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Picnic-style birthday meal - what would you like to see?

24 replies

sprigatito · 25/01/2026 18:39

DH’s birthday in a few weeks and he’s decided he wants “a carpet picnic” for his birthday meal (we used to call it that when the kids were little, but MN would probably call it a “picky tea”). He usually chooses homemade cottage pie for his birthday, but we’ve had my elderly dad living with us for nearly two years now so it’s been wall-to-wall British gravy dinners (Alzheimer’s and increasingly conservative tastes) and we’re all fed up of it.

DH will definitely want baguettes, really good salted butter, cheeses and cold meat. I will want nice tomatoes and rocket and potato salad with anchovies and chives. I might make a cheese and onion flan, and definitely some Kalamata olives…but what else? Ideas please! I’m a decent cook so I don’t mind making stuff.

OP posts:
Notgoodatchoosingnames · 25/01/2026 18:40

Homemade sausage rolls! 😋

TeenLifeMum · 25/01/2026 18:42

Scones, cheese, brownies.

sprigatito · 25/01/2026 18:42

Notgoodatchoosingnames · 25/01/2026 18:40

Homemade sausage rolls! 😋

Ooh, good shout! I make them with chopped bacon and a bit of chilli in the sausagemeat mix. I’ll add those to the list!

OP posts:

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LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand · 25/01/2026 18:42

Chicken legs. Pate, pickled onions, hummus

Isadora2007 · 25/01/2026 18:42

Humous and nice grissini breadsticks or crudités.
Sausage rolls for sure, mini ones.
A pasta salad

LightUpLavender · 25/01/2026 18:43

Home made slaw, a glazed ham, or gravlax

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 25/01/2026 18:44

Pork pies with pickle!

madaboutpurple · 25/01/2026 18:46

Gala pie/Scotch eggs
pork pies
salad
a small cheese board with crackers
baguette.

TheChosenTwo · 25/01/2026 18:46

How many of you are eating? A ham and cheese baguette with some quiche and potato salad would be plenty already - I’d worry that much more and it would go to waste!
Either way, a picnic is not complete without a homemade sausage roll 😋
Hope it’s a lovely evening, we never eat like this really but I love a summer picnic and look forward to the longer warmer days for exactly this 😀

sprigatito · 25/01/2026 18:49

TheChosenTwo · 25/01/2026 18:46

How many of you are eating? A ham and cheese baguette with some quiche and potato salad would be plenty already - I’d worry that much more and it would go to waste!
Either way, a picnic is not complete without a homemade sausage roll 😋
Hope it’s a lovely evening, we never eat like this really but I love a summer picnic and look forward to the longer warmer days for exactly this 😀

Four of us eating, two with astronomical appetites and two more conventional 😆

loads of great ideas already - I love the idea of a gala pie, it would make a lovely centrepiece.

OP posts:
sprigatito · 25/01/2026 18:50

No chance of anything going to waste. Anything not eaten on the day will be hoovered up by DH and DS2 over the following week.

OP posts:
whistlesandbells · 25/01/2026 18:51

A perfectly made Spanish omelette….

Query12 · 25/01/2026 18:55

Frittata or quiche, fancy cheese and crackers

Redredwiner · 25/01/2026 18:58

Stuffed vine leaves (dolmades)
Smoked salmon
Ramonas jalapeno houmus
Baked Camembert

Iwantsandybeachesandgoodfood · 25/01/2026 18:58

Meatballs or courgette fritters, potato salad. I think (with the sausage rolls which I agree are a must), you have it all covered.

TheCurious0range · 25/01/2026 18:59

Home made mackerel pate! This one (with adaptations), sometimes I sub some of the cream cheese out for creme fraiche to make it lighter. I also add a small amount of horseradish and chopped spring onions. You also don't need to use a blender you can just use a fork if you like it coarser. Tastes better the day after you make it.

https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fish/smoked-mackerel-pate-with-griddled-toast-and-cress-salad/

Smoked mackerel pâté recipe | Jamie Oliver recipes

Fresh mackerel pâté is a real joy, and this smoked mackerel pâté recipe is an absolute corker. Just add sourdough toast for an epic lunch, snack or starter.

https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fish/smoked-mackerel-pate-with-griddled-toast-and-cress-salad

magicstar1 · 25/01/2026 19:04

Pate, home cooked ham, cheeses, pickled onions, sun dried tomatoes, chutney, crusty bread, butter.

sprigatito · 25/01/2026 19:06

Am going to add meatballs, smoked salmon and definitely dolmades! It will be a glorious hotchpotch.

OP posts:
TheChosenTwo · 25/01/2026 20:05

@Endofyear those look delicious, I have that book and have never spotted these before!
I have lots of veggie family members and when I make sausage rolls I tend to make a Jamie recipe alternative for them, think it’s something like squash, chestnut and cheese, they’re very nice but these would also be a good idea. Thanks for sharing them 😋

SENcatsandfish · 25/01/2026 20:11

Cheese and pineapple hedgehog obviously.

Prawn cocktail salad

Party rings

stichguru · 25/01/2026 20:18

I love feta cheese parcels (hot or cold)
Stuff vine leaves
spicey sausages

MyAgileHedgehog · 25/01/2026 20:20

Baked camembert

PhantomErik · 26/01/2026 15:54

DD17 has asked for a buffet/picnic/high tea for her birthday meal as well.

We’re going with:

Egg & cress sandwiches
Mini sausage rolls
Pasta salad
New potatoes in butter
Red pepper & mushroom quiche
Pizza
Focaccia
Salt & vinegar crisps
Veg sticks, tortillas & dips
Fruit platter
Carrot cake
Brownies
Ice cream

She asked for beans on toast for her 5th birthday tea 😁

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