Everything Tastes Better Outdoors continued ...

Picnic Essentials
Meal-planning tips: 

• Avoid foods that require last-minute preparation. The goal is to be relaxed, not frantic. 
• Skip foods with drippy sauces or sauces that change consistency when they’re cold.
• Finger foods are always a success at picnics. 
• Except for the French sandwich pan bagnat, which means “wet bread,” don’t pre-assemble sandwiches. Place meats, cheese, vegetables and condiments in separate  plastic bags or containers to assemble when ready to eat.  
• Avoid or minimize dairy- or mayonnaise-based  dishes as these are more difficult to keep properly chilled to prevent spoiling. Instead, go for vinegar-based dishes as they stay fresh longer and the flavor intensifies with time.
• Experiment with different beverages. There are many different bottled juices, teas and waters available; or treat yourself to homemade lemonade. Wine or champagne is delightful, but not if it’s illegal to have at your picnic spot. 
• Include fresh fruit in your picnic basket as a  nourishing, refreshing snack or dessert.

Transporting and Storage 

• Choose a cooler with high-quality thermal insulation. Check out the newer, soft-sided coolers that have excellent insulating properties. 
• Reusable, gel ice packs are preferable to loose ice as the packs eliminate the worry of food getting wet from melting ice. 
• Pre-chill the cooler with a few gel ice packs. Place food on top of these, moving it directly from the refrigerator into the cooler just before leaving home. Don’t place warm food in the cooler; it should already be chilled if it’s to be eaten chilled.
• Pack food and beverages in separate coolers if you’ll be getting drinks out throughout the day; the more often the cooler is opened, the more likely food will warm up. 
• Place food in unbreakable, air-tight containers. 
• Arrange food in the cooler so that the items you’ll be eating first are on top.
• Pack the cooler as full as possible. Consider getting coolers in several different sizes. 
• Transport the cooler on the floor in the backseat of the car rather than in the trunk and keep it in the shade during your picnic. 
• Select a sturdy, easy-to-carry basket for transporting plates, glasses, utensils, napkins, bottle openers and other picnic paraphernalia. 

At Your Service
To be ready for a picnic at a moment’s notice, have at least a few of the following items in a picnic basket stored in a closet:  

• Go Victorian-elaborate with fine linens, china and silver or take an uncomplicated tack with inexpensive pottery or plastic plates, glassware and stainless-steel utensils. Either way, you’ve chosen “green” alternatives to throw-aways. Scout yard sales or flea markets and mix and match. 
• Cloth napkins are another green choice.
• Spill-proof salt and pepper shakers eliminate waste and mess. 
• Bottle opener and corkscrew. 
• Cutting board and knife. 

For Your Comfort and Convenience
To help remember everything, make a list and check off items as they’re packed. Save the list and later add items that you wished you’d taken. 

• Picnic blanket or tablecloth. If practicality is an issue, consider a vinyl-coated tablecloth. 
• Cushions, pillows or folding stools or chairs, depending on the occasion and personal choice. 
• A folding picnic table might be a luxury for some, but a necessity for others.
• Insect repellent and sunscreen are indispensable to health, safety and a pleasurable picnic. Also consider including a poison-ivy treatment such as Technu (www.teclabsinc.com).  
• Games, books, Frisbees, balls and a badminton or croquet set.

For Cleanup 

• Wet washcloths in a zip-top, plastic bag for washing fingers and faces both before and after eating.
• Cloth towels for drying hands and faces, mopping up any spills, and wrapping up dirty dishes. 
• Trash bags for collecting trash so that it can be deposited in the proper receptacle. 

For Your Safety 

• Do not leave food out of a cooler for longer than two hours and for only one hour when the temperature is above 90 degrees F.  
• If taking raw fish, poultry or meats for cooking at your picnic destination, wrap securely to prevent juices from cross-contaminating prepared food and pack with plenty of ice or frozen gel packs. Also, take a food thermometer to be sure that the food reaches a safe internal temperature.  
• Bring plenty of liquids, especially water, to keep everyone hydrated.
• If kids are along on the picnic, be aware of any nearby hazards, such as busy roads, deep water or cliffs.  
• Stay on the beaten path and check the rules and regulations for the area you’re visiting.
• Keep a first-aid kit in the car. 

About the Author:  Maggie Oster writes about and photographs food and gardens from the family farm in southern Indiana, where she continues her family’s tradition of frequent, spontaneous picnics


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