Large cannellini beans, barley, and arugula mix together to become an easy salad for bringing to the park to enjoy on a warm spring day. April 22nd is Earth Day. Get involved. Have a Picnic for the Planet.
The weather has been kind lately. Too kind, almost.
Where I live the weather can change quickly, from sunny and warm to cold and snowing overnight (as it did Sunday to Monday this week). The changing seasons and shifting temperatures remind us to take advantage of the good weather while it’s here: forcing us outdoors, inviting the neighbors over at the last minute, postponing dinner to get a family bike ride in. If you live in a climate that is regularly 70 degrees and sunny, taking advantage of a nice day to get outside and enjoy it may not be a priority. You get overly comfortable with the idea that tomorrow will be just as nice, every bit as enjoyable and inviting.
Never stop taking advantage of those perfect moments when the breeze is gently blowing, the sun slowly setting in the west. Those nights are the perfect excuse for an outdoor picnic, for standing around with friends and neighbors and talking. Your house doesn’t need to be clean, but you can still enjoy the weather and the company of the people you love.
Sunday, April 22nd is Earth Day, and the Nature Conservancy is encouraging everyone to get outside and enjoy and celebrate the planet we live on. Last year’s Picnic for the Planet boasted over 600 picnics in 61 countries across the globe. This year, The Nature Conservancy is going for the official Guinness Book of World Records title for the most people picnicking in a 24-hour period. Find out how you can join in on Picnic for the Planet and get involved in setting the record!
2 cups cooked cannellini beans
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/2 lemon, juiced and zested
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
2 cups baby arugula leaves
In a large bowl, combine the barley, cannellini beans, and red onion. In a small container, whisk together the lemon juice and zest, red wine vinegar, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Slowly whisk in the oil. Pour the dressing over the barley and bean mixture and toss to coat evenly. Place the bowl in the refrigerator and allow to sit for 30 minutes for the flavors to combine.
Just before serving, add in the tomatoes and arugula, and toss to combine. Serve chilled.
Makes 6 servings.
A Giveaway:
I’m giving away a Picnic for the Planet basket from The Nature Conservancy full of fun picnic supplies for the summer!
- Coleman Collapsible canvas basket lined with gingham fabric
- Official Picnic for the Planet merchandise (water bottle, tee, blanket, temporary tattoo)
- Reusable bamboo utensil set by To-Go Ware
- Popchips
- Peeled Snacks organic dried fruit
- Green and Black chocolate bar
- Back to Nature crackers and cookies
- Burt’s Bees chapstick
TO ENTER:
- Simply leave a comment on this anyone telling me what you’re doing for Earth Day, what you like to bring to picnics, just say hi.
- Follow Food for My Family and The Nature Conservancy on Twitter and Tweet the following and leave a comment letting me know you did:
Enter to win a @nature_org Picnic for the Planet basket from @FoodforMyFamily http://wp.me/puu57-2Um #giveaway
- If you follow Food for My Family or The Nature Conservancy on Facebook, let me know with a comment.
Make the rounds for more chances to win:
::All Day I Dream About Food
::A Spicy Perspective
::Cookin Canuck
::Created By Diane
::Dine & Dish
::Food for My Family
::Gourmande in the Kitchen
::I am Baker
::Jeanette’s Healthy Living
::The Little Kitchen
::Tidy Mom
THE RULES:
This giveaway will run until Sunday, April 22, 2012 at 11:59 pm CDT and is open to all U.S. residents 18 years of age and older. A winner will be chosen at random using Random.org from all eligible entries. Chosen winners must respond within 48 hours of notification to claim their prize. Good luck!
heather says
Now that’s a picnic basket! I’d fill it to the top with a variety of fresh cheeses, tomato, avocado, fresh fruit, just-baked bread, a bottle of wine and definitely some squares of dark chocolate.
Cheers,
*Heather*
heather says
Already following Food for My Family on Twitter, and tweeted the giveaway.
heather says
Liked the Nature Conservancy on FB as well.
JamieAnne says
What an amazing giveaway! My family would love this basket.
Julia Reyder says
Id love to picnic on earth day. That’s a great idea. There’s a spot I like to home by a horse ranch that has the best trees for shade.
That picnic basket is amazing. Although I already have a regular one this one will definitely take center!
JamieAnne says
I’m following you on Facebook and twitter.
