Sandwich

Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 45 min

Like feta cheese, ricotta salata is made from sheep's milk, but it is milder and nuttier. Avoid prepackaged cheese if possible (most cheese stores will cut it from a wheel for you). It keeps for up to three weeks in the refrigerator. Active time: 40 min Start to finish: 40 min

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Ham and Thousand Island Dressing

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min For those who don't like their oysters raw, there's the classic po'-boy sandwich. New Orleans's first po'-boy makers settled on a roll that is light and mild, so that it doesn't overpower the tender oysters inside, yet is substantial enough to keep its shape when the sweet juices are released from their cornmeal crust. We discovered that a soft-crusted French, Italian, Portuguese, or Cuban loaf works well. Hot pepper sauce is the traditional condiment, but we've improvised a little, using chipotle mayonnaise to add a layer of smokiness instead of pure heat.

Creamy lobster salad heaped onto a buttered, toasted hot dog bun is the quintessential summer sandwich in northeastern shore towns. This is an equally delicious — and more economical — variation. Serve with: Potato chips, sweet pickles, and carrot and celery sticks. Dessert: Blueberry pie and vanilla ice cream.

Owner Dick Varano knows a thing or two about traditional New England lobster rolls: He sells about 20,000 of them a year. His customers love this dish so much that it's the only recipe he hasn't changed since he bought the restaurant 13 years ago.

Pack these sandwiches next to an ice pack to keep them cool and fresh as you travel to the picnic.

Slightly sweet, fresh ricotta, which can be found in many Italian markets, makes this starter especially delicious. Regular ricotta also works well.

Serve with: Potato and green bean salad.

Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 20 min

Chef Laurent Manrique is a big fan of Laura Chenel goat cheese in Sonoma, which is available at many cheese shops across the country.

For convenience, you can use a purchased roast chicken or substitute smoked turkey.

Pick up grilled zucchini and fresh figs from a specialty market to round out the meal.