in the middle of the table.  That is the Thomas Keller Roast Chicken that Piper brought.  I don’t have enough space to tell you how good this chicken is.  Just that you need to make it.  Yesterday.

This was from Ad Hoc at Home.  The complete recipe can be found here.

I will make this again.  This time I might not pack it in a thermos.  PS- the leftovers got even more ugly.