Planning a Picnic |
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Selecting The Right Place
What better way to celebrate than having a picnic? Selecting to
correct setting for the picnic is going to be very important. Whether in the wilderness,
a local park or your own backyard, if you've deliberately chosen to dine al fresco
without table service, you're well on your way to enjoying the pleasure of the picnic.
These natural settings provide fabulous backdrops; now, it's up to you to create the tone
of your meal, from rustic to romantic. After you have made this selection, only then are
you ready to spread the checkered
blanket and pull out the corn on the cob.
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Things You'll Need
Can Openers
Basic first-aid kit
Trash Bags
Insect Repellents
Ice or frozen blue ‘cold packs’ to keep your food & beverages at just the right temperature
Paper towels and/or moist towelettes
Condiments: salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard, sugar, etc.
A camera, so you can capture the memories! |
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Keep it simple:
The secret of a successful picnic is simplicity, plus careful planning and
packing. It doesn't pay to be too ambitious - the biggest mistake most people make is assuming
that dishes which work at home will be just as good al fresco. When you're planning a picnic, don't
forget to take advantage of the huge range of ready-made products available. Supermarkets have lots
of prepared foods to enjoy in a unexpected burst of sunshine to help you create a quick picnic.
Pasta salads and other dishes dressed in vinegar-based marinades can be prepared the day before,
hold up well in the heat, and continue taking on a wonderful flavor over time.
Recipezaar, and
food network has a wonderful selection of picnic recipes to browse
through if you need some additional ideas.
Going beyond simple
Recipes and Dressing
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Here's some packing and serving tips:
- Pack the foods to be eaten last at the bottom of the bag or
chest and the first on top, so that you don't have to unpack everything at once.
- Use vacuum-packed containers to avoid leaks and soggy bags;
seal the containers in Ziploc plastic bags.
- Pack soft foods like deviled eggs, tomatoes or fruit in hard
plastic containers or egg cartons.
- If you are serving a hot soup, preheat the thermos with
boiling water. For a cold soup, chill the thermos with ice water for several minutes.
- Divide or cut the portions in your kitchen. It's much easier to
serve pieces or slices of grilled chicken or duck than to carve them on the ground.
- Pack garnishes in Ziploc plastic bags. Parsley, basil, mint and
herb flowers should be sprinkled with water before packing. Keep them in the cooler.
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