Russell's book, A Return to Family Picnics, is as lovely as it is delicious! A beautiful hardcover with dust jacket, this full color 'feast for the eyes' is over 200 pages filled with wonderful recipes, gorgeous photos, and inspirational quotes!

Russell's culinary career has spanned over 35 years, serving presidents and international dignitaries at Blair House. He is also a pastry chef, baker, author, and family man. A Return to Family Picnics is a collection of over 120 recipes, with menus for 2 or the whole neighborhood... picnic-style of course!

The following are just a sampling of some of Russell's recipes: Sunday's Best Oven Fried Chicken, Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing, Double Fudge Rocky Road Brownies, Macaroni Salad, Summer Spiced Peaches, Strawberry Lemonade, Southwest Peppercorn Grilled Steak, All American Hamburgers & Homemade Hamburger Buns, County Fair Corn, and this one, Mmmmmmmmm..Brine Cured Smoked Turkey Breast! There are tons of yummy recipes that will create lasting memories of great food at a wonderful family picnic!

"From the moment the first blossoms of spring unfold, we start to dust off our winter blues. Through the long, lazy respite that is summer and well into the gold and deep-red hues of autumn, we are drawn outside to experience anew the splendor of God's magnificent creation. We are called to return to those uninterrupted memories far away from the hustle and bustle of the world pressing all around and to celebrate life! The glorious pleasure of one of America's favorite pastimes beckons a group of brightly covered tables, baskets of fresh flowers, frosty pitchers of lemonade, children laughing and spinning and swinging high in the warm gentle breeze...It's time for the best picnic ever!"

This book inspires me to round up the picnic baskets and try some of the simple, delicious recipes Russell has provided in this gorgeous book, and make some wonderful memories!