UK Specific Picnic/Party food?

No booze, no maple, no onions, no garlic, nothing that needs heat, nothing that will go off, no dairy . . .

Hmm, yeah, I'd be drawing a blank, too.

I think the cheese with flags is going to be the solution.

Cheese is dairy though right?  

Cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off?

Scones and jam?

But you said no alcohol. Does anyone at the picnic drink? Could you take Ribena for the teetotalers and Pimms for the fun folk? 

Nope.Well, my generation drinks, but we don't drink at the picnic because my uncle (who owns the farm) is against drinking.  And they might even live in a dry township, now that I think about it.

Pasties are easy, they're just little pies.  Make some pie crust, or buy some ready-made, cut it into circles about 6 inches in diameter, fill them with steak and onions or chicken and veg or whatever you want, really, fold them over to make a little half-moon shape, seal the edges, brush them with egg and bake until they're brown.  I think proper cornish pasties have a hole poked in the center, but I'm not certain.  I'll find a recipe for you if you're interested. 

So, sort of like a mini italian stromboli?  I can handle that!  I made mini stromboli by taking a tube of pillsbury biscuits, flattening the biscuit, putting pieces of string cheese and ham inside, folding it over and baking.  Sounds like I could do the same thing minus the cheese to make a pastie.

Or how about cucumber sandwiches? 

I thought about doing that, but thought that was more of an afternoon tea kind of sandwich? Although, I suppose since it's a sandwich, it's a picnic food!

Cheese is dairy though right? 

The cheese has a better chance of surviving the cooler and kiddie-pool with ice though over something that has say, whipped cream in it, I think.

Steve desperately wants me to reply to this, since I don't know jack all about 'British' picnics He suggests making simple sandwiches like cheese and ham and chicken and the like. Cook sausages and wrap them in a slice of bread (supposedly this makes an Irish sausage roll, he claims). He also mentioned making a salad (especially since my family doesn't do that and he was lost during our barbeques ), and small deserts like tarts and doughnuts are ideas for something sweet as long as it doesn't have icing on it since it'd go off (but frosting would be an idea instead). And fruit, that too--he's a lot healthier than I am obviously 

Steve desperately wants me to reply to this, since I don't know jack all about 'British' picnics He suggests making simple sandwiches like cheese and ham and chicken and the like. Cook sausages and wrap them in a slice of bread (supposedly this makes an Irish sausage roll, he claims). He also mentioned making a salad (especially since my family doesn't do that and he was lost during our barbeques ), and small deserts like tarts and doughnuts are ideas for something sweet as long as it doesn't have icing on it since it'd go off (but frosting would be an idea instead). And fruit, that too--he's a lot healthier than I am obviously 

LOL Hi Steve!  Yeah, I asked Tim and while I couldn't see his face, I'm sure it was just a blank look and he said back "uh...food?". 

Salad and Fruit will be at our picnic - we have "staples" that are provided, and then people bring along extras...and I like to bring "unique" items. One year I made Tabooli....oh, you should have seen the looks on their faces.

Cucumber sandwiches aren't very robust, but they'd be good for a hot day.  They do have sort of posh connotations, I think, but so what?  If you have pasties and cucumber sandwiches you'll have both ends of the class system covered* 

*(It's a joke everyone, don't jump down my throat!)

Suasage rolls, quiche and jam tarts. 

If you're going to go with cheese, maybe some chutney along with?  And some Carr's crackers?

If you're going to go with cheese, maybe some chutney along with?  And some Carr's crackers?

MMMM. Carr's crackers.

Have Tim bring over a variety of Crisps - all the crazy flavours including twiglets.  No effort and lots of conversation.

I completely agree with this! The reaction to meat flavoured crisps is priceless it is an easy solution and will be a huge hit!

I completely agree with this! The reaction to meat flavoured crisps is priceless it is an easy solution and will be a huge hit!

I was going to suggest the same--a variety of Walker's crisps or any other British brand.  Just make sure any vegetarians realize that there are meat flavored ones--I accidentally ate a handful of prawn flavored ones from a bowl and didn't realize they were not veggie!

I was going to suggest the same--a variety of Walker's crisps or any other British brand.  Just make sure any vegetarians realize that there are meat flavored ones--I accidentally ate a handful of prawn flavored ones from a bowl and didn't realize they were not veggie!

Walker's prawn cocktail crisps are vegetarian, as are most of the meat ones, it's the cheese and onion ones that aren't! 

Walker's prawn cocktail crisps are vegetarian, as are most of the meat ones, it's the cheese and onion ones that aren't! 

What?!  Thanks for letting me know!  The package was there on the table, but I couldn't read the ingredients, the print was too small....I'll stay away from the cheese and onion ones now! 

A good bet is either cheese and pineapple on sticks or cheese and grapes, or some vol au vents with different fillings...

What?!  Thanks for letting me know!  The package was there on the table, but I couldn't read the ingredients, the print was too small....I'll stay away from the cheese and onion ones now! 

I've just checked and the cheese and onion ones are now made without rennet so they're vegetarian, and most of the meat ones seemed to be veg too, including prawn cocktail and roast chicken and beef and onion...mmmm chemically!

Jugged hare?  Jellied eels?