It’s Picnic Season!  Start with a simple plastic tarp, to cover any dampness in the ground.  Cover the tarp with an amazing quilt or favorite blanket and the magic happens!  Your picnic space becomes a joyful respite illuminating joyful togetherness.  All you need is your little blanketed corner of the universe, a picturesque view and a picnic basket filled with great food.   Will it be cheese paired with wine?  Will it be tasty tidbits of sundried tomatoes mixed with hearts of palm?  Try cooked chopped chicken breasts mixed with mango chutney.  Small loaves of banana bread or Kelly’s Poppy Seed cake can add to the home-baked essence of a lovely day in the sun. © Kelly McBride Loft

Kelly’s Poppy Seed Cake

Grease a Bundt pan.  In a large mixing bowl combine 6 egg yolks (reserving the egg whites), 1 cup of buttermilk, and 2 sticks of butter.  Blend until creamy.  Add 1 teaspoon each of these flavorings: butter, lemon and almond.  Then, add 2 tablespoons of poppy seeds.  Add ¼ teaspoon of baking soda, 3 cups of sugar and 3 cups of flour.  Blend well.  Now, is a separate bowl, beat the 6 remaining egg whites until stiff.  Fold the egg whites into the batter and pour into the prepared pan.  Bake at 350°F for about 1 hour.  Glaze the cooked cake with a mixture of:  ½ cup of orange juice, 3 tablespoons of orange marmalade and 1 ½ cups of powdered sugar.  Add 1 teaspoon each of the flavorings:  butter, lemon & almond.  Poke holes in the warm cake, plated, and pour on the glaze. © Kelly McBride Loft