Jenn from HealthiFood.blogspot.com says
What a fun giveaway!
Lori h says
I hope to picnic on Earth Day. If the weather holds up, I plan to meet some friends at the local park.
Aimee says
We’re planning a picnic, of course, but it is also going to rain, so we need a plan B!
Tracy says
I like to bring pan bagnat to a picnic. And lemonade. And that bean salad looks awfully good.
Tracy says
Already following you both and tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/saladgoddess/status/192684164418506753
EG says
We like to take picnics to college baseball & soccer games!
Living The Sweet Life says
Yumm!! This is a lovely salad for any picnic – – I love the idea of having simple backyard picnics, it’s what this weather is made for 🙂
Paula- bell'alimento says
Looks like I’m having a picnic! What a great salad. I love anything with cannellini beans
Paula- bell'alimento says
I follow you on Facebook
Paula- bell'alimento says
Following on Twitter & Tweeted! @bellalimento
Addie says
I love picnics with my kids, afterwards we lay and just look at the clouds… 🙂
Tricia says
I love cold salads for a picnic, and I love white beans! I would pack exactly something like this. Along with bread. And chocolate.
Kesha says
I would fill that basket up with pasta salad and grilled chicken sandwich wraps with brownies for dessert! Oh yeah , lots of sweet tea too:)
RG says
We like to take a picnic to a park for dinner a few times a month. Usually it is impromptu.
Valerie says
This salad looks great! Added it to my list of recipes to try!
Kathy says
Wow that is a great basket giveaway I love your website so fresh and fun hope I win.
Kathy says
I like Nature Conservancy on FB!!
Becca B. says
Fruit: my favorite combination for a picnic or barbecue is strawberries, honeydew, and blueberries. Yum!
shellee says
What a lovely idea! Thanks for sponsoring this giveaway.
shellee says
I follow you on Facebook
Beth Shaffer says
We are going to plant our garden! We like to take Egg Salad Sandwiches, Carrots, Homemade Potato Chips, and Lemoneade and Super Sweet Iced Tea for picnics!
Linda S. says
Our township has an Earth day celebration, so may stop by there. Planting in the garden sounds like a great idea for the day.
Kristy Bartlett says
A picnic sounds great! And we will likely do some kind of tree craft.
Katie says
We try to conserve in all ways that we can so we will continue to do this for Earth Day. A picnic sounds great! I like to take sandwiches, yogurt and some kind of fruit.
Heather says
Would love to win this! Thanks!
amy marantino says
i like to bring fried chicken on picnics
kristine says
I am volunteering all day at my girls’ school.
amy marantino says
I Follow Food for My Family and The Nature Conservancy on Twitter and Tweeted (@onitnaram)
Jasie says
This looks great. On earth day I will probably be doing some thrift store shopping.
Heidi says
Weather permitting, we’ll be heading to Cannon Beach.
JennyA says
For Earth day I will start growing micro-greens…
healthy dinner recipes says
Thanks for the recipe. I was searching for a lentil soup recipe on the net and found this site. Tried it out, very delicious.
Mary P says
potato salad and chicken are favorites here as well as individual mini cheesecakes
Mary P says
Follow you on Facebbok too
wintersundays says
For picnics I love, love, love cookies!! Any type will do. Though this summer I will add a cocktail peanut recipe that I have been saving. 🙂
Sarah H.P. says
I love bringing dessert to picnics! Usually a brownie or cookie bar is perfect!!
Cara St.hilaire says
One little change I have decided to make is less plastic water bottles! I was even buying them at home for a while. From now on, I vow to primarily rely on Britain and my metal water container. HappyEarth Day.
Cara St.hilaire says
Oops! Meant Brita! Not Britain!
J @ ... semplicemente ... j says
I follow you on Twitter
J @ ... semplicemente ... j says
Follow you on FB
J @ ... semplicemente ... j says
I haven’t been on a picnic forever … I can however imagine going on the 22nd!
Michelle says
We are going to plant a tree!
Kathy - Panini Happy says
My kids have been asking about picnics lately. Now that my little guy *probably* won’t run off if we set up on a blanket I think we can make this happen. At the beach, if the weather is nice!
Jenny says
I love to bring a jicama and green apple salad with lime cilantro viniagrette…. it’s so refreshing for summer!
