Picnic recipes the kids can make

Minty melon salad

Serves 6

My son loves using the melon baller to extract perfectly round balls of juicy cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew from their rinds. Hand your kiddo a melon baller and you'll have this salad ready-to-go in minutes. Serve it alongside the sandwiches as a picnic side dish or as a refreshing, healthy dessert.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups melon balls
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint
• 2 tablespoons honey
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Have your kids combine all ingredients in a large airtight container.
2. Keep refrigerated until ready to pack.

Smokehouse almond hummus

Yields 2-3/4 cups

Hummus is one of the easiest picnic recipes for your kids. Simply put all the ingredients in the food processor and blend. The addition of smoky almonds will give your kids the makings of a signature dish they can proudly whip up all year round.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Blue Diamond Smokehouse Almonds, plus extra for topping
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup tahini sauce
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, rinsed, drained
• 2 cloves garlic
• Crackers or chips for dipping

Directions:

1. Help your kids measure out the almonds, yogurt, lemon juice, tahini and cumin, placing each in the bowl of a food processor or blender.
2. Have them add garbanzo beans and garlic. Cover bowl and purée on high speed.
3. If hummus is too thick, add a bit more yogurt and blend again.
4. Let your kids transfer the hummus to an airtight container and place in the refrigerator until ready to pack.
5. Serve hummus with crackers or chips.

Roasted chicken salad sandwiches

Serves 6

A rotisserie chicken turns a time-consuming dish into a quick and simple endeavor for your kids. You'll have to help the younger kids with the chopping but older kids will get a chance to sharpen their knife skills.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken, cooled
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions (white and green parts)
• 2 tablespoons finely grated orange zest
• Juice 1 orange
• 2 tablespoons honey mustard
• 1/2 cup lite mayonnaise made with olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 12 slices whole grain bread
• Lettuce leaves or sprouts

Directions:

1. Let your kids combine the chicken, parsley, basil, celery, cranberries, almonds, green onions and orange zest in a large bowl.
2. Have your kids whisk together the orange juice, honey mustard and mayonnaise in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper and whisk again.
3. Let your kids pour the mayonnaise mixture over the chicken mixture and stir to combine.
4. Have your kids spoon chicken salad onto six slices of bread and top each with a lettuce leaf or sprouts.
5. Place remaining bread slices on top and place sandwiches in individual sandwich bags.
6. Keep refrigerated until ready to pack.

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