Summer Harvest Picnic Loaf

Northern California is well known for it’s agricultural abundance, and I’m lucky enough to live in the middle of it all! Located only in Northern California are Nugget Markets, which connect with the many local farmers to bring us fresh produce and yummy eats. I’ve partnered with Nugget Markets to put together a picnic, while taking advantage of the local produce and delicious sides and desserts from the deli. Thus my Summer Harvest Picnic Loaf was born. 

I’ve made a goal to be more social and host more get-togethers with friends and family. This typically surrounds food and eating. I wanted to come up with a beautiful picnic display, using fresh produce from Nugget Markets, and some of their finest deli meats and dishes. One thing about Nugget Markets is you know you’re always going to receive high quality and delicious products.

From the moment you walk up to the store, you’re greeted with rows and rows of what’s in season.

If you’re looking for particular foods to fit a nutritional bill, Nugget Markets makes this easy by having specialty tags by foods with certain dietary needs. For example, find a tag by products that are Kosher, Gluten Free, Vegan, Organic, and more. No more label checking because the store has done it for you. Talk about a way to speed up the shopping process.

Now for my picnic plans, I didn’t want some boring ol’ sandwich, so I used some inspiration from a recent trip to Ireland, and created a picnic loaf using summer harvest. You can find loafs and pies with layered goodness, all over Europe, so why not bring it to the states? They’re beautiful and so yummy.

I picked through the huge produce section, some seasonal eats, and added a few things from the deli. I had help from the delicatessen to pick up some scrumptious ham, and used olives from the olive bar. Simply choose from one of the fresh baked loaves of bread – I prefer a round loaf, but you could use French bread, boulots, sour rounds, etc. Then cut a lid and scrape out the insides, and layer your desired ingredients. Put the lid back on the top and you’ve got easy mess-free transport for your picnic!

I had the nice gentleman from the deli counter help me pick out a complimentary salad, and we went with a yummy grilled corn salad that was super light and incorporated more seasonal veggies.

These colorful carrots were in the produce section (as was one of the most flavorful watermelons I’ve ever had), and I just had to have them because of how pretty they were, so I picked up some deli-made hummus and pretzel crisps to go with it.

To help you with your picnic or summer gathering, I’m giving away a $100 Nugget Markets gift card, to one lucky reader!! If you haven’t been to Nugget Markets, you have to stop by the bakery because their desserts are to-die-for! They are also the only grocery store to carry baked goods from Sacramento’s local bakery “Ettiore’s”. I picked up a few tarts to add to our picnic, and all were delish!

The giveaway will end at 11:59pm PT on 8/1/17. To enter, fill out the form below. Be sure to pin the recipe to save it for later!

Summer Harvest Picnic Loaf

Clever Housewife

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

• 1 round bread loaf
• olive oil
• 4 Tbs fresh pesto
• 1/2 red onion sliced
• 1 large tomato sliced
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup pepperoncinis
• 1/2 lb deli ham
• 1 fresh mozzarella ball sliced
• 1/3 cup black and green olives sliced in half
• 1/4 large avocado thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup fresh basil

Instructions

 

• Cut a lid off the top of the round loaf of bread and dig out the insides. Set insides aside (I chop up and use with spinach dip).
• Using a pastry brush, lightly coat entire inside of bread bowl with olive oil. Then coat the inside with pesto, using a spoon.
• Layer onion and tomatoes in the bottom, then season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Continue layering the rest of the ingredients, topping with the fresh basil leafs. Put the lid back on the sandwich loaf and cut up into wedges.
• If not eating right away, cover sandwich loaf with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator.