As we enter longer days, balmy breezes, pink sunsets, let us do so while enjoying a fabulous meal, relaxing either on pink beach, poolside, grassy park area or even on the deck of a boat. If you are near water (like us) you may load the boat up and go for a spin or ‘raft’ up with friends, then break out the food and tasty beverages...or plan a nice romantic picnic for two anywhere your heart desires. Just get out and pic a nic!
As you read on you will find that there are so many ways to have a safe picnic and you are only limited by your imagination, I hope you take advantage of what nature has to offer and have a picnic today...
As I said to friends just the other day...The weather is great, the fish were biting, we had a couple tasty beverages...life is good!
Hosting a picnic is a wonderful way to entertain that offers many advantages to the savvy host or hostess. With a little creative thinking, almost any meal or celebration can be turned into a picnic. After all, what was the first Thanksgiving?
Advantages of turning your party, event or even romantic dinner for two into a picnic?
1. You don't have to kill yourself cleaning the house. And we like that!
2. In addition there will be no "day after" mess after the party. We all know about the day after mess….say it with me….ewwwww
3. Nothing in your house will get will get broken or the carpet won't get stained.
4. The neighbors can't complain if things get too loud...or you could get to know your neighbors….invite them to the picnic!
5. You don't have to kick your die hard party friends out of your house!
6. If your house or apartment is too small to accommodate a large crowd… Pick a park, beach, or other location that's as large as your crowd you want to invite.
7. If your home is less than ideal to entertain, i.e.: you live with your mother, you have roommates, your landlord is a ________, you own 12 yappy dogs, etc.
8. Picnics can save you money! Generally it’s cheaper to have a picnic than eat out in a restaurant, and not to mention the landscape is much nicer, plus people are always asking “what can I bring?” Take then up on their offer...
9. You discover you actually enjoy nature...the fresh air, sound of birds and waves crashing (if you are near the ocean)
PICNIC TIPS
Freeze bottled water and drinks the night before. Packing in your cooler the next day will help with keeping other items cool.
Pack a colorful and comfortable blanket, extra towels can serve as pillows when sunbathing or napping. Ahhh...naps!
To help keep cool on those steamy summer days, set up your picnic in the shade or near a beach where you can cool off.
We all ready know that a basket is the traditional picnic attire, but a cooler packed with ice is safer. If you don’t want your food to drown while the ice melts, place ice cubes in plastic zip lock bags...Also it helps if you keep your cooler in the shade.
Unless you’ll be getting home within an hour, throw your leftovers away. It is always a good idea to bring just enough food for the picnic, you don’t want to waste food!
Remember …
Food that is left sitting at an unsafe temperature usually will go off pretty quick, especially mayo based products.
Some foods that don’t require keeping cool...peanut butter sandwiches, dried fruit, nuts, unpeeled fresh fruit apples, oranges, bananas, jelly sandwiches, unopened cans of food, meat, fish or fruit, some cookies and cakes, crackers
DON’T FORGET THESE…
Blanket / towels
Insect repellent - most forgotten item!
Napkins
Plates
Silverware
Serving utensils
Sunscreen
Plastic cups and wine glasses
Paring knife
Cutting Board
Condiments
Damp wipes or cloths for washing up
Dry change of clothes (you never know)
Garbage bag
Let’s not forget the all essential ...Corkscrew or bottle opener
“Reminds me of my safari in Africa; somebody forgot the corkscrew and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water.”
W. C. Fields
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