The Perfect Picnic

Sandwiches and salads make especially good picnic fodder for any occasion because they offer so much variety, and they taste good cold. Bring all the ingredients and let everyone assemble their own. Treat yourself to bakery-fresh bread, quality meats, your very favorite cheeses. Add a salad of garden-ripe vegetables or fruits to top it all off.

Food safety is something to keep in mind when you are dining in Warm weather.

• Make sure raw meats and/or eggs are not left at room temperature.
• If you plan to barbeque meats, be careful of cross-contamination that can occur when handling the raw meat, then touching other food. Designate one person for barbequing only, and then everyone else can help prepare the sides.
• If your picnic destination is more than a