Summer
is here and there is no better way to celebrate the gorgeous
weather than an old fashioned picnic! Did you ever wonder
where we got the word picnic? It comes from the French pique-nique,
meaning "a fashionable social entertainment" in which each
guest brings a contribution to the feast. In other words,
pique-nique was a fancy way of saying "potluck".
Picnics
can be as simple as hamburgers on the grill or as elaborate
as a multi-family, multi-generation get together at a local
park. Regardless of the size of your picnic, there are a few
things you need to do to make sure your picnic is PERFECT
in every way:
Don't
Forget the Essentials
Pack
your picnic essentials the day before your outing, or if you
picnic a lot, have a basket packed with these essentials always
at the ready:
| Plates |
Sunscreen |
| Flatware |
First
aid kit |
| Glasses |
Bug
spray |
| Blanket |
Corkscrew
or bottle opener |
| Napkins |
Cutting
board & knife |
| Trash
bag |
Plastic
zip top bags |
Include
a beach umbrella if there won't be shade at your picnic site.
"Easy"
should be the keyword for food
When
planning a picnic, think simple and easy to take. Instead
of a mixed fruit salad that is sure to be delicious, but very
messy, try fruit kabobs. Make burger patties ahead of time
so they are ready to throw on the grill. Serve cookies or
brownies for dessert instead of a cake or other treat that
may need to be cut.
A
Safe Picnic is a Happy Picnic!
When
young children are included in your picnic, choose your location
carefully to assure their safety. Make sure there are no hazards
nearby like busy roads, deep water or cliffs.
You
don't want your picnic guests getting sick, so follow these
steps to make sure your food stays safe:
Make
sure your cooler will keep foods at 40°F, or plan foods that
are less perishable such as luncheon meats, cheese, peanut
butter, etc..
Keep
drinks in a separate cooler, since it will be opened more
often.
Try
to take only what will be eaten so you won't have to worry
about leftovers.
