“A jug of wine, a loaf of bread and thou” may have been enough for Omar Khayyam, but today’s picnics pack more of a punch. Picnic food has become some of our most delicious, versatile, and convenient recipes. And dining on a blanket outdoors has never been more fun.
A picnic can be as elegant as a formal dinner, with a white tablecloth on a portable table, folding chairs, fine china, wine and candles. Picnic baskets come equipped with dishes, coolers, grills, and every accessory you need for the perfect picnic.
The beauty of a picnic is that it can be held anywhere. Spread a blanket out on your living room floor, light some candles and have a formal picnic indoors. Or take your picnic to the beach, a park, the back yard or a highway rest stop scenic view. Gather friends together early in the morning for a breakfast picnic or take candles and flashlights and have a midnight bonfire picnic.
The Picnic-Site has suggested menus, games and how-to's for all types of picnics, from winter picnics to wedding picnics, Easter picnics to eco-friendly picnics.
The Picnic Basket
A nice picnic basket sets the stage for a perfect picnic. I received a large, sturdy, top-flap picnic basket for a wedding gift and have been using it for almost 25 years.
For more than $1,000 you can get an Optima picnic basket full of Wedgewood china and other gourmet picnic accoutrement to serve six people. Somewhere between that and tossing some hoagies into a plastic shopping bag are many styles and types of attractive, serviceable and affordable picnic baskets.
PicnicWorld.net sells both empty and stocked picnic baskets, as well as coolers and other picnic accessories. PicnicFun.com has picnic baskets in unique designs, including cloth baskets that fold up. Home goods stores such as Linens n Things and Target have lines of picnic baskets. And check out Bed Bath and Beyond’s Vulcan All-in-One Tailgate Cooler, which is packed with everything you need for outdoor cooking, including a small grill.
Shopping for a picnic basket online? Also check out PicnicbasketOutlet.com and BestInHome.com to get a broad range of what’s available.
What Else Do You Need for a Picnic?
Blanket - If you’re having a picnic on the ground, a tablecloth isn’t going to be big enough. Use a queen- or king-sized top bed sheet, an old bedspread, blanket, or something large enough to comfortably fit people sitting down and all of your food. If you’re a frequent picnicker consider buying a waterproof picnic mat that you can use on damp ground, the beach or anywhere.
Folding chairs – The low-to-the-ground beach chair is perfect for picnics. It will keep you close to the ground and can fold up easily for portability.
Plates, cups and eating utensils – Paper or plastic are practical, but if you don’t mind taking home dirty dishes, there are a variety of plastic picnic dishes.
Garbage bags – Be a responsible picnicker and take home all of your trash. Even if your picnic is at a park that provides trash cans, taking home your own trash is the environmentally responsible thing to do. Remember the Boy Scout rule: Leave it better than you found it.
Paper towels and wet-naps – Be ready for spills, messes and quick clean-ups.
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Bottle opener – Or corkscrew or can opener, depending on what you’re bringing to your picnic.
Perfect Picnic Recipes
Picnic food can be almost anything. From the traditional sandwiches and potato salad to gourmet meals prepared at home and transported to a picnic site, the sky’s the limit.
Picnic food should be able to be served at room temperature or chilled in a cooler. Avoid foods that taste best when served hot, foods that have to be assembled just before serving, and that are delicate and may fall apart during transportation.
My favorite picnic is cold fried chicken, salads, fruit and brownies. For more picnic menu ideas, see the picnic recipes at allrecipes.com.
Crispy Fried Chicken
- 2½ - 3 pounds chicken, cut up
- Oil
Seasoned flour:
- 1½ cups flour
- 1 tablespoon garlic salt
- 1½ teaspoons black pepper
- 1½ teaspoons paprika
- ¼ teaspoon poultry seasoning
Crispy batter:
- 2/3 cup flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1 beaten egg yolk
- ¾ cup flat beer or water
Make seasoned flour by combining all ingredients in a medium bowl. Set aside. Make crispy batter by combining egg yolk and beer or water. Add egg mixture gradually to flour, salt and pepper. Heat oil to 365 degrees in a deep saucepan or deep fryer to a depth of about 2 inches. Moisten chicken pieces. Dip in seasoned flour, then batter, then back in seasoned flour. Fry in hot oil for 15-18 minutes or until well browned. Drain on paper towels. Serves 4.
Pizza Salad
- 1 head lettuce, torn into small pieces
- Pepperoni, sliced very thin
- Mozzarella cheese, cut into ½-inch cubes
- Cherry tomatoes
- Black olives
- Diced green pepper
- Italian salad dressing
- Large-cut croutons (optional)
Combine all ingredients and toss. Store in airtight container in refrigerator or cooler.
Light Cole Slaw
- Finely shredded cabbage, 16 ounces if purchased in bag
- 3 carrots, grated
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
- Pepper to taste
- Chopped cilantro
Whisk together vinegar, sugar, oil, salt, celery seed and pepper. Toss with cabbage and carrots. Add cilantro. Chill and re-toss just before serving.
Easiest Homemade Brownies on Earth
- 1½ cup flour
- 2 cups sugar
- ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons cocoa
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup oil
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- ½ cup chopped nuts
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and stir well. Pour into a greased 9-by-13-inch glass pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool and cut into squares.
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