Pamper Yourself with An Any Day Picnic
By Jorj Morgan
Have you been working eighty-hour workweeks, coming in on Saturdays to finish up the paperwork, and checking your e-mail on Sunday afternoons? STOP! Take advantage of the long summer days and resist the urge to clean off your desk. Run home early and grab a couple extra hours with your favorite pals. Try something that you may have done as a child, but have not repeated in adulthood. How about a picnic? With all the new gadgets on the market, an outdoor moveable feast is easy to put together and a blast to share with friends.
First Things First
You need something to carry all of the scrumptious food, chilled wines, plates and utensils. A quick search on the Internet leads us to The Art of Picnic, which offers high tech insulated backpacks, shoulder totes and gorgeous fabric lined baskets for the adventurous picnicker. You can choose features such as canvas straps, ceramic plates, mugs, separated fruit drawers, wine compartments and much more. No matter what food you take along it will look appetizing in any one of these unique totes.
Speaking of Food
What's a picnic without yummy stuff to gorge on? Depending on your mood, you may choose to prepare everything in advance and dole out the fare once you reach your destination. Or, you may want to bring along all of the ingredients and cook your food as part of your picnic plan. For those grilling gurus, Williams Sonoma offers the latest in grilling equipment like shaker baskets and utensils as well as gobs of fun recipes and outdoor cooking tips.
If you are looking for the perfect for the urban grilling adventure in the great outdoors you might want to check out the huge array of grills at EkitchenDepot.com. My favorite is the Char Broil Gas Table Top Grill. Just pack it in the car and you're off.
You Can't Go Wrong Choosing Tried and True Dishes
Crispy fried chicken, homemade egg and potato salad and biscuits with honey are all examples of Aunt Edna's favorite picnic fare. Newer cuisine updates encourage dishes with lighter, more flavor filled foods. Grilled Lime Chicken Salad weaves lime marinated grilled chicken, yellow, red and green bell pepper strips, blanched asparagus spears and a hint of fresh rosemary into a make ahead salad that packs perfectly for any moveable feast. Other meal suggestions might include freshly baked foccacio bread topped with roasted tomatoes and fresh basil, snacks of roasted eggplant dip spread on pre-toasted bruschetta and a fresh summer salsa highlighted by chopped red onion, yellow cherry tomatoes and cilantro.
Too Busy to Cook?
No problem. There are wonderful foods available at your local market. Stop by the deli and pick up a freshly prepared specialty such as broccoli salad flavored with garlic and red pepper flakes. The Internet offers tons of sources for great to-go food. Wander over to Dean and Delucca for a custom menu of prepared gourmet picnic fare. For a terrific dessert, We Take The Cake ships their specialty cakes overnight to your home or work. My favorite: Florida Key Lime Cake. But, don't hesitate to choose from others with delectable names like Caribbean Rum Cake, Triple Chocolate Chip Fudge Cake and Heavenly Hummingbird Cake.
Comfort in the Great Outdoors is Everything
For the really fussy picnicker, try out a lightweight folding table that comes complete with built-in benches. Tightly-woven, mesh food covers now top all styles of serving trays, preventing a visit from any party crashing insects. Tableware that looks like crystal - but is really made of durable plastic, is a must. You may choose to serve beverages from stainless steel beverage tubs allowing guests to grab icy drinks throughout the afternoon. Find these products and many more picnic partners at Frontgate.com.
Hide the Frisbee
After you have gorged yourself on all that great food, it's time for a little fun and games. Grown up games hint at child's play and offer a blast from the past. Croquet, the classic lawn sport, is one of the most popular, non-competitive tournament games in the nation. And croquet sets have matured with the demand. Spalding offers a terrific set that is perfect for a leisurely, portable feast activity.
You've equipped yourself with the most up-to-date picnic ware and chosen delectable picnic fare. Now be sure to make you picnic a safe one by following a few simple suggestions.
- Pay attention to your food. Make sure that it is kept chilled and stored well.
- Use ice packs or plastic bags filled with ice to place around the food in your cooler.
- If you are transporting raw meat or poultry, wrap it well and keep it separated from fruits, veggies, and chilled beverage containers.
- Don't let coolers packed with food sit out in the sun or car. Keep the coolers in a shady spot under a tree or table.
- Don't let your food sit out for the entire afternoon. Serve the food when you are ready to eat, and then pack up leftovers to chill until you are ready to leave. If you have enjoyed that game of croquet without packing up extra food - don't take a chance - dispose of it.
Okay, it's time to push yourself away from your desk, choose your equipment, build your menu and have a terrific Any Day picnic.
Also see:
• Take a tip from Mother Nature - dine alfresco this summer
• Dinner party suggestions
• Recipes for a casual cocktail party
For more great picnic ideas and super summer menus, check out Jorj's new cookbook "At Home In The Kitchen," or visit her website at www.Jorj.com. Share your favorite picnic stories with other BlueSuitMoms by sending an email to Jorj at Jorj@bluesuitmom.com.
