Warm weather and Spring break, two great reasons to get outside and relax. There's no better way to enjoy the outdoors than to pack up a picnic and head to your favorite spot. The great thing about picnics is that they're fun for all types of gatherings. A romantic date, family outing, or a party with friends are all appropriate outdoor adventures.
Choosing an appropriate site is important. If you plan on playing sports, be sure the location has the proper layout and terrain. If children will be attending, be sure to choose someplace safe and easily monitored by sight. For a romantic date, choose someplace beautifully inspirational, perhaps under a huge tree, along a lake shore, or near the crashing waves of a beach.
The type of event should help you in your menu planning as well. Casual events deserve casual foods - salads, sandwiches, grilled hamburgers, etc. Romance deserves a little food flair, but even this doesn't have to be difficult. Choose fine quality cheeses, wine, bread and fruit. The display will impress with ease!
Keep this list of essentials handy:
A large blanket, sheet or towel
Eating Utensils
Small Cutting Board
Trash Bags
Napkins and/or paper towels
A sharp knife
Seal-able plastic bags
Bottle opener, Swiss army knife or corkscrew
Food poisoning is often a concern for picnickers. The Mayo Health Oasis has a great list of Food Safety Tips for Picnics.
I've found a few sites on the Web that may help you with your picnic meal planning. Sally's Place has the largest selection of Picnic Recipes. There are at least 5 picnic menus to look through, including a Low-Fat Italian Picnic and a review of the cookbook titled: Portable Food. For the family outing Baby Bag has a list of Picnic Recipes as well. The people from Sunmaid also have a few good ideas in their Spring Fling Recipes. If your really looking for something special, check out Online Chef's: Picnic in a Vineyard.
Enjoy!
P.S. In a recent article I mentioned that asparagus is now in season. I ran across these Asparagus Recipes from the 23rd Annual National Asparagus Festival. Everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask!
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