Summertime is a time for eating and playing outdoors. That means it’s picnic weather! In order for a picnic to be enjoyable for everyone, the ambience must be casual and the food must be tasty and convenient. Set up, preparation, and clean up should be quick and easy. Because picnics aren’t just for eating—recreation is on the menu too. Frisbees, swimsuits, horseshoes, and kites are just as important as sandwiches, salads, and sodas!
Picnic Menu Planning
Cold Entree: Sandwich Central
If you don’t plan to cook at your picnic, pack a variety of sandwich meats, crisp lettuce leaves, tomato and onion slices, and sandwich pickles, and have a build-your-own sandwich picnic. Include all your favorites, such as smoked turkey, smoked ham, roast beef, corned beef, and pastrami. Pre-slice all your sandwich ingredients for convenience. And put your condiments in diner-style squeeze bottles so you don’t need to worry about utensils. And don’t forget the rolls or loaves of hearty bread.
Hot Entree: Anything that Fits on a Bun
If you plan to grill at your picnic, you can’t go wrong with classic burgers, hot dogs, and/or sausages. If you serve sausages, bring a variety to keep everyone’s tastes in mind from spicy to mild. For burgers, form your patties ahead of time, separate them in layers with sheets of wax paper, and be sure to keep them cool until they hit the grill. Don’t forget the buns and plenty of condiments. If you’re serving burgers, toppings such as gourmet cheese and bacon will take your picnic up a notch.
Sides: Summer Salads
Go beyond your basic macaroni salad, potato salad, and cole slaw! You can get really creative with your sides because salads can be prepared ahead and stored in the fridge until the day of the picnic. Create a fresh caprese salad. Try a tropical fruit salad. Jazz up your everyday salads with unique ingredients such as bacon; everyone loves bacon—try crumbling it and adding it to potato or pasta salad, for example. Or instead of a traditional pasta salad, get exotic with a Thai peanut noodle salad.
Finger Foods
While the burgers are on the grill or as the afternoon game of corn-hole reaches a fever pitch, everyone’s bound to get peckish. Be sure to have finger-foods handy as appetizers or for late-afternoon munching. Tortilla chips and salsa are always a popular option. Make your own fresh homemade salsa and guacamole. Make pinwheels using lavash, tortillas, or flatbread; spread with diced fresh veggies, herbs, and cream cheese; roll up, slice, and serve!
Bacon and Peanut Butter Cookies. Photo courtesy of National Pork Board. For more information about pork, visit Pork.org.
Summer Sweets: Dessert
What is more perfect at a picnic than hand-held desserts? Stick to the classics like chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and cupcakes. If you’re worried about melting, keep in the cooler until you’re ready to serve or stick to non-messy alternatives—sugar or peanut butter cookies, blondies (flavored with brown sugar instead of gooey chocolate), and cupcakes without icing—try flavors like pumpkin or fresh raspberry. Another tasty treat for summer picnics are dessert breads like banana, zucchini, cinnamon swirl, and cherry pineapple with a lime glaze. Try fruit kabobs with yogurt or chocolate dipping sauces. Poke your favorite fresh fruits on a kabob stick and dip!
Beverages
Quench your thirst with more than just plain water or iced tea. Dress your drink up with flavored ice cubes! Take an ice cube tray and fill it with your favorite flavors. For simple drinks add fresh blackberries, raspberries, mint leaves, peaches, cherries, and watermelon balls, then fill with water and freeze. Also try pomegranate, orange, and pineapple juices. Add a little food coloring for that little extra pop. Have a little more time? Make raspberry lemonade ice cubes with lemon juice and raspberries. Have a cool as a cucumber drink with cucumber and basil ice cubes—blend 1 part basil, 4 parts cucumber, and 4 parts water. Have no time at all? Just slice an orange, a lime, a lemon, or strawberries and drop in your water or iced tea. Want something other than water or iced tea? The same fruits listed here can go into a tasty and refreshing sangria!
Essential Equipment
Coolers
For a picnic that’s not too far from home, soft-sided insulated bags are ideal. Most have easy-to-carry handles or straps. And once they’re empty, they can be collapsed for easy storage. If you’re travelling a little further from home, be sure to get a cooler that’s rated for the amount of time that you need to keep your food cool. Here’s a tip: keep the frozen gel packs that come in your Lobel’s order, then refreeze and reuse them in your cooler!
Photo courtesy of Weber-Stephen
Portable Grill
If you’re cooking at your picnic, a portable grill is a must-have. Using your own grill (as opposed to a park fixture, for example) will allow you to better control the heat and the cooking conditions. Some great options are a Weber Smokey Joe for die-hard charcoal fans, or the Weber Q for maximum convenience and portability. And don’t forget the tongs and thermometer!
Picnic Blankets
Whether you’re eating on a picnic table or the grass, blankets can be useful. Find weatherproof-bottomed blankets. If you’re on the grass the top is soft and comfortable for sitting and, if the grass is damp, you have a nice dry surface. If you’re at a picnic table, lay the blanket across the top for an instant table cloth. If you have outdoor pillows or stadium cushions, those are perfect for lounging on or using at the table.
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