7 quick & easy gluten-free Easter picnic ideas

Going to be outdoors on Easter day? You surprise me!

I think that'll be you, me and the rest of the UK, all desperately pleased we can now entertain in our gardens or go to the local park and actually enjoy time with people we love.

But it does mean a slightly different Easter for many of us, which is why I've put together this no-nonsense list of how to prepare a quick and easy gluten-free Easter picnic. You can do it all on Easter Saturday, freeing you up on Sunday to enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

1. For the meat/fish eaters the main is very simple: roast lamb or salmon, baked the night before and allowed to cool. I'm a massive fan of fresh herbs so stuffing your salmon with basil & lemon wedges will give a wonderful flavour, as will fresh rosemary and garlic in the lamb. (Hey, you're still socially distancing - you can go to town on the garlic!)
   

2. Vegan main: buy some Jus-Rol gluten-free pastry, cut into 4 and place onto a lined baking tray. Spread over some passata and your favourite veg (e.g. sweetcorn, mushrooms and - if you'd like to go posh - a par-boiled artichoke heart). Sprinkle on vegan grated cheese* and bake for 10-15 minutes at 190C (or until the pastry has browned nicely). * There are some fab gluten-free options in the chilled freefrom aisle but just double-check they don't also contain gluten.
   

3. New potato salad is delicious made with the following: Baked and cooled new potatoes, sea salt & cracked black pepper, mayonnaise (Hellmann's is gluten-free) or Greek yogurt (egg-free) or a vegan yogurt if you need to avoid dairy. Add freshly chopped dill for a special flavour.
   

4. Vegetable sides: (a) chop up your favourite veg, drizzle with olive oil and sea salt & bake in the oven at 190C for 30-40 mins until softened. Allow to cool. (b) Make a coleslaw with chopped red cabbage, diced carrot and grated apple mixed with either 2 tablespoons of tahini or (if you need to avoid sesame) a couple of spoonfuls of yogurt.
   

5. Puddings! Ready-made ones from the shops can be found in the chilled freefrom aisle and often come in handy little portable containers. I recommend Gu mousse dark chocolate salted caramel pots (starting with chocolate as I mean to go on...).

6. Easter eggs - the MOST EXCITING part about an Easter feast! For a fab list on what you can have (from eggs to bunnies to gift boxes for kids) join my Facebook group Coeliac Haven and you'll get my free pdf listing the best of them all!

7. Party games: well, it wouldn't be Easter if the kids didn't have an egg hunt, would it? But you may wish to do something a little different so here's a twist on the game: take the children outside on Saturday evening and give them some grains of rice to "sow". Before they wake up the next day, take out some little Easter eggs and hide them in the grass. They'll be so excited to see what magically grew overnight!