Mason Jar Salmon Nicoise Salad for a Picnic #SundaySupper

Here in Phoenix, AZ it’s too hot to picnic outdoors, but a quick drive north provides plenty of picnic-worthy spots. Our favorite places to spread a picnic blanket and watch the kids play include the many lakes in Northern Arizona. We pack plenty of healthy snacks, fruit, drinks and usually a big salad of some sort. I like to assemble the main dish ahead of time so it’s simple to sit down on the picnic blanket and serve to everyone.

Sunday Supper and Gallo Family Vineyards have teamed up once again to help you with your picnic inspiration and planning. From appetizers to dessert, the Sunday Supper Team has you covered with their favorite picnic foods. If you need even more inspiration, visit Gallo Family’s Picnic Blog Page which is dedicated to helping you pack and plan the best picnic ever.

A simple vinaigrette of good quality red wine vinegar, minced shallots which are much milder in taste than onion and a good squeeze of lemon along with fresh herbs make the salmon shine in this salad.

My favorite part of going on a picnic is sitting in the shade of a huge tree high up in the mountains overlooking the calm waters of the lake were my kids hunt for crawfish and other assorted creepy crawlies. I look forward to pouring myself and my husband a glass of wine to sip on while we enjoy the cool, crisp outdoor air.

Gallo Family Vineyards has a wonderful assortment of wines to satisfy everyone. I typically like a cold glass of their Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay in the summer, which would pair wonderfully with this Salmon Nicoise Salad. On this picnic, however, we chose to bring along Gallo’s Cabernet Sauvignon. The small bottles of wine were a perfect fit for our picnic basket and there is no need to keep Cabernet Sauvignon chilled — making it simple to bring along!

If you’re not familiar with Gallo Family Vineyards, they have a fun Facebook page that is very family oriented and fun. They share photos and wine pairings for every occasion from National Picnic Day to Father’s Day.

For up to the minute wine pairings, dinner party suggestions and interactive chats, follow Gallo Family on Twitter.

For purely visual inspiration, you have to check out their Instagram feed. They post gorgeous dinner party table spreads, grilling suggestions and picnic baskets filled with goodies.

Whether your a novice cook looking for some extra help in the kitchen or just need some fun ideas on party planning, picnic basket packing and more, Gallo Family is on YouTube sharing short videos and how-to’s involving food and wine.

I love every Gallo wine I’ve tried and as a frugal mom of four, I also love how affordable they are. To find out were to buy Gallo Family Vineyards wine click here.

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

More Picnic Favorites from the Sunday Supper Crew

Picnic Appetizers:

• 10 Deviled Egg Variations by Sunday Supper Movement
• Thai Spiced Chicken Meatballs with Peanut Sauce by Soni’s Food

Picnic Main Dishes:

• Baked or Grilled Tandoori Chicken Legs by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• BBQ Pulled Pork Picnic Sandwiches by Family Foodie
• Creamy Pesto Chicken Sandwiches by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
• French Ham and Butter Sandwich (Jambon Buerre) by Shockingly Delicious
• Grilled Honey Chicken Kabobs by Life Tastes Good
• Italian Hoagie Style Pressed Picnic Sandwiches by Feed Me, Seymour
• Kimbap (Korean ‘Sushi’) by Curious Cuisiniere
• Picnic Sandwich Torte by Palatable Pastime

Picnic Salads and Sides:

• BLT Panzanella Salad by Casa de Crews
• Cold Chinese Peanut Noodles by Recipes Food and Cooking
• Lemon Chicken Penne Salad by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Mason Jar Salmon Nicoise Salad by Simply Healthy Family

Picnic Sweets and Desserts:

• Banana Pudding Jars by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
• Blueberry Crumb Bars by Alida’s Kitchen
• Blueberry Peach Snack Cake by Peanut Butter and Peppers
• Key Lime Cheesecake Crumb Bars by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
• Lemon Meringue Pie in a Jar by Desserts Required
• Simple Strawberry Pie by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Southern Fried Apricot Hand Pies by Magnolia Days