Romantic and First-Date Picnics

A reader recently asked me about the best places for a romantic picnic, and a first-date picnic. First, a romantic picnic.

I love this question, because there is a kind of romance simply in the act of planning a picnic, thinking about where to go and what to pack for the ultimate experience. One of my favorite picnic menus is also the simplest; go to the market for a loaf of good crusty bread, a hard cheese (cheddar?) and maybe some brie. Add grapes, or fresh strawberries, and your favorite beverage. Don't forget the bread and cheese knives, napkins and a cloth to use as either a table cover or ground cover. If you want to go all out, include a candle and a portable CD player. Now, where to go?

Hammonasset Beach at sunset: Arrive late afternoon, take a walk on the beach, then sit on the sand or at a picnic table and enjoy your picnic while waiting for the sunset.
The Pond at Gillette Castle State Park: Before you drive up the hill to the parking area, look for the pond on your left. In the summer, the pond is covered with pink, white, and fuchsia water lilies, and the picnic tables surrounding the pond are set far enough apart for a feeling of privacy. Later, a visit to the castle can also be quite romantic, as is the view of the Connecticut River from the balcony.
The top of the mountain at Mohawk Forest State Park: A 4-mile drive brings you to the top of the mountain where there is a small roundabout with 2 or 3 picnic tables. Although there is no guarantee, there is a good chance you will have the space to yourselves. The panoramic view is breathtaking.
Wineries: Picnics at wineries can also be romantic. First the wine tasting and agreeing on the perfect wine to go with your picnic, then finding a secluded spot on the scenic grounds to enjoy the picnic and each other. Check out the wineries in the Connecticut Wine Trail for hours and picnic facilities.

First-date picnics should be stress-free, so don't overlook something as simple as picnicking at a local park. Pick a scenic park with unique attractions, such as Elizabeth Park in West Hartford (enjoy the flowers, especially the rose gardens peaking in late June and the duck pond), or Wickam Park in Manchester (ornamental gardens, woodlands, pond, panoramic view and plenty of walking around space. Picnicking options are plentiful at parks and the fun is to let serendipity guide you to the perfect spot. Check out the local parks in your area, and also the state parks, such as Kent Falls State Park in Kent, or Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford. Just like city and town parks, each state park has its own unique features.

More ideas: Tour a historic home, such as Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam, Mark Twain House in Hartford, or Roseland Cottage in Woodstock. (Check with your local library for free or reduced passes.) Or, spend a relaxing afternoon poking around Connecticut's charming town greens and scenic main streets like Essex, Stonington Village, Mystic, and Litchfield where, after your stroll, you can always find an inviting place to picnic.

Finally, the perfect day trip and picnic for romance or first-date, suitable for any age group as well as families, take a boat tour of the Thimble Islands, available at the Stony Creek section of Branford. Picnic at the small beach adjacent to the dock.

Although space is limited here, more information on all the places mentioned should be easily accessed on the web or at the Connecticut Visitors Center. Hopefully these ideas will get you started in thinking of your own romantic and first-date picnic ideas. I'd love to hear any success stories!


I don't usually use this venue to talk about my book appearances, however, I will make an exception here since it's an exciting opportunity for folks to meet 7 Connecticut authors with books of diverse genres. The date is June 7th at Buttonwood Tree in Middletown, where at 3:00, we will briefly introduce ourselves and our work and autographing our books until 5:00. Come meet and greet the authors and check out the great selection of books.

No Cost Day Trips

These days we are all looking for ways to enjoy our leisure time, at little or preferably, no cost. Below is a partial list of Connecticut day trips that fit this criteria. All but one are from my book, Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket http://www.cruisingconnectiut.com/. The only thing you have to worry about is gas and food.

1. Easy and Pleasant Walking Trails: Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam; Dinosaur State Park, Rocky Hill; White Memorial Conservation Center, Litchfield; Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, Mystic. (Note that these locations also have nature centers or buildings to tour for which there is an admission charge, however, there is no cost to enter and park, or for enjoying the walking trails and picnicking facilities.)

2. Window Shopping While Strolling Along Quintessential Connecticut Main Streets: Towns of Essex; Chester; and Mystic.

3. Spring Wildflower Walk: Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust, Woodbury; Connecticut College Arboretum, New London. (Note that May is the best month for this activity, although at Connecticut College you can also enjoy a profusion of native trees and shrubs in any season.)

4. Bike Paths: The one I know best is the Air Line Trail which goes through East Hampton, Colchester, and Hebron. For others, see http://www.traillink.com/ or www.americantrails.org/resources/statetrails/CTstate.html. (Click Rail & Canal Trails.)

5. Museums: Always Free ~ Yale University Art Gallery and Yale Center for British Art, both in New Haven; Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford currently has free admission on the last Saturday of each month. Confirm by telephone (860-278-2670) that this special is still in effect. Note that many libraries offer their patrons a free ARTpass to this and other museums.

