It’s nearing the end of summer, and if you haven’t yet taken time out of your busy schedule to enjoy a leisurely picnic with family or friends, this is the time to act. Check the upcoming weather forecast, do a little advanced planning and scout out a peaceful park, plan to return to a place that has special meaning to you, or embrace your spontaneous nature and set off on a new adventure. No matter which method you choose, here are some helpful tips to make your picnic memorable.
What’s a picnic without the food? Check out these cookbooks for some great ways to up your game in terms of picnic fare.
The Perfect Picnic: Outdoor Entertaining with Style by Anita Louise Crane
“It’s not just sandwiches and paper plates anymore! Sometimes it’s not even outdoors. There’s no excuse for a humdrum picnic when ideas abound for everything from the types of hampers to use, to the accessories and recipes for the menu … Whether you’re dining al fresco in the woods, on the porch, in the snow, on the range, in a tree house, or on the roof, you’ll find out what you need to make your outing truly special.”
-Adapted from Amazon.com
The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket by Marnie Hanel, Andrea Slonecker, and Jen Stevenson
“A picnic is a great escape from our day-to-day and a chance to turn a meal into something more festive and memorable … With variations on everyone’s favorite deviled eggs, 99 uses for a Mason jar (think cocktail shaker, firefly catcher, or cookie jar), rules for scoring lawn games, and refreshing drinks to mix up in crowd-friendly batches, let “The Picnic” take the stress out of your next party and leave only the fun.”
Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends by Benny Blanco
“The debut cookbook from Benny Blanco–pop music super-producer, artist, actor on FXX’s Dave, and consummate food freak–teaches you everything you need to know about cooking, enjoying life, the perfect picnic, and throwing the greatest dinner party of all time.”
-Adapted from COSMOS
The Outdoor Table: The Ultimate Cookbook for Your Next Backyard BBQ, Front-porch Meal, Tailgate, or Picnic by April McKinney
“In The Outdoor Table, you’ll find delicious dishes such as:
- Roasted Garlic Black-Eyed Pea Hummus
- Mustard-Herb Grilled Pork Chops
- Lime Surprise Bars
- Salmon with Maple Syrup Sauce
Whether at a planned event or just an impromptu cookout in the backyard with your friends and neighbors, The Outdoor Table is your guide to creating portable dishes that you can prepare ahead of time and serve cold and or at room temperature when you get to your destination that your family and friends will love. It’s time to pack a picnic and start making memories.”
-Adapted from Amazon.com
The Complete Summer Cookbook: Beat the Heat with 500 Recipes the Make the Most of Summer’s Bounty by America’s Test Kitchen
“Recipes for the year’s warmest months, including make-ahead meals best served cold, fix-and-forget recipes, dinner salads and recipes for the grill.”
If you want to enjoy picnics vicariously, or if you feel like bringing a book with you on your picnic, here are some to consider:
Picnic in Provence: A Memoir with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard
“The author describes how she and her husband moved from cosmopolitan Paris to rural Provence after their son was born, the beginning of their adventures as culinary entrepreneurs, and their initiation into classic Provencal cuisine.”
Also available in CD version
Murder is No Picnic by Amy Pershing
“The Fourth of July is coming, and for professional food lover Samantha Barnes, it’s all about the picnic… What could be better than a DIY clambake followed by the best blueberry buckle in the world? Sam has finally found the perfect recipe in the kitchen of Clara Foster, famed cookbook author and retired restaurateur, and she’s thrilled when Clara agrees to a buckle baking lesson. But when Clara dies in a house fire blamed on carelessness in the kitchen, Sam doesn’t believe it. Unfortunately, her doubts set in motion an investigation pointing to the new owner of Clara’s legendary restaurant; and a cousin of Sam’s harbormaster boyfriend. So, in between researching the Cape’s best lobster rolls and planning her clambake, Sam needs to find Clara’s killer before the fireworks really start…”
-Adapted from COSMOS
Picnic in Someday Valley by Jodi Thomas
“Marcie Latimer longs to run away from Someday Valley–especially since her ex-boyfriend spun a web of lies that almost led to tragedy in neighboring Honey Creek. Little wonder so many locals have turned their backs on her. But not Brand Rodgers. The quiet cowboy comes to listen every time she sings at Bandit’s Bar, offering a glimpse of safety and calm that Marcie’s rarely known. After Texas Ranger Colby McBride saved Honey Creek’s mayor, Piper Mackenzie, from a fire, she claimed him with a kiss. That was five months ago, and Colby still isn’t sure where they’re headed. Piper loves her town–but does she love Colby? And is he even ready for what comes next? Pecos Smith, Honey Creek’s emergency dispatcher, is grateful to have a new bride he adores and a baby on the way–even if one vital piece of the puzzle is missing. But as trouble comes stalking through the valley, lives will cross surprising paths. And Marcie, who’s always felt that a forever love was out of reach, might discover that Someday is the perfect place to find it…”
Also available in Large Print
Picnic in the Ruins by Todd Robert Petersen
“Anthropologist Sophia Shepard is researching the impact of tourism on cultural sites in a remote national monument on the Utah-Arizona border when she unexpectedly crosses paths with two small-time criminals. The Ashdown brothers were hired to steal maps from a collector of Native American artifacts, but instead of delivering as promised, the brothers are out to strike it rich. But their ineptitude has alerted the local sheriff to their presence–and forced their employer, a former lobbyist seeking lucrative monument land that may soon be open to energy exploration, to send a fixer to clean up their mess before it upsets her machinations. Sheriff Dalton, following the Ashdowns’ trail, soon discovers he’s not dealing with a simple burglary–and any hope the sheriff had for peace and quiet is long gone.”
Picnic at Hanging Rock – DVD
“A penetrating reimagining of the iconic and timeless Australian novel, Picnic at Hanging Rock depicts the mysterious disappearances of three schoolgirls and their governess on Valentine’s Day, 1900. The complex, interwoven narrative charts the subsequent investigation and the event’s far-reaching impact on the students, families, and staff of Appleyard College and on the nearby township. Theories abound, long-held secrets are exposed, and paranoia and hysteria set in, as in vastly differing ways their lives are changed forever.”
And what blog about a picnic would be complete without mentioning “The Teddy Bear’s Picnic”? You can find a number of options for the music streaming on Hoopla.
Here’s hoping for a beautiful day for a picnic!
(Unless otherwise noted, all summaries are taken from COSMOS.)
