June 2012 Topic Community Forums - p1

June 2012 Topic

Wed May 23, 2012 3:55 pm

Forum Host

..............

Summertime is here, so dust off your picnic basket.....

it’s time for some outdoor fun!

Whether you plan to throw a blanket on your own backyard lawn for a romantic picnic for two or you’ll be hosting a large group at the lake, picnics are classic summertime fare. And picnics should be all about fun, so don’t stress over details. Keep it simple, consider a basic theme and plan details that utilize as many items as possible that you already have on hand (not only to keep the costs down, but also to keep errand time to a minimum).

~ Before you even set off for your picnic, you’ll want to be prepared by doing a little pre-planning first. How many will be attending? What are the ages of your picnickers? (Remember to pack plenty of bottles, diapers, and portable play-yard if you’re bringing the little ones!).

Where will you be going? If you’re going to a local park, you’ll want to plan ahead by making appropriate reservations (if necessary) to get the covered area or community grills. And get the word out to everyone well in advance about day, time and location.

If you’re setting off to the wilderness or remote areas, you’ll want to be sure to check whether permits will be necessary (for parking, forest entrance, park usage, etc). And get updated on current restrictions regarding just where vehicles can/cannot go, whether open fires are permitted, etc.

~ For picnics and backyard gatherings in which kids will be present, you might want to plan a few age-appropriate activities or games to keep the youngsters entertained. Consider the age range of your picnickers, and plan to have a few activities suitable for even the littlest picnic enthusiasts. A few suggestions are:

* Paper plate finger painting (don’t forget the wet wipes!)
* Frisbee toss or Frisbee golf
* Nature scavenger hunt
* Croquet
* Bocce
* Lawn bowling
* Backyard horseshoes
* Badminton or volleyball
* Lawn darts
* Ring toss
* Touch football
* Alphabet hike (identify items in nature that start with each letter of the alphabet)
* Three-legged sack race
* Water balloon toss (or egg toss)
* Tug-of-war

~ When you hear ‘picnic’, usually the first thing that comes to mind is the menu. Picnics can be more than just the classic hot dogs and macaroni salad. All you need to focus on is preparing nutritious dishes that transport well, and of course start with those yummy family favorites that everyone will enjoy.

We’ve tried to help you create a delicious picnic menu by listing a few basic picnic favorites and classic picnic dishes. But it’s just a start, bring whatever everyone will most enjoy.

When packing your picnic basket, store the heavier items on the bottom and the lighter items on top. And items that are best served chilled should be stored closest to the ice pack. To avoid disasters (in case condiment bottles tip over during transport), place plastic sandwich bags over the tops of mustard and ketchup bottles and secured it with a rubber band.

Details to consider when planning your picnic menu ….

How well will your dishes transport?

How will you keep cold dishes chilled and hot dishes warmed?

Don’t forget eating and serving utensils

Use paper products (plates, cups and napkins) for minimal clean-up

Pack a plastic bag to haul out your trash

Bring plenty of wet wipes

Don’t forget insect repellent, sun screen, and allergy medicine

And don’t forget to bring your camera or videocam to capture all the fun!

What’s YOUR favorite picnic dish?