This week I am excited to welcome my blogging friend Lisa as a guest poster here at Your Homebased Mom. Lisa blogs over at Simply…This,That and the Other.
Lisa has truly been blessed with the gift of hospitality. She uses her gift to bless the life of her family and friends. She adds her special touch to all she does and can take a simple meal and create a fun and memorable experience from it.
She is also the Queen of Picnics.
Summer has finally arrived here in the Northwest and we are enjoying every minute of it. Summer is the perfect time for a picnic.
Lisa has lots of picnic worthy recipes and knows how to create a pretty and practical picnic basket. I think one of the tricks to a picnic is being able to be somewhat spontaneous and just pick up and go. Over the next few days Lisa is going to share some of her best tips and tricks for putting a picnic together. Everything from what containers to use to some great picnic recipes. You will be ready for a picnic at a moments notice!
Welcome Lisa!
With summer comes the anticipation of picnics. Lots of them. Whether it be dining on the bleachers at a ball game or an evening picnic with friends at a park, packing a picnic can be a great alternative to purchasing pricey, un-healthy food at your favorite local drive-through.
I keep a stash of basic containers on hand just for picnics.
Depending on what we are having, I pack everything into an oil cloth bag with dividers or a portable cooler on wheels {COSTCO usually carries these every spring} or both.
Everything is packed so it doesn’t spill or stain anything. Be sure to keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot.
Everybody gets their own container with their “main dish” or their sandwich, unless it is potluck-style where there is a picnic table to put out a large container for everyone to help themselves. Potluck-style is also used for a very last minute; grab the essentials kind–of-a-picnic when packing things individually is too time-consuming. It is way more important to make a memory than to have the perfect-looking picnic! You will need to plan ahead for that…which is also fun!
Sometimes I label the containers with the individual’s name. This is helpful for those who are picky, instead of specifying “no mayo”, “no pickles”, “no meat” etc. 
RESTAURANT SUPPLY STORES ARE THE PERFECT PLACE TO PURCHASE PICNIC ESSENTIALS. Cash and Carry is my #1 choice. You can’t beat their prices. If you are limited on storage space, you may consider splitting your goods with a friend. Think about only purchasing one or two different kinds that may be used for a variety of uses: leftovers, gift boxes, kids’ lunches, etc
A great Internet site is GARNISH. Garnish carries a large selection of containers that you will LOVE! ! I am personally am in love with all the white containers Garnish carries because even if you don’t embellish it, it still looks classy
Here are some of my favorite Garnish products.
COOKIE BAGS: great for cookies, bars, chips, some veggies etc.
DELI CONTAINER: Great for extra soup, apple slices, veggie slices, BBQ Chicken, homemade ice cream, deli salads etc.
CONDIMENT CONTAINER: So nice for ketchup, mustard, mayo, salad dressing, salsa, sour cream etc.
SOUP CONTAINER: Can be used for packing soup, ice cream, cobbler, pasta salad, trifle etc.
PRODUCE CONTAINER: Fun to package a sandwich lunch in. Think of it as a disposable lunchbox.
No time for a side dish? Keep a bag of frozen French fries on hand. Bake them and line the container with wax paper or a paper towel, put the fries in the box along with a condiment container with ketchup and your “fast-food fries” will be a hit!
Great for morning muffins on a breakfast outing!
BOX CONTAINER: This is awesome for everything! I even take gifts in these boxes!
Other great ideas for picnic containers include:
Mason Jars: Amazing portable containers that can be purchased at thrift stores, garage sales, or sometimes given away by those who are no longer canning. Ask around before you buy! You never know. These are great because there are so many different sizes. Think about toting soups, trifles, berries and cream, and crisps and cobblers that are hot from the oven. Just bake as you would in a ramekin, let cool a bit and screw the lid on…these can be placed in a drink carrier and they will not budge…plus they are a bit insulated.
IKEA’S SIOM Bottle with Stopper: A bargain for $2.99. These may be used as an alternative to purchasing plastic water bottles. Keep them filled with filtered water ready to grab-n-go. No need to worry about a leaky thermos. The smaller ones are a great choice for de-cantering soy sauce, syrups for a breakfast picnic or other dressings for potluck-style picnics. The glass keeps things extra cold or hot! And they are so charming!
A basket caddy with dividers is perfect to keep stocked with paper plates, napkins, and plastic ware. You will be able to pack it in your oil cloth bag along with disposable cups and your chilled water bottles for a last minute picnic!
May your summer be filled with many lovely outdoor memories…whether it is a well thought out romantic picnic for two, an embellished homemade take-out for a friend, a last minute gathering at the pool, a picnic dinner prepared for new parents {Baby’s first picnic!}, or a family evening at the park with leftovers wrapped in tin foil, a half-eaten bag of chips and your babes. Happy Picnicking!
Check back later this week for some of Lisa’s favorite picnic recipes.
Popularity: 3% [?]
