Salad on a Skewer

Bring a container full of different vegetables and let each person assemble their own salad on a skewer. Some great fresh vegetables for picnic ideas and recipes are:
Cherry tomatoes
Olives
Cucumbers cut in chunks
Broccoli florets
Cauliflower florets

Tomato and Mozzarella Bites

INGREDIENTS
20 grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
20 fresh basil leaves
20 small balls fresh mozzarella cheese (often labeled bocconcini)
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
20 toothpicks

DIRECTIONS
Using a toothpick, spear a half of a tomato, a piece of basil, a mozzarella ball, and another half of a tomato. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Place on a serving dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix the vinegar and oil together in a small bowl to serve as a dipping sauce.

Savory Deviled Eggs

INGREDIENTS
6 hard-cooked eggs
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dill weed
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
Fresh dill sprigs

DIRECTIONS
Slice eggs in half lengthwise; remove yolks and set whites aside. In a small bowl, mash yolks. Add the mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, dill, garlic powder and salt.
Spoon into egg whites. Garnish with dill sprigs if desired. Refrigerate until serving.

New England Crab Rolls

6 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3/4 pound fresh crabmeat, picked over
3 tablespoons finely chopped green onions

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, room temperature
4 hot dog buns, sides split open
4 red leaf or Bibb lettuce leaves

Whisk together mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon peel, and cayenne pepper in medium bowl. Mix in crabmeat and chopped green onions. Season crab salad to taste with salt and pepper.
Spread butter on insides of hot dog buns. Warm large skillet over medium heat 1 minute. Place buns, buttered side down, in preheated skillet and toast until golden, about 5 minutes. Place 2 toasted buns on each of 2 plates. Place 1 lettuce leaf inside each bun. Divide crab salad among buns and serve.

Buttermilk Biscuits

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
Rounded 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3/4 cup well-shaken buttermilk
1 tablespoon milk or cream for brushing biscuits

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.
Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda onto a sheet of wax paper, then sift again into a bowl. Blend in butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk and stir with a fork until a dough just forms (dough will be moist).
Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead gently 6 times. Pat out dough on a floured surface with floured hands, reflouring surface if necessary, into an 8- by 5 1/2-inch rectangle. Trim all 4 sides with a knife, dusting knife edge with flour before each cut. Cut rectangle in half lengthwise, then into thirds crosswise to form 6 (2 1/2-inch) squares, flouring knife between cuts. Transfer biscuits with a metal spatula to an ungreased baking sheet, arranging them 2 inches apart, and brush tops with milk or cream. Bake until pale golden, 12 to 15 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool to room temperature.

Creamy Horseradish Potato Salad

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup sour cream
3 tablespoons bottled white horseradish (not drained)
1 tablespoon white-wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup chopped fresh chives
3 pounds cooked small (2-inch) boiling potatoes, cooled to room temperature and quartered

Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, horseradish, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until smooth. Add chives and potatoes and stir to coat.

RITZ Bits-Pepperoni Pizza

Prep Time: 5 min Total Time: 5 min Makes: 1 serving

What You Need!
8 RITZ Bits Cheese 4 slices
OSCAR MAYER Pepperoni, cut in half
1 Tbsp. pizza sauce

Make It!

SEPARATE 1 RITZ Bits; reassemble placing 1 pepperoni piece between crackers.
REPEAT with remaining RITZ Bits and pepperoni pieces.
SERVE with sauce for dipping.

Bistro Chicken Pasta Salad

Prep Time: 25 min Total Time: 25 min Makes: 4 servings, about 1-1/3 cups each

What You Need!
2 cups cooked penne pasta
1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes
1 pkg. (4 oz.) ATHENOS Traditional Crumbled Feta Cheese
1/2 cup prepared GOOD SEASONS Italian Dressing Mix for Fat Free Dressing
1/3 cup lightly packed fresh basil, cut into strips
1/4 cup chopped red onions
1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (not oil packed)
1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, grilled, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices

Make It!

COMBINE all ingredients except chicken.
TOP with chicken.
Kraft Kitchens TipsMake AheadPrepare as directed. Refrigerate several hours or until chilled.SubstitutePrepare using ATHENOS Crumbled Feta Cheese with Basil & Tomato.ShortcutSubstitute 1 pkg. (6 oz.) OSCAR MAYER Deli Fresh Grilled Chicken Breast Strips for the sliced grilled fresh chicken.

Puff Pastry Cheese Twists

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, 1/2 (17.3-ounce) package
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1 large egg
All-purpose flour, for dusting
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Line 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Thaw the pastry sheet at room temperature covered by a clean kitchen cloth, about 30 minutes. While the pastry is thawing, combine cheese, olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt and cayenne in a small mixing bowl. Stir well to combine. In a clean small mixing bowl, beat the egg with a fork. On a lightly floured surface, gently unfold the pastry.
Sprinkle the pastry lightly with flour and using a rolling pin, roll into a 14 by 10-inch rectangle. Brush the top of the pastry with a beaten egg. Cut in 1/2 lengthwise to form 2 (7 by 10-inch) rectangles. Spread the herb-cheese mixture with the back of a spoon evenly across 1 rectangle. Lay the second rectangle across the coated piece, egg side-down. With the rolling pin lightly roll the 2 sheets together to seal. With a large knife cut crosswise into strips, about 1/3-inch wide each. (Alternately, you can use a pizza wheel to cut the strips.) One at a time, grab the ends of each strip and twist in opposite directions to form a spiral. Transfer to the prepared baking sheets. Bake until light golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on baking sheets until cool enough to handle. Serve either warm or at room temperature.