picnic {№16}

spontaneous backyard picnics pulled together with simple ingredients are my absolute favorite kind of outdoor living. on this most gorgeous in a string of gorgeous may evenings we enjoyed perfect light, perfect food and perfect togetherness on gypsy hill.

i saw a photo of this dish in a cookbook in the bookstore (now on my wishlist) and, since i LOVE caprese salad more than any salad in the universe, i had to try it:  burrata and heirloom tomato caprese.

so simple:

• slice a variety of colorful organic heirlooms.  
• layer in a concentric pattern with a leaf of basil in between each slice.  
• salt and pepper.
• drain the burrata and place in the center of the tomatoes, making a well in the center of the cheese with your thumbs to release the creamy insides.
• sprinkle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, basil ribbons, more pepper.  et voilà!

the golden hour:  100% good.

and it's not a gypsy hill picnic without a fox terrier at the table (ahem, the corgi has manners).

the golden light faded, replaced with the darkest indigo sky, lit with a thousand stars and a bright moon.  i love it here.

to see more of our picnics, click here and scroll past this current post.


note:

picnic {№15} happened on easter sunday.  we packed up sandwiches and hot pink deviled eggs and headed out to the blue ridge mountains with the dogs for our first hike of the season.  we were met with picnic grounds not yet open for the season (why?) so we totally had to trespass on government property to have a decent space to eat.  luca ended up getting really sick on this day, we don't know if he drank some infected stream water or what, so the day kind of lost its beauty for me.  gratefully luca recovered and here is a sweet shot of sandwich wrapping that happened before all the lawbreaking and dog vomiting.