My top 10 scenarios for an acceptable picnic:
1. Brunch in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Trustees' dining room, overlooking Central Park — you can see grass and trees from almost every table, but there are no bugs and the birds turn back when they brush the window (I wish them no harm).
2. Reclining on a pillowtop bed in a fine hotel eating a veggie sandwich, chips, and a brownie from room service.
3. One expensive candy bar, bought at intermission in a Broadway theater.
4. A good seat at a new movie theater, stadium seating, with a bag of popcorn, no cinemuck on the floor, and DeNiro, Streep, and Pacino on the screen.
5. Like #4, but in my home with Hugh Dillon or Simon Baker on the screen.
6. Sitting on a bench in the (indoor) court of the American wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with a snack from one of their many cafes.
7. through 9. Like #6, but at the National Gallery in DC., the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum in Boston, or the Art Institute in Chicago.
10. Lunch at Lord & Taylor, 5th Avenue, any weather.
I do have a great indoor recipe to share: toffee bars that are a picnic to make.
SALTINE TOFFEE BARS
1 stack of saltines, enough to line a cookie tray.
2 sticks of butter
1 cup sugar
12 oz. chocolate chips, or enough to cover your tray
Line the cookie tray with foil, then place saltines, touching, to cover the tray. Melt butter and sugar until blended, then pour over crackers. Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over the crackers. Spread the chocolate as it melts.
Optional: add chopped nuts to the top.
Let cool (if you can wait) and cut into pieces and have a picnic!
Happy Fourth, everyone!