Kel says
This sounds great! I love wraps for picnics.
MichelleH says
That salad looks delicious. Our fave picnic is actually breakfast. Bagels or scrambled egg burritos, fruit, hot chocolate and then we play at the park all morning.
For Earth Day we are working in the yard, preparing the garden for planting.
Virginia says
I’m going shopping at our local framers’ market for earth Day!
gail says
not really doing much on earth day…i like to bring veggies and dip to picnics
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
This is such a great combination of flavors and ingredients!
Rebecca says
Looks like a lovely salad–and what a wonderful giveaway!
Fabs says
That looks super yummy! And that picnic basket is way cool! We will be out picking up garbage in our community for Earth Day!
Madeline says
Hi there. Thanks for supporting The Nature Conservancy this Earth Day, Shaina! We love the photos you took of your recipe on top of the gingham blanket. So festive for a picnic!
-Madeline, The Nature Conservancy
Kate says
We’re doing a major landscaping project towards the end of May and installing rain barrels on our downspouts. We’ve wanted to do this for years. Hopefully the next big project will be creating a rain garden at the bottom of our hill where it’s always wet.
Love this giveaway. What a great idea.
Kate says
I follow both you and NC on Twitter, and tweeted about the giveaway.
Kate says
I’m there on Facebook, for both, too. 🙂
the wanna be country girl says
This looks so fresh and yummy! I was just picking arugula this morning. I love its bitter, peppery taste. Can’t wait to give this one a try. Thanks for sharing!
~Caroline
Tina Sollazzo says
Hello..
I have been following your blog for a few months now. I think my husband sent me the link. We have made and enjoyed many of your yummy recipes! That picnic basket looks great! We go on picnics/cookouts whenever we can. We love to cook sausages over the fire, or bring sandwiches and fruit or just great finger food (like pepperettes and cheese)
Thanks for all the great recipes!
Tina
Jeanette says
Love the combination of ingredients and fresh flavors in this salad, perfect for a picnic for Earth Day.
Theresa J says
I will be at the Coachella Music Festival this year on Earth Day
Gretchen says
The salad looks beautiful and delicious. I am hoping this weekend I can get a few boxes for my garden made.
Megan P says
I like to bring just myself to a picnic!
Heidi says
Growing, my family would picnic all the time. We didn’t have a cabin so our weekend fun in the summer became biking and picnicking. Some of my favorite memories are of my family having picnics. One memory I have is when we went on a winter picnic – it was cold, but we all loved it!
BusyWorkingMama says
Hi! I love cheese and crackers with salami for picnics.
Athena R says
What a delicious looking salad! I usually just take sandwiches and fruit on picnics.
Athena R says
Following on twitter and tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/GoddessFoodie/status/193370166820741121
Sarah @ Alderberry Hill says
This salad looks amazing!
Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill
Alderberryhill.blogspot.com
Meryl says
Great looking salad!
Louis says
For picnics I like to bring cold boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce.
meredith says
Hi! I love to bring watermelon to a picnic!
meredith says
I follow Food for My Family or The Nature Conservancy on Facebook
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
This is the perfect dish fro a picnic… saving this one for the next trip to the Cape.
Julie says
hi picnic sounds fun thanks:)
Julie says
like u both on fb Julie A Scott Laws
saniel says
taking my recycles to the recycle unit, checking out the amazing earth day festival in our community(walking or riding my bike.
I would bring popcorn in my reusable sandwich bags, lightly sauteed local blue shrimp, grilled vegetable medley grown locally w cous cous pesto and wine in mason jars. yum
Carmen says
The only thing we did for Earth Day was to spend some time outside soaking up the warm weather and sunshine
Jill L says
It was such a miserable day out. We stayed indoors with our church youth group and watched a movie.
Jill L says
‘Like’ ood for My Family and The Nature Conservancy on Facebook – Jill Lear
Jill L says
Follow Food for My Family and The Nature Conservancy on Twitter and Tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/chipdip2010/status/194244101024124929
Jane says
For Earth Day I went to the festival in SB California….where Earth Day began!! Then I went to a bridal shower picnic….and I brought earth friendly plates, cups, etc. 😉
Christy says
I would love to take my daughter and husband (or maybe just my husband) on a nice picnic.
word finder says
It really looks great, I’ve seen many other posts, that’s the info I needed, thanks for sharing.