Make a last-minute 4th of July picnic with flair

Lucinda Scala gets creative with an outdoor meal of shrimp rolls, coconut cake and more

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>> back now at 8:52. this morning on "today's" kitchen, what's on the menu, creative last-minute gift ideas for fourth of july celebration. executive director of food for martha stewart and host of "mad hungry" on the hallmark channel . good morning.

>> good morning. happy 4th to you.

>> happy 4th as well. a lot of people looking in their refrigerator saying, what am i going to do. got a plan.

>> within an hour at any grocery store. along with shrimp prls.

>> i love the idea of shrimp rolls.

>> did you know shrimp is america's favorite seafood. you won't believe this when i tell you we eat twice as much shrimp as tuna. factoid.

>> perfect.

>> a little mayonnaise. lemon juice . important to give mayonnaise zest, zest of two lemons and tarragon. do you want to put in scallion. a little punch without being too oniony. that's as easy as it gets.

>> no time.

>> a pound and a half of shrimp.

>> cooked or boiled?

>> cooked. here is the scoop. most fish are frozen, don't worry about getting it in the back, defrost and there's your salad.

>> cheaper, too.

>> like a lobster roll but just a little bit not so fancy.

>> make sure the mayonnaise, put in an area where it's cool.

>> especially now. we're doing it last minute so we'll be fine. here we have rolls we toasted a little bit. all we do, if you want to put a little bit -- let's get it on here. i know you want to dig in natalie.

>> that's delicious. you know me, i do.

>> over here. all you do is get a little bit of celery.

>> potato salads, finger lings, cut them in half. while they are warm add olive oil and vinegar. that way the potato soaks up tanni tangy flavor. in this water crest, celery, bacon.

>> no mayo.

>> no mayo.

>> just olive oil .

>> nice to mix-up flavors.

>> mayo in the shrimp salad there.

>> dump it in there. i love the watercress, kind of like the green salad part of the potato salad . mix that up.

>> you want it chunky.

>> you like it chunky. that's the way i like it. it's a new take on potato salad . a little bit of salt.

>> i'm making it here.

>> here is the spread. if you want to go beyond your beautiful shrimp rolls and potato salad . this is a cape coder with cucumber.

>> now we're talking.

>> without the alcohol for kids.

>> cade coder.

>> there you go.

>> thank you.

>> happy 4th. this is cranberry juice .

>> lemonade.

>> a little vodka if you want and cucumber juice we've infused with sugar. this is cake.

>> do you want some?

>> before the shrimp roll?

>> thanks so much. happy 4th.

>> happy fourth of july. just ahead, steals and deals. exclusive discounts. after your local news.

Show transcript

TODAY recipes

updated 7/3/2012 6:41:09 PM ET

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Last minute? No problem! Lucinda Scala, the executive food director at Martha Stewart, shows you how to make a picnic that's easy and fun. And we're not talking hot dogs and hamburgers here—Scala serves up shrimp rolls, potato salad with celery, cress and bacon, and a coconut cake with berries and cream.

Recipe: Shrimp rolls (on this page) Recipe: Potato salad with celery, cress and bacon (on this page) Recipe: Coconut cake with berries and cream (on this page) Recipe: Cucumber cape codder (on this page)

Recipe: Shrimp rolls

Courtesy of Lucinda Scala

Ingredients

Coarse salt
3 pounds unpeeled medium shrimp
1/3 cup finely chopped scallions (white and pale-green parts only), plus 2 tablespoons scallion greens thinly sliced on bias (from 7 scallions)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 2 lemons)
2/3 cup mayonnaise
3 stalks celery, thinly sliced on bias (2 cups), inner leaves reserved, divided
5 tablespoons butter, softened, divided
10 split-top hot dog buns

Preparation

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-high, and add shrimp. Poach until opaque throughout, 3 to 4 minutes (the water should never return to a boil). Drain shrimp, and spread on baking sheet; let cool. When no longer steaming, refrigerate to cool completely, about 40 minutes. Peel and devein shrimp. Shrimp can be refrigerated up to 1 day.