6. Vineyards/Wineries: Although most wineries now charge for wine tasting, many offer free self-tours of the vineyards and guided tour of the wine making process. Best of all, the settings are scenic and most have picnicking facilities. www.ctwine.com/wineries.

Speaking of food, save money by bringing a picnic on your outings, either packing lunch at home or stopping at the market to pick up your favorite sandwich makings. Money aside, a meal eaten outdoors is the ultimate complement to an outdoor activity or event.

NEXT BLOG: SUGGESTIONS FOR FIRST DATE PICNICS, ROMANTIC PICNICS, AND MORE.

Events and Food Talk

I hope everyone is taking advantage of the summer-like weather this weekend and spending time outdoors, preferably with a picnic. Although my book, Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket, is all about combining a picnic with a day trip, or event, picnics do not always have to be lengthy or complicated.

Yesterday, I had chores that mostly kept me inside, but I knew I couldn't let the day go by without getting outdoors, so at lunch time I walked to a nearby luncheonette, ordered a sandwich and ate outside at a nearby picnic table with a view of several different flowering shrubs and trees. It was a perfect break in my busy day.

Occasionally, I surf the web to see what I can find on Events and Food, and this time, I have an event for both April and May.

http://www.foodreference.com/ is a website for food facts, fun, festivals and more. Under Food History for April, one of the featured foods is pecans, so I decided to share one of the most popular recipes in my book, Loaded Oatmeal Cookies, with pecans of course, and other surprises. It can be found on my website, http://www.cruisingconnecticut.com/ by clicking "What's in our Picnic Basket" and scrolling down to Featured Recipe.

May's event is from Chase's Calendar of Events, a book I enjoy perusing at the library on occasion. The first full week each year is National Wildflower Week, "a week to encourage the observation, cultivation and study of native wildflowers as a means of deepening humankind's relationship, responsibility and commitment to protect and care for the ecological integrity of Mother Earth."

Coincidentally, I just wrote about this favorite past time in my last blog on April 3rd. Check it out and plan your own spring wildflower hunt, either at one of the sites I mention, or at a park or nature center near you.

Ah, the joy of spring in Connecticut!

Signs of Spring

With my time in Florida nearing an end, my mind is racing ahead to my return to Connecticut. Not only am I looking forward to connecting with family and friends, but also enjoying my favorite season.

I love to watch the early signs of spring, when dormant gardens spring back to life, when the drab world of winter is taken over by vibrant colors and songbirds, and a feeling of joy and possibility is in the scented air. Best of all, the longer, warmer days mean we can spend more time enjoying outdoor activities, including of course, picnicking.

One of my favorite spring activities is the wildflower hunt. I became fascinated by wildflowers many years ago when I visited Garden in the Woods located at the New England Wildflower Society in Framingham, Massachusetts. I was so awed that I went on a 6-week spring wildflower hunt, visiting over twenty state parks, preserves and nature centers in Connecticut, all dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of these delicate and mysterious flowers.

Two of the 42 chapters in my day tripping and picnicking book, Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket are devoted to this activity, which are best viewed from the last week in April through the first week in June, with the peak, most years, around mid-May.

The first day trip, the Native Plant Collection located at the Connecticut College Arboretum in New London, contains a separate wildflower garden with markers for easy identification. And, while there, check out the amazing 25-acre collection of native trees and shrubs. (http://www.arboretum.conncoll.edu/)

A more challenging hunt is The Botany Trail at the Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust in Woodbury. This one-mile trail is great for wildflower enthusiasts, although I first visited as a novice. Luckily, I had invited a friend who brought along three wildflower identification books! (http://www.flandersnaturecenter.org/)

To view an amazing collection of photos from these and the other destinations in Cruising Connecticut, go to http://www.cruisingconnecticut.com/ and click "Photos" on left.

Happy Spring!

Cruising Connecticut has success in Florida!

I was intrigued with a series of programs at the Venice (Florida) library called "Booked for Lunch", where every Friday at noon, a different author talks about and signs their book. Without any forewarning, the marketer in me came out of vacation mode long enough to inquire about being part of the program, and next thing I knew, I was booked. Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket by Jan Mann was listed in the February calendar.

Because I was pretty sure a Florida audience would not be interested in hearing about all the great things there are to do in Connecticut, I chose a new topic, "7 Steps to a Perfect Picnic" including exciting new recipes to take home. And, what a surprise to learn that of the 35 attendees, slightly more than one-half had ties to Connecticut.

Best of all, everyone seemed to enjoy hearing about the different ways to plan and enjoy a picnic, along with tales about some of the more unique recipes and how they tied into the destinations in my book. For example, Joe's Jambalaya contributed by the Commission of Tailgating" featured in my Football Tailgating chapter, and Almond Macaroons, an 1873 recipe featured at Roseland Cottage during Henry Bowen's reign as "Mr. 4th of July." But, the ultimate joy for me was the amount of audience participation, a sure sign that people were not only paying attention, but interested in what I had to say.

My 7 steps are simple enough, well, at least the first six:

1. Keep Your Picnic Basket Ready to Go at all Times
2. Have a Plan
3. Pick a Location
4. Decide Who to Invite
5. Choose your Menu
6. Be Flexible

The most important step is No. 7: IT'S OKAY TO IGNORE STEPS 1-6. The point is this: Let's say you are lucky enough to wake up to a beautiful day and have the opportunity to get out and play. Of course, you don't have a plan, you can't think of where to go, you don't know if anyone is free, your picnic basket is not organized, and in fact, you can't even find your picnic basket. You don't have anything interesting to eat because you haven't been grocery shopping in a while, and even if you do have food in the house you don't feel like preparing it. We've all been there!

What to do? First of all, do not let any of the above details deter you. Simply make a sandwich and walk out the door, or stop at the market for a prepared sandwich, or the makings of a french picnic: a loaf of crusty bread, some good, hard cheese, and a bunch of grapes. Then, get in your car and drive. Keep an open, positive mind and chances are your car will take you to the best place for you to relax, enjoy a casual activity, or experience an over-the-top adventure, whatever you need to get rejuvenated at that particular time. Never get caught up in the details of the picnic if you don't have the time or inclination.

Remember, the simplest picnics are often the most perfect.

National Banana Bread Day

February 23 was National Banana Bread Day, and although my schedule for yesterday was carefully planned so I would have time to post my incredible recipe for Banana Bread, it was not to be.

First, I had to make an emergency visit to the car dealer, and when I finally got to the library around mid-afternoon, I found I couldn't get on the internet because my wireless adapter had broken. Off to the store for a replacement and back again to discover the library was getting ready to close.

So, I am a day late. Nevertheless, in honor of National Banana Bread Day, here is one of my favorite recipes from my book, Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket. I hope you enjoy it.

BEST EVER BANANA NUT BREAD
(My Aunt Madeline's recipe dates back more than 75 years. If you like your bread sweet and moist, you will probably agree this really is the best.)

3/4 cup butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed bananas
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
* Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and sour cream, mixing well. In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Add this mix to creamed mixture alternately with the bananas. Stir in vanilla and nuts.
* Pour into greased and floured 9x5-inch loaf pan.
* Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and bread breaks away slightly from the edge of pan. Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes; remove from pan and finish cooling on rack.

Greetings From a Happy Snowbird!

It has been almost one year since I started my blog, and this is the longest I have gone without posting an entry ~ over three weeks. For many reasons which are unimportant, it has taken me longer than usual to get here and settle in to the Florida life which I will enjoy for the next several weeks. And, how exciting it is to see sunny skies, sunsets, green grass, and flowers! I love it, and I wish I could have packed up all my friends and family and brought them along to share it with me, especially with the blustery weather back home.

I've even gone on two picnics so far. One was at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota, a 350-acre park with scenic drives, wildlife observation areas, and airboat and tram tours to search for wildlife. The other was at The Rookery in Venice, a small island for the protection of the wading and nesting birds that I love to photograph, including both the snowy and great egret and the great blue heron.

Both times I made Wild Rice and Ham Salad, simply because of its ease and simplicity, and because everyone who tastes it loves it. The rest of the suggested menu items are tortilla chips and Salsa, pumpkin or zucchini bread and watermelon, but any bread or fruit will do. I also like cherry tomatoes with this salad.

This recipe is from my book, Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket, 2nd Edition, and I am happy to share it with folks who are lucky enough to be in a climate suitable for picnicking in February; for everyone else, keep this on hand for all your spring and summer picnics. Not that there aren't places for hearty folks to enjoy a February picnic in Connecticut, such as The White Memorial Conservation Center in Litchfield, but in that case, I rather think my chili recipe would be a better choice!

WILD RICE & HAM SALAD
2 cups cooked wild rice
1/2 pound lean ham, cut into bite size chunks
1/2 cup golden raisins, soaked in hot water for 20 minutes and drained
1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup pecan halves

1. In small shallow pan spread pecan halves in a single layer. Bake in 350-degree preheated oven until toasted, approximately 5 minutes. Watch closely. Cool. (I personally like smaller pieces so I cut them in half again.)
2. In large bowl, stir together rice, ham, raisins, and scallions. Add salt and pepper.
3. In small bowl, whisk oil and vinegar together until well blended. Slowly pour over rice and ham mixture until the salad contains the amount that suits you. (I almost never use the entire amount.) Toss.
4. Serve at room temperature or chilled. Just before serving, garnish with pecans. Serve on lettuce leaves.
Serves 4-6

Travel Tip: Refrigerate salad overnight, or at least two hours before packing in cooler.

Enjoy!