Hey readers,
The best in everyone is brought out by picnics, for some reason. It's challenging to beat the combination of delicious cuisine, clean air, and enjoyable company. You can have the ideal spring picnic if you prepare in advance and keep things straightforward.
So below are things to consider to throw a perfect spring picnic.
1. Location.
The most crucial factor is where you will have your picnic. Both the outfit and the food will benefit from being informed. For example, if you have to walk to the venue, you can't serve an expensive spread or wear wedges and a sundress.
2. Time.
Plan the picnic so there will be adequate daylight for eating and engaging in activities. You can choose any time you like for the picnic to begin if it is on a Saturday.
On Sundays, many individuals don't have to get up early for work, so none of your guests will feel rushed.
If you choose to have the picnic on Sunday, I advise planning to have your guests arrive around 11 o'clock. This will give you the rest of the afternoon to eat and participate in outdoor activities.
3. Packing your hamper.
Carefully select your equipment because a leaky cool box is the worst. Make sure your Tupperware is tightly closed before you leave, and place any particularly fragrant goods in a plastic bag.
A cool box is
helpful for keeping your picnic supplies chilled on a hot summer day.
For young children, plastic bottles or cups work best to prevent breakages. If you're bringing wine glasses for adults, think about getting a small tray so they can rest there while you pour and in between sips.
If you're tasting wine that has been cork-sealed, don't forget the bottle opener!
4. Plan for activities.
Make plans for your day. A picnic frequently involves more than just food. Check out the local events to determine what to bring.
Bring fun athletic gear, such as a soccer ball or Frisbees, if the park lacks a playground.
Another option is to bring a board game that is enjoyable to play outside, like Twister.
If you're in a natural preserve, consider hiking to a picnic area!
5. The menu.
Everyone attends a picnic solely for the food. Yet, your menu of delectable dishes needs to be filling and delicious.
The fantastic company, fun, and games are just as welcome.
In most situations, everyone pitches in to make the food available. Still, you should be aware of any vegetarians, vegans, or those with allergies or intolerances attending your picnic.
To avoid cross-contamination, you'll need to keep some items separate and use different utensils.
Sandwiches, munchies, and cake would make up the classic picnic meal; there is nothing wrong with this formula other than the fact that it has been used before. How to spruce up the typical picnic cuisine is as follows:
SANDWICHES.
Choose sandwich fillings that won’t leave the bread soggy and cut sandwiches into tiny, delicate fingers.
Arrange in separate containers to stop delicate flavours from being overshadowed by more robust ones.
Choose a quality bread or roll for your sandwiches, as the flavour will make all the difference. Whatever you choose, and no matter how you choose to serve them, ensure they are a picnic-friendly size.
Sumptuous sandwich fillings include:
Turkey with brie – serve cranberry sauce on the side.
Strong cheese – grate it and serve with artisan condiments such as chilli jam or pickle.
Tuna with spring onion – a delectable combination; add a hint of mayonnaise for moistness.
Jackfruit and BBQ sauce – shred the jackfruit as you would pork and add BBQ sauce, a delicious vegan-friendly sandwich.
SNACKS.
With sandwiches made and ready, the next thing you’ll need to think about is savoury snacks that complement the flavours of your sandwiches.
There are so many ideas it’s hard to know where to start:
Devilled eggs – these take the humble boiled egg to new heights.
Hard boil eggs, and when cold, halve them, scooping out the yoke.
Mix the yolk with a teaspoon of mayonnaise and flavourings such as mustard, a hint of chilli or a dash of Tabasco.
Load the yolk paste back into the white egg case and garnish with snipped chives or a dusting of paprika.
Transport in a sealed container, placing each egg half in a paper bun case.
Crudites and hummus – A delicious dip with some healthy chopped veggies to dip in is fantastic for long summer days and takes seconds to make with this handy dicer (chop chop!)
Pulse salads – ditch the iceberg lettuce for a salad with a sturdier base, such as a vegetable of a grain.
Couscous is simply crying out for flavour, and don’t forget the humble cooked pasta is excellent served with watercress, chopped tomatoes and other summer veggies and fruits. You can even chop and serve in the same bowl with this useful Nicer Dicer Set.
Pastry parcels – fry off your favourite mix of veg, season well and pile into filo pastry cases.
Bake in a moderate oven and well excellent; slip into your picnic hamper. You can add chicken or turkey to these parcels too.
In fact, you can get as inventive as you like with
the fillings – why not try cooked beef with stilton, for example, or ham with peas in a light cheese sauce stuffed inside a pastry case.
Nuts – potato crisps are all well and good, but they can feel a bit samey after a while. Nuts (and seeds like pumpkin) make a great alternative when you need something savoury to nibble on.
DESSERT.
There’s no reason why you can’t enjoy a sweet treat at a picnic. From cake to full-on desserts like cheesecake, there are ideas galore.
Cupcakes – a great idea for picnics; cupcakes can be stashed away in plastic containers and then passed around your assembled picnickers.
Victoria sponge – sometimes, the wheel doesn’t need re-inventing, and if there was ever a cake that looks at home at a picnic, it is a sumptuous Victoria sponge.
Add extra decadence with a layer of whipped cream and jam.
Scones – another old favourite that never goes out of fashion, the humble fruit scone with jam & cream (or is it cream & jam?) will also be welcome sweet fare at your picnic.
Cheers for reading X
