photography by: Louis Hiemstra

Your guests will salivate at the mere smell of what’s cooking in the kitchen. Surprise them with these light nibbles to prepare their palates for what is to follow.

Serves: 4-6
Preparation: 5-10 minutes

Bread sticks or crackers
Raw or lightly steamed vegetables of choice*
Two dips of choice*

Prepare an individualized plate for each of your guests.
Tie a name card and ribbon around a small pile of breadsticks or simply make a place card for each guest.
Place some vegetables and a sample of both of the dips on each plate.

Notes:
Vegetables options: asparagus, baby carrots, celery sticks, peppers, sliced cucumber
Dip options: tapenade, hummus, tzatziki, roast red pepper or egg plant dip and beetroot hummus

Ever notice how the words "Let's go on a picnic" light up faces and bring a sparkle to people's eyes. A picnic evokes feelings of excitement, its shrieks "let's have fun"!

Why not break the routine of daily life and spoil that special person in your life. It needn't be Valentine's day, an anniversary or a birthday, it can be any day, anywhere. Best of all picnic foods are simple to prepare and can be prepared in advance.

Picnic essentials:

• Picnic blanket or beach carpet
• Umbrella (daytime)
• Eating utensils (if applicable) and paper cups
• Can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew, matches, candles, paper bags (as necessary)
• Garbage bags and Ziploc bags for left over’s
• Paper towels, napkins or wet wipes
• Camera to capture special moments
• Toothpicks

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