Packing Tips And Tricks For Your Summer Picnic

Packing Tips And Tricks For your Picnic

There is nothing that is better than a family picnic away from home on a lazy summer’s afternoon. The kids can run around the park, swim in the sea and play games in the woods. The adults can get back with a glass of wine and some food in a relaxing environment. This is all made so much easier when the picnic is packed, prepped and presented in the perfect way. This guide to tips and tricks for picnics will look at some of the different packing considerations.

There are lots of questions to ask yourself before you go. What food should you make? How can you show off your Southern cooking skills at this picnic? How should it be packed? What else will you need to bring? There is a lot to think about but the more prepared you are, the smoother the trip will be.

1) Think About The Best Way To Pack Your Food

The best packing tips and tricks for picnics are less about the recipes and more about the packing techniques. Interesting, fresh ingredients in homemade southern cooking are much nicer than pre-packed, processed food. The only problem is keeping it all together. You don’t want your pulled pork falling out the sandwiches before you get there.

2) Make Use Of Some Mason Jars

Keep things simple. Jars of fresh fruit, individually wrapped sandwiches and containers of salad are ideal. Mason jars are everywhere right now. Their capacity and screw-top lids mean they are the ideal container for fruit and small portions of salad.

3) Remember To Bring All The Right Crockery And Utensils

The issue of difficult meals brings up the problem of cutlery and plates. Are diners left balancing a plate on their knee as they try and cut meat with a plastic knife and fork? Most southern cooking tricks for picnics will tell you to keep it simple. Provide enough plates, knives, forks and spoons for everyone, but don’t rely too heavily on them.

4) Focus On The Other Essential Tools

Bring a corkscrew and bottle opener for the bottle of wine and other drinks. Make sure that there are enough serving spoons to stop recipes from getting mixed up. A serving tray is also a good idea if you have the room. This provides a flat, clean surface and a great place to rest drinks.

5) Think About Everything You Might For The Afternoon Ahead

Most packing tricks for picnics tend to relate to the food being served. However, preparation is important in all areas of the day out. Can you cater for diners that want some seasoning or condiments for your tasty southern cooking? Do you have any games and activities to help them work up an appetite? A ball game can bring the family together for some friendly competition. Perhaps you have a remote controlled plane or drone that needs a test flight in an open area.

6) Be Creative With Napkins

The kids may not care about napkins, but they are multifunctional. One of the top tricks for picnic packing is to buy a cheap fabric set. Wrap them around greasy food, use them to catch crumbs and even sew them into pockets for housing plates and cutlery.

7) Don’t Forget About Health And Safety

Consider a small first aid kit if you are out for the day. Sunscreen, band-aids, bug spray, and anti-histamines are all helpful when kids are playing in the sun. Moist towelettes are also a good idea if your idea of Southern cooking for picnics means sticky BBQ sauce.

8) Don’t Forget To Clean Up After Yourselves

These packing tricks show that is important to have as much fun as possible and to be prepared. It is also important to be as responsible as possible at the same time. Think about the location and leave it in the same state that you found it. Parks, beaches, and lakefronts are beautiful getaways for a weekend picnic, but only if we keep them clean. Don’t assume that there will be a bin near the picnic site. Take a trash bag to be safe.

9) Think About The Best Food For The Occasion

These tricks are all great tools for picnics and family outings. However, it is also important to consider the location and how that might affect your plans. Are you heading to a hot, sunny beach where food might get warm and start to melt? Consider adding an ice pack to keep food fresh. Match the food to the destination. Is it too breezy by the lake for a light salad and fancy napkins? Testing out new Southern cooking recipes is fun, but only if you can eat them without too many problems.

10) Consider Taking This Pecan Chicken Salad Along With You

This final trick for picnics is to prepare a quick, hassle-free salad. You want something that the whole family can enjoy, and this Pecan Chicken Salad is ideal. This staple of southern cooking is found in restaurants all over America, and it is easy to replicate at home. There are a lot of ingredients and measurements, but it is a simple case of throwing things in a bowl and mixing. This recipe requires the following:

8 cups chopped cooked chicken
2 cups halved red seedless grapes
11/4 cups toasted chopped pecans
1/2 cup chopped green onion
Ten slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
11/2 cups mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
Two tablespoons Dijon mustard
One tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
11/4 teaspoons salt
One teaspoon ground black pepper

This sort of recipe is Southern cooking made easy. Combine the dry ingredients in one bowl. That is the chicken, bacon, pecans, grapes and onion. Combine the wet ingredients and seasoning in another. That is the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, thyme, salt, and pepper. The great thing about this simple recipe is that you can alter it to meat the taste of your family. Add more pepper for heat, leave out the mustard if the kids don’t like the taste or toast the pecans for a little twist.

Work Remaining is to combine the two and leave in the fridge until required. You can serve this as you choose during the picnic. Find a loaf of bread that travels well and compliments the flavors to create a side or a sandwich.