Salinas (California) Go-To Summer Picnic by Ruth Paget

Salinas (California) Go-To Summer Picnic by Ruth Paget 

I like the store-bought picnics I can put together with little trouble in Salinas, California. 

The following meal makes like my little town very much: 

-cooked seasoned back ribs – less than $18 as of 6-16-2025 at Costco (locations in Salinas and Sand City by Seaside) 

-Diet Pepsi – we get 24-packs at Costco 

-cleaned, cubed, and fresh watermelon and strawberries from Whole Foods – Whole Foods is located in the Del Monte Center Shopping Mall in Monterey. You can get there via Highway 68 or take Blanco Road to Reservation Road (right) to Imjin Parkway (immediate left) to Highway 1 (Soledad and Munras exit) 

-blueberry streusel banana muffins – from Costco 

If you need a place to park and eat, Toro Park is located off Highway 68 as is Jack’s Peak Park across from the airport.

With a little organization, it is easy to picnic in Steinbeck Country in Salinas, California. 

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France

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The All-Purpose Baker's Companion Reviewed by Ruth Paget

The All-Purpose Baker’s Companion Reviewed by Ruth Paget 

The All-Purpose Baker’s Companion edited by King Arthur Baking Company is an excellent reference for things bread from around world, cookies, scones, crackers, pies, and cakes. 

However, the recipes that convinced me to buy the book are its flour meal recipes (mehlspeisen in German) that help with keeping a household budget low while providing protein and calcium in most cases. The book’s recipes are precise and assist novice and experienced cooks with making the basic recipe easy so they can add ingredients rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin A. 

The recipes that have helped me with menu planning over the years include: 

-pancakes 

-waffles 

-French toast 

-crêpes 

-cheese blintzes 

-banana bread 

-pumpkin bread 

-zucchini bread 

-lemon bread 

-berry cobblers 

-pizza dough 

-lemon bar cookies 

-croissants 

-brioche 

Nutritionists might be aghast, but I have eaten all these items along with blueberry muffins and banana walnut muffins when I was a student at the University of Chicago for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I like these dishes, and they are easy to prepare. 

Pancakes and waffles are versatile I learned from my Dutch friend’s mother in Detroit (Michigan). You can use syrup, sugar, or jam on them or savory items liked creamed chicken and vegetables. Croissants can also be treated this way. 

Knowing how to make Detroit or grandmother pizza is a lifesaver in a blizzard. The pizza dough for this type of pizza is placed in the middle of a rectangular pan and pushed outwards. Spaghetti sauce can double as tomato sauce. There’s big savings in grandma pizza. 

Another big money saver is making croissants at home. Use egg wash to give the exterior a crunchy bit. 

Readers interested in the following careers might find this book useful: 

-fundraisers 

-event planners 

-chefs 

-caterers

-cruise directors 

-restaurant managers  

General readers might find some tips for lowering household expenses in The All-Purpose Baker’s Companion edited by The King Arthur Bakery Company. 

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France

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