A Little Picnic Guide (Recipes and catch-up)
What we packed, what we ate, and why I think everyone should plan one soon
Hi friends, it's been a little while…
Between recipe testing, writing, photoshoots and just the everything of getting a book ready, My Substack had to take a quiet back seat these past few weeks. But I’ve missed writing here. So today’s post is a mix of a catch-up, a soft little picnic guide, and three easy recipes you can recreate the next sunny day you get.
Let’s start with a quick update: the book is coming together so beautifully. It’s been full-on in the best way, equal parts exhausting and exciting. There are days I feel completely burnt out, and others where I just can’t believe I get to do this. Watching it slowly take shape, recipe by recipe, is surreal. I’m proud of what it’s becoming and I cannot wait to see it in your hands very soon. (A big thank you to everyone who has pre-ordered it already!)
But amongst all the chaos, me and my best friend Zahra took a little time to for a proper reset. We packed up some food, went for a walk in the park, sat on a big blanket, and ate everything we brought. It was exactly what I needed. And honestly? I think more of us need to romanticise our afternoons a bit.
So if you’re looking for a little inspiration for your next picnic (or you just want an excuse to make something delicious and eat it outside), here’s everything we packed and how to make it yourself.
What we brought:
My classic chocolate chip cookies (My go-to always)
Viral Dubai chocolate strawberry dessert cups
Focaccia and mini baguettes (made from the same no-knead dough)
Zahra’s sandwiches: red pesto, cucumber & chicken slices (She made the bread using my focaccia recipe!)
Fruit shoots, because we’re children at heart
It was simple and perfect. Here's how to make a few of the stars from our picnic:
My Chocolate Chip Cookies
Soft, chewy, and my most-made cookie recipe for a reason.
Ingredients
150g butter (melted)
175g soft light brown sugar
50g sugar
1 medium egg
Vanilla
225g plain flour
2 tbsp cornflour (Cornstarch in the US)
1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda
1/2 tsp salt
100g dark chocolate chunks
Method
Mix the butter and both sugars until dissolved. Add egg and vanilla and mix again.
Sift in the dry ingredients, use a spatula to bring it together, then fold in the chocolate chunks.
Scoop the dough into a baking tray, scoop the cookie dough into a tray. Place them in the freezer for 15 mins.
Place the frozen cookie scoops on the tray, making sure to leave plenty of space between each cookie to avoid them from sticking together. Bake for 10-13 minutes. The cookie should still be soft in the middle, sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy!
Viral Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Dessert Cups
A last-minute idea that turned out so good..tasted just like the ones being sold everywhere but way cheaper to make at home.
You’ll need:
Fresh strawberries, sliced
Milk chocolate, melted
Store-bought pistachio cream
Toasted knafeh pastry
Small clear cups for layering
How I made them:
I toasted the knafeh pastry until golden and crispy, then mixed it into the pistachio cream to make the filling (I eyeballed the amounts, it’s one of those things that doesn’t need measuring).
Melted the milk chocolate and prepped the strawberries.
To assemble:
Spoon a little melted chocolate into the bottom of each cup
Add sliced strawberries
Dollop in some pistachio-knafeh filling
Repeat the layers with more chocolate, strawberries and filling
No-Knead Focaccia & Baguettes
I used my base no-knead dough for this picnic, the same one I used for my ciabatta recipe that’s been shared and reshared so many times. I split the dough in half: one part became two mini baguettes, and the other got pressed into a tray and topped with tomatoes and olives for a quick focaccia-style bake. So easy, so picnic-perfect, and genuinely one of the most useful doughs I’ve ever made.
Here is something that I've not mentioned before and an exclusive sneak peek for you all reading this…This exact dough lives in the Foundations chapter of my book, a chapter dedicated entirely to base recipes. The kind of recipes you can lean on and build off: from the everyday cake batter I use for a lot of my cakes, to this no-knead dough that becomes baguettes, focaccia, ciabatta, and anything in between. Even my go-to dough for making flaky bakery-style pastries lives there. It’s all about giving you solid starting points, so the rest feels less intimidating. It’s the chapter I wish I had when I first started baking..recipes that don’t just work once, but become part of your rotation.
Here's the base dough recipe if you want to try it:
My No-Knead Dough
Ingredients:
325ml lukewarm water
1 tsp instant yeast (3g)
50ml olive oil
425g strong white bread flour
1 tsp salt
Method:
Mix: In a container or bowl, stir together the water and yeast. Add olive oil, flour, and salt. Mix with a spatula until you get a sticky dough.
Rest: To save time, I actually made the dough the night before. I skipped the stretch and folds completely and just mixed everything together, covered it, and left it in the fridge to rise overnight. In the morning, I brought it back to room temperature and shaped it straight away.
Use: Shape into whatever you’re making—mini baguettes, focaccia, or tray rolls. Bake at 200°C fan until golden (about 20–25 mins for baguettes, a bit longer for focaccia).
Zahra’s Sandwiches
Zahra made these using my focaccia recipe (the same dough from earlier), it made me feel so proud seeing her bake it and turn it into something this good.
She layered in red pesto, cucumber slices, cheese and chicken slices—super simple but so fresh and flavourful. Definitely recreating these soon.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to text a friend, pack up whatever’s in your fridge, and go eat it in the sun... this is it. I forgot how grounding a picnic can be..no pressure, no rush, just fresh air, good food, and being present for a little while. A few hours away from your screen and something sweet in your hand. It really does reset everything.
I hope you try one of the recipes, and I hope you find a moment soon for something simple, quiet, and just for you.
More book updates, new bakes, and cosy catch-ups coming very soon!
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