2. Mix together chopped scallions, tarragon, lemon zest and juice, and mayonnaise. Stir in shrimp, sliced celery and 1 teaspoon salt. Refrigerate until cold, at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.

3. Preheat a griddle or grill to medium-high heat. Brush butter on inside surface of each bun. Place buns on griddle or grill, buttered sides down, and toast until golden brown or lightly charred.

4. Divide shrimp mixture among buns. Top with celery leaves and scallion greens.

Serving Size

10 servings

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Recipe: Potato salad with celery, cress and bacon

Courtesy of Lucinda Scala

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds small fingerling potatoes
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
4 strips thick-cut bacon (about 6 ounces)
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
1 cup thinly sliced celery (2 stalks)
1 cup celery leaves
2 cups watercress, large stems trimmed

Preparation

1. Place potatoes in a medium pot; cover with 2 inches water. Season water generously with salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook potatoes until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain. When just cool enough to handle, cut in half lengthwise.

2. Meanwhile, cook bacon over medium heat until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Break into bite-size pieces.

3. Transfer potatoes to a large bowl; gently toss with oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper; fold in celery and leaves, watercress, and bacon. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Serving Size

6 servings

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Recipe: Coconut cake with berries and cream

Courtesy of Lucinda Scala

Ingredients

1 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for pans
6 large eggs, separated
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup flaked unsweetened coconut, toasted and finely ground
1 cup all-purpose flour, divided
2 cups heavy cream, divided
1 can (13.75 ounces) unsweetened coconut milk
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
3 cups mixed fresh berries (about 12 ounces), for serving

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter a 9-by-13-inch glass baking pan. Whisk together egg whites, baking soda and salt in a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment on medium speed, until soft peaks form, 4 to 5 minutes.

2. Add egg yolks to egg-white mixture, and whisk until completely combined. Gradually add sugar, and whisk until combined. Fold in butter and coconut with a rubber spatula.

3. Sift 1/4 cup flour onto mixture; fold to combine. Repeat with remaining flour, folding in 1/4 cup at a time. Pour batter into pan; bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, whisk together 1 cup heavy cream, the coconut milk and condensed milk. As soon as cake is removed from oven, pour cream mixture over cake. Let cake cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cover cake with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least 5 hours and up to 8 hours.

5. Just before serving, whisk remaining cup heavy cream until soft peaks form, and spread over cake. Serve with mixed berries.

Serving Size

12 to 14 servings

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Recipe: Cucumber cape codder

Courtesy of Lucinda Scala

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 cups grated English cucumber (about 1 cucumber), plus cucumber wedges, for garnish
9 ounces vodka, chilled
12 ounces cranberry juice (no sugar added)
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (from about 4 limes)
Ice, for serving

Preparation

1. Bring sugar and water to a boil in a small pot. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, stir in grated cucumber and let cool. Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl or large glass measuring cup, and discard solids (you should have 2 cups syrup). Cucumber syrup can be refrigerated up to 3 days.

2. Combine cucumber syrup, vodka, and cranberry and lime juices in a 2-quart pitcher. Cocktail can be refrigerated up to 8 hours. Serve over ice and garnish with cucumber wedges.

Serving Size

6 servings

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Make a last-minute 4th of July picnic with flair

Lucinda Scala gets creative with an outdoor meal of shrimp rolls, coconut cake and more

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Jump to text Last minute? No problem! Lucinda Scala, the executive food director at Martha Ste...

Jump to recipes Shrimp rolls

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Video: Throw a last-minute picnic with shrimp rolls, potato salad

Closed captioning of: Throw a last-minute picnic with shrimp rolls, potato salad

Recipe: Shrimp rolls

Ingredients

Preparation

Serving Size

Recipe: Potato salad with celery, cress and bacon

Ingredients

Preparation

Serving Size

Recipe: Coconut cake with berries and cream

Ingredients

Preparation

Serving Size

Recipe: Cucumber cape codder

Ingredients

Preparation

Serving Size

Discuss: What did you think of this recipe?

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