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one picnic, three good ideas, two weird cookies

We spent a happy sunshiny day at a birthday celebration picnic on the edge of the sound this weekend. Mary and Dave Sheely are smart picnic planners. (I think it’s because they are from Ohio and Ohio people know how to picnic.) I took note of a few things.

three good ideas:

Instead of paper plates we used these smaller fast food containers, which I loved because I always manage to flip a regular sized plate over at picnics. These fit in one hand so there was no dramatic flinging of foods. At least not accidentally.

Two La Petite Ecole dark chocolate cookies used for a s’more. Delicious!

A layer of sour cream is used as an oxygen barrier for the guacamole. Brilliant. Also, sour cream!

two strange cookies:

The Triple Double Oreo. Three layers of cookie, two double-stuffed layers of white and chocolate filling. I came to the same conclusion as Serious Eats, that it tastes pretty much like an Oreo.

Keebler’s Coconut Dreams caught my eye because, hello, Samoas anybody? They definitely tasted a bit different because of the milk chocolate, but if you are really craving Girl Scout cookies in the off season these might be satisfying.

and a dog on a paddle board:

and a sunset:

· comments [18] · 08-22-2011 · categories:mumbling ·

18 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Rebecca Lynne // Aug 22, 2011 at 4:43 am

    I agree Ohians DO know how to picnic! Thanks for these great ideas…

  • 2 Annie // Aug 22, 2011 at 5:29 am

    I love those picnic ideas! So gosh darn smart!

    And I wish you hadn’t told me about those Coconut Dreams. I have a serious Samoa weakness. When in was a girl scout we called them something different, but I can’t remember the name right mow.

  • 3 k // Aug 22, 2011 at 8:00 am

    Wow, good ideas no kidding! I’m making note of all three.

  • 4 Marja // Aug 22, 2011 at 8:57 am

    Picnics, ftw! The in hand fast food containers are brilliant.

  • 5 Reading (and chickens) // Aug 22, 2011 at 9:09 am

    Wow, I use sour cream as an oxygen barrier too! But next time I’ll remember about using it for guacamole too.

  • 6 Steffy // Aug 22, 2011 at 9:22 am

    Hello, sour cream on top of guacamole! NOM!

  • 7 Elle // Aug 22, 2011 at 12:50 pm

    I love s’mores. And you may have just made me love them even more! I’m trying out your cookie idea

  • 8 missy // Aug 22, 2011 at 4:48 pm

    I discovered the Coconut Dreams cookies just the other day! Love Samoas (aka Caramel Delights in some Girl Scout cookie zones!)

  • 9 Mary T // Aug 22, 2011 at 7:43 pm

    Whee!! A review on Not Martha!! : D Okay, I have to give credit where credit is due:

    The gourmet s’mores idea is actually from Megan Barone — who was also in attendance, and it was great to see my favorite Megans! You can read her post about it on Shelterrific: http://www.shelterrific.com/2011/08/05/steal-this-idea-smore-station-deluxe/.

    I got the containers at Costco, and I think they were $2.99, perhaps $3.99 tops. I agree — they were a problem solver! Lightweight, easy to transport, and they worked for any course.

    Dave is quite the cook — not many know he was working at this wonderful little deli in Cincinnati when we met: http://whatsfordinnerdeli.com/ And I ended up writing the website (after we met). If you are ever in Cincinnati, What’s for Dinner? is worth looking up — say hi to Toni or Frances for us!

    So glad you guys had fun. Seattle is instant picnic scenery — and this weekend even instant picnic weather for once!

    xo — Mare

  • 10 Beth Ellen // Aug 22, 2011 at 8:22 pm

    Speaking of samoas, if anyone is craving them….I bought a new type of Fiber Plus bars at Target a few days ago–called Caramel Coconut Fudge. With the first bite, I immediately thought of samoas…..

  • 11 Seanna Lea // Aug 23, 2011 at 7:34 am

    The smores sound pretty awesome. I should make smores pie. Like all things smores it is bound to be awesome!

  • 12 megan b. // Aug 23, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    Megan, I’m so glad we got a chance to catch up, and I’m glad you approved of my Petit Ecolier smore. The lazy in me LOVES it.

    BTW, I checked on the mascara we chatted about — Clinique Lash Power Mascara Long Wearing formula. Tiny brush, no raccoon eyes! http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P206900&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=1254

  • 13 Tamera // Aug 23, 2011 at 4:05 pm

    The Girl Scouts use 2 official cookie bakers: ABC and Little Brownie Bakers. Each council gets to choose which company they do business with. Little Brownie Bakers is a Keebler company and I am surprised they never sold those Coconut Dreams to the public before now.

  • 14 megan // Aug 23, 2011 at 7:40 pm

    Mary T – Awesome, thank you so much for the sources!

    Megan B – Yay! I was thinking about that mascara today. My recommendation was for Cover Girl Lash Exact as my drugstore mascara pick, and the Clinique Pore Refining Solution (nee pore minimizer) is what I was trying to tell you about before the guy with the dog on the paddle board distracted me :)

    Tamera – Awesome! I can only hope you work for the FBI to have such amazing inside knowledge :)

  • 15 megan // Aug 23, 2011 at 7:40 pm

    Beth Ellen – Nice find!

  • 16 Amy // Aug 24, 2011 at 4:04 am

    So many good ideas in one picnic :)
    I want that Oreo

  • 17 ellen // Aug 25, 2011 at 8:25 am

    Petetit Ecolier s’mores = brilliant!

  • 18 Bay // Sep 11, 2011 at 2:03 pm

    Lucky enough to have been at that picnic – and I’ve now gotten used to Mary n’ Dave having great ideas, so I didn’t even notice the brilliance of the fast food container service method.

    Also, nice to see you ‘Not Martha.’ Readers, she is endlessly funny and charming in person. I promise you. [Also much cuter than the actual Martha. I must add this ;)

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