The Perfect Picnic
Source of Recipe
Grandpoohbah
Don't set the table, pack the picnic basket! Picnicking is one of the most worthwhile
culinary pastimes we can think of -- it lets us spend more time enjoying that precious
warm weather that we waited for all autumn, winter and spring, and it breaks us out
of our usual mealtime routines. Even eating something as ho-hum as a sandwich and
a bag of chips takes on a new thrill when we're lounging on a blanket in a beautiful
outdoor setting. Whether you're looking for a no-fuss impromptu meal to take to the
park or a lavish alfresco feast, let us help you fill your summer with the most idyllic
and delicious picnics you've ever prepared.
Filling the Picnic Basket
Of course, you can take just about anything you want on a picnic, but sandwiches
and salads make especially good picnic fodder for any occasion because they offer
so much variety, and they taste good cold. However, a picnic should be more than
just a brown bag lunch eaten outside. To make picnic sandwiches a little less like a
dreary school lunch and more like the eating adventure it should be, bring all the
ingredients and let everyone assemble their own. If the meal takes longer to eat, it
just means you get to spend more time in the beautiful outdoors. After all, you're not
in a hurry -- you're on a picnic! Treat yourself to bakery-fresh bread, quality meats,
your very favorite cheeses. Add a salad of garden-ripe vegetables or fruits, and your
meal will be far from ordinary!
Picnic Precautions
Of course, warm-weather dining comes with its own set of concerns, the most
important of which is food safety. Foods we enjoy on a regular basis without a
trouble in the world can suddenly become homes for dangerous bacteria to breed
when left unrefrigerated for long periods of time in warm weather. There are some
foods that should not be left at room temperature for any period of time, including
raw meats, and anything containing raw eggs. It's really better to take ready-to-eat
foods on your picnics and save the cookouts for your backyard; handling raw meats
and then touching other foods can be dangerous when you don't have a proper place
to wash your hands. If your picnic destination is more than a few minutes away, put
all perishable foods in a cooler with ice or a frozen gel pack. If you're going to have
to be in the car for awhile before arriving at your picnic destination and you don't
want to hassle with a cooler, consider going vegetarian for the day, or buy your
perishable items once you near your destination.
Give Mayonnaise a Break!
We feel it's our duty to say a word or two in the defense of that much-maligned
condiment, mayonnaise. It has gained an undeserved reputation as the most
dangerous food to take on a picnic. It's true that homemade mayonnaise, which
contains raw eggs, should never roam far from a refrigerator. Store-bought
mayonnaise, however, contains pasteurized eggs and enough salt and lemon juice or
vinegar that it actually inhibits bacterial growth. Low-acid foods in picnic dishes such
as potatoes, chicken, and ham are much more susceptible to bacterial growth than
the mayonnaise itself. So, while you should still be careful about keeping everything
cool, don't let that stop you from using all the creamy, dreamy mayo you like in your
picnic sandwiches, salads and dips!
Become a Pro Picnicker
From the fanciest to the most casual of picnics, every single outdoor dining
experience can be picture-perfect. Why sit on the dirt fighting with the bugs over
who gets to eat your soggy sandwiches from your paper plates when, with just a little
extra planning, you could be stretched out on a soft blanket, languidly tucking slices
of your favorite cheeses and meats into a crusty roll and spooning fresh salad onto
your colorful and sturdy matching plastic plates?
If you have a picnic basket, a blanket or tablecloth, a set of durable plates, and a
pocketknife complete with corkscrew, scissors and can opener, any picnic will be a
luxuriously delicious and relaxing experience. The basket is a handy way of keeping
all your food and utensils together, as well as lending a sense of occasion to any
picnic. If you don't have a traditional picnic basket, any large basket or canvas tote
bag will work. You could even get a sturdy box with handles and let the kids
decorate their own made-to-order picnic basket. The blanket or tablecloth will make
your picnic pretty, as well as keeping you and your food comfortably away from the
dirt. If your linen closet doesn't already have what you need, look for fun,
inexpensive sheets at any department store, or even try combing your local thrift
stores for an interesting blanket. Party stores and drug stores usually have a good
selection of inexpensive, colorful and sturdy plastic plates. The plates can double as
cutting boards and serving platters. Many of these plate sets also have matching
utensil and cups. A deluxe pocketknife is a wonderful investment, too. When armed
with one of these, you can handle any food or drink that needs slicing, peeling,
trimming or prying open, and foods like bread, fruits, cheese and vegetables will be
fresher when you slice them on-site. Once you've chosen your picnic gear, keep it all
in your basket so you'll be ready to grab it and head out the door whenever the
picnicking whim strikes you!
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