New Zealand Woman’s Weekly’s top 10 picnic recipes

I don’t think we ever went on a family picnic without a bacon and egg pie wrapped in a tea towel to keep it vaguely warm until it was devoured. Mum, like her mother, is adamant that this pie should contain only the essentials – none of this tomato, peas, onion or cheese nonsense. It’s still a family favourite and slabs of this get demolished in seconds whenever Mum makes it.

Making homemade sausage rolls for a party shows you care. Roll out these chicken, mushroom and thyme beauties for the perfect party snack. Photography by Todd Eyre.

A homemade frittata can be a thing of beauty. It is also a great way to use up any left over vegetables from the night before. This Nici Wickes recipe is great cut into wedges and served for lunch

I make all sorts of banana loaves and cakes but this one is especially terrific. Somehow it is both robust and super-soft and fluffy. It also slices easily and stays fresh for days – not that it’ll last that long!

This is my version of a po’ boy, the Louisiana sandwich that is stuffed with fried shrimp or oysters and plenty of spicy mayo. My baguettes crammed with garlic prawns and creamy curry mayo will be a sure hit!

These scones really pack a punch with rocket and a double dose of cheese – feta in the scones and cheddar on the top. Slathered in butter, a warm scone is true comfort food, right?

There are some things in the food world that just go together – basil and tomato, pork and apple, beer and potato chips – and, if you ask me, chocolate and hazelnuts. This slice is deliciously crunchy, gooey and caramelly – and I doubt it will last very long in the biscuit tin!

Nici Wickes’ leek, blue cheese and walnut flatbread recipe makes the perfect snack and has everything by way of flavour and texture. Whenever you make this recipe, it’s bound to be a crowd pleaser

These little lemon and poppyseed cakes, with centres of cream cheese and lemon curd, are delightfully decadent and they stay fresh for days