Spring Picnic, Part 1 - A Picnic Loaf

The sandwich; a lunchtime staple for so many but I often wondered if the robust yet simple snack was really worthy of a Great British Picnic! With problematic soggy fillings and uneaten dry crusts, i was delighted to discover an exciting alternative - picnic loaves!

Start by choosing your bread. I went for a French boule but the varieties are truly endless, rye bread, sour dough, poppy seed and nut varieties or even sweet bread! If feeling brave or a clever bread maker like Charlotte you could make your own from scratch! I would advise using a loaf which is fresh, has a firm crust and is an even shape to make life easier.

The first step is to make the lid. Cut into the bread leaving a 1.5-2cm outer edge all the way around. Lift off the lid carefully and remove excess bread stuck to it. Then hollow out the inside. A spoon or your fingers works well to do this to the edges but remember to maintain the integrity of the outside and underneath crust as this will support your many fillings. With the excess bread you can blitz to breadcrumbs to use in other dishes or cut into cubes and bake with good quality olive oil and herbs to create delicious croutons for salads!

Next comes fillings. Again endless possibilities here. This time I went for egg mayonnaise on the base followed by alternate layers of ham, garlic sausage, cheese and finally a top layer of roasted med veg. Delicious!
In the past I have used sauces between the layers such as mustard mayonnaise or pesto. Take care with foods that release water - cucumber and mushrooms or avocados which discolour.

Next press down firmly each layer and make sure each layer of tasty filings reaches the edges. Some recipes say to weight down the loaf for a time before applying the lid and wrapping firmly in cling film or foil but I don't find this necessary. Fill well and evenly and a sharp knife cuts through the layers allowing everyone to enjoy the fantastic sandwich!

Carly x