One evening last week we packed a picnic basket and headed to the beach for a sunset picnic.  The evening air on the East End is so cool and fresh...it quickly became one of our most favorite times of day to visit.  We laid out a picnic blanket; my two men ran up and down the shoreline while I took pictures of their antics; and we listened to the waves as the sun went down behind the dunes...  

After fancy pantsin' around East Hampton for an entire month, I was really craving a taste of home.  It just doesn't seem like summer without pimento cheese and tomato sandwiches, so instead of packing our basket with lobster rolls and gourmet fish tacos like all of the other picnickers on that particular night, I prepped a few of our favorite snacks from the South.  I didn't even use fancy southern recipes...just plain and simple. Some might even call my recipes of choice a little low-brow, but who wants to be in a kitchen on a hot summer day? Low-brow Shmo-brow! Good is good!  Besides, I found that East Hamptonites are all about presentation--none of that "it's what's on the inside that counts" business out there--so I just packed our un-fancy picnic in a fancy picnic basket and no one knew the difference!  

{I've also found that a bottle of rose' makes everything look fancier too...which might explain the rose' shortage in the Hamptons this summer.  True story.  Click to read if you haven't yet.}

OUR MENU

*mini heirloom tomato sliders

*pimento cheese with assorted crackers and breads

*deviled eggs 

*mini blackberry cobblers 

Ahhh...Perfection...

Yeah right!

 The Moose Child {Who said to me just before we reached the beach, "Maaahm, I don't yike to have a picnic on da beach."} kicked sand on the blanket about thirty seconds after I set out our food.  Fortunately he's cute...and in true Southern tradition, I always make too much food!  

I've listed a few of my "Low-Brow Shmo-Brow" recipes at the bottom...I'd love to hear how you would pack a picnic.  What would you add?  Do you fancy pants it or keep it simple?  I'm always looking for a yummy recipes, so please share yours with me!  

Easy Pimento Cheese

16 oz block sharp cheddar cheese, grated

1--4 oz jar of chopped pimentos, drained

1 cup of mayonnaise

1 can rotel tomatoes, drained

1 tsp of Worcestershire ( or to taste)

1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)

a dash of your favorite hot sauce

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Combine the mayo, Worcestershire, Rotel, salt and hot sauce in a large mixing bowl.  Gently fold in the grated cheese and pimentos. 

Cover and chill over night.

Simple Deviled Eggs

6 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and cut lengthwise

¼ cup Light Mayonnaise or Salad Dressing

½ teaspoon dry ground mustard

½ teaspoon white vinegar

1/8 teaspoon salt 

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 

Paprika for garnish

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Remove the egg yolks, place in a small bowl and mash with a fork. Add mayonnaise, mustard powder, vinegar, salt and pepper and mix thoroughly. Fill the empty egg white with the mixture and sprinkle lightly with paprika.

Cover lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to one day before serving.

Bisquick Blackberry Cobbler

3 cups fresh blackberries

2 tbs butter, melted

3/4 cup sugar, divided

1 tbs lemon juice

1 cup Bisquick

1/2 cup milk

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Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Gently toss blackberries with lemon juice and 1/4 cup of sugar and set aside momentarily.

pour  melted butter in the bottom of a 8x8 baking dish.  mix Bisquick, milk and 1/2 cup of sugar.  Pour Bisquick mixture over the butter.

Spoon blackberry mixture on top, making sure to get all of the juice and sugar from the bottom of the bowl. 

Bake for thirty minutes or until the crust is golden and filling is bubbling.

{I divided the contents of the cobbler into four disposable pot-pie tins for easier picnicking.  The cooking time was about the same} 

xo...

ki