Food: Planning the Perfect Picnic

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Planning the Perfect Picnic
Tuesday, August 22, 2006

As the last gasps of summer quickly fade away, why not plan on a picnic with your significant other or one last picnic with the kids at the beach? This idea will take a little bit of thinking ahead, but the results will be worth it. Why not plan ahead and surprise your significant other?

It is nice to have a picnic basket and this time of year especially, you can go to a kitchen store and possibly get one on sale. If you can’t get your hands on a picnic basket, you can use a box or a cooler. In fact a cooler is a better idea because if anything spills, it will mess up the wicker of the basket and possibly leak all over your car, plus it keeps your food cold as well. You might want to consider taking a blanket or a plastic table cloth (keep in mind that the blanket might get a bit dirty, so it’s best not to take your best one). Some energetic people will take a canopy or even an umbrella for shelter which is a great idea if it is sunny or even raining just a bit, but not necessary. Candles are a nice touch. They add a nice romantic touch and a whiff of scent to the meal. You can also consider taking citronella candles that will keep away the bugs. But as with any type of fire, you will want to be careful not to ignite your blanket, so a glass enclosed candle holder (a hurricane type) will no doubt be the best type to take along.

Next you will want to plan a menu. This can be done by looking on the Internet, going to the library or merely going to your closest grocery store or deli. If you don’t have a lot of time to plan, you can visit your closest deli. Most of these will not only have meats and cheeses that you can use for a sandwich, but they should have prepared salads and other foods as well. And if you are lucky, the same deli will have some fabulous breads and desserts as well. How about a French stick or what about something slightly more exotic than that? Cheese is also something that can be as simple or exotic as you like. If you like goat cheese or Swiss instead, the choice is yours. How about some cheese and crackers? You might want to take finger food such as raw veggies and a dip. A cold quiche is a good choice as well or cold chicken. Really, the choice is endless as far as food goes, it just a matter of taste and how much work you want to go to.

If you drink alcohol, a fine bottle of wine is a must. If you don’t, you can pick up some sparkling juice, cider, or how about some old fashioned lemonade? If you do take a bottle, don’t forget to pack a corkscrew and glasses!

Don’t forget dessert! To some (like me) that’s the most important part of the whole dinner! If you are planning to be in the hot sun, you might not want to take along chocolate or anything that will melt. Fresh fruit is always a good idea to bring along and squares such as brownies are always a favourite.

If you do plan your picnic and the meal will be sitting out in the sun for awhile, whether it be on your actual picnic or in the car, make sure you have lots of ice or that you take foods that will not become rancid. You want happy memories from your picnic, not bad such as the many hours that you spent in the emergency ward due to food poisoning.

There are things you won’t want to forget that will add to your outting. Things such as salt and pepper; a trash bag for clean up; baggies for left overs; a cutting board if needed; some wet washcloths or moist towelettes for quick clean ups or at the very least, napkins; ice; some music and some batteries for your equipment will need to be packed. If you are planning a late evening picnic, you might want to consider bringing some lanterns or at the very least a flashlight and some bug spray.

When you pack your picnic basket, you will want to pack the items that will be eaten last in the bottom, so you won’t have to dig all through your basket while looking for your food. Pack crushable items, such as tomatoes or hard boiled eggs in a plastic container. Cut things ahead if at all possible, then you won’t be fussing with cutting up serving portions instead of eating and having fun. To prevent food spoilage, you might want to consider packing your picnic just before you head out the door.

The most important thing about a picnic is enjoying the outdoors and the company of the people you are with and with a little planning and with not sweating the small things that may happen during your picnic, it should turn out to be a success!

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