Posh picnic on a budget-Any Ideas??

petetidball

I need to make a posh picnic for ten people with less than £40. I know it's not strictly DFW territory, but it could be if I end yup hitting the credit cards! Any ideas would be welcome. Don't want to use much cheese or fish. Thanks!

hypno06

olives are always good.
blinis with a little sliced pepper and some mozzarella cheese - don't need much at all.
sliced tomatoes with chopped basil, finely chopped red onion and drizzled with olive oil.
greek salad - a little feta cheese goes a long way
crudites and houmous

will try and think of some more.....

rog2

Cucumber sandwiches - always 'posh' and very cheap - don't forget to cut the crusts off, though.:beer:

hypno06

strawberries dipped in plain chocolate
make some cheese straws
put cheap jam in a nice expensive looking pot and make some scones to have with it.
falafel

still thinking.....

Kaz2904

How about vol-au-vents? Get the ready made frozen ones and make a plain white sauce then add chopped mushrooms or prawns or sweetcorn or peppers.
Go onto the bero website to get recipes for proper home made cakes.
Make some humous and cut up carrot sticks and cucumber sticks to go with it.
Grated carrot, sultanas, lemon juice and a sprinkle of sugar makes a nice side salad.
Put red grapes in your lettuce to look posh.
Home made rolls/pizza/focaccia (sp?).

Moomum

French bread and posh pates dont cost much! I always think of those as posh picnic food haha

hypno06

Does the budget allow for pimms?

LJD1_2

If you're going to use any fish get the smoked salmon trimmings as they're much cheaper. Bulk food up with some nice breads and make a nice salad using lots of different colours of salad, reds, greens, yellows, oranges. You could put in cubes of feta unless you want to avoid cheese all together. Maybe make a nice dressing too. Sounds like it's going to be lovely.

hypno06

whatever "posh" crisps are on bogof that week.
roasted mediterranean vegetables
cous cous with fresh mint and lemon

Seaxwyn

A large bowl of salad which is 99% couscous, with cucumber, tomato and olives all cut up small, both looks and tastes good. If you can get some fresh parsley or coriander leaves all the better.

Cucumber sandwiches.

Smoked salmon sandwiches using the 'value' trimmings.

Go shopping at the very end of the day the day before and you will probably get bread and other things at greatly reduced prices.

If there is a LIDL near you they are good for salami, crisps, wine.

Pete - sorry to be nosy but I have to ask - what does that French saying in your signature mean?

petetidball

Thanks for all the ideas. It's a suprise 50th for the mother in law this weekend. Some cracking ideas so far, I'll have to give most things a go.

The sig (if my GCSE C Grade French works) roughly translates as "Do or do not, there is no try". I'm just trying to look cultured by putting it in a foreign language!!!