Get a taste of summer with these refreshing recipes for your next picnic

HOUSTON – It’s about that time of the year, the sweet spot for Houstonians – (in between spring and summer when we can really enjoy being outside) – before the temperatures heat up, and the humidity takes over.

Which makes it the perfect time to host an outdoor picnic!

Tanji Patton of Goodtaste TV shares some of her favorite picnic-friendly foods and recipes, including a layered picnic salad and a strawberry-gin spritzer.

Refreshing drinks

For the cocktail: Tanji combines gin, strawberry-black pepper syrup, Campari and club soda in a pitcher with ice.

The secret ingredient here is her strawberry-black pepper syrup. It’s made by reducing strawberries, lemon juice, peppercorns, basil and water on the stove for about 20 minutes. Then straining the mixture, adding sugar and bringing the mixture back to a boil.

For the full recipe, CLICK HERE.

Canned wines are also a great option for summer picnics or outdoor barbecues.

Tanji recommends A To Z Wineworks Bubbles - Carbonated Rosé Wine, Oregon. It comes in a 4-pack and is available at H-E-B.

Tasty bites

When it comes to the menu, a layered salad is a picnic food staple.

Tanji put her own twist on the classic recipe, by adding more colorful veggies and a “healthier” dressing (made with Greek yogurt and mayonnaise).

For the dressing, she takes her Greek yogurt/mayonnaise mixture and adds white wine vinegar, granulated garlic, granulated onion, dried dill, dried parsley and salt & pepper.

For the salad, she uses canned chickpeas, romaine lettuce, fresh herbs, sprouts, red cabbage, cucumber, radishes, broccoli and snipped chives (for garnish).

When layering the salad, Tanji recommends putting the more delicate herbs and lettuces on the bottom of the bowl and using the sturdier veggies on top to prevent having a soggy salad.

Sturdy veggies include broccoli, radishes and shredded cabbage.

For her complete recipe, CLICK HERE.

If you rather grab and go – Tanji recommends stopping by The Bake Shoppe in Cypress.

Picnic supplies

Tanji is always on the hunt for items that can help make entertaining easier. She found acrylic cups that resemble glass and oversized napkins at Kuhl-Linscomb.

You can also catch her show, “Goodtaste with Tanji,” weekend mornings at 5:30 a.m. on KPRC 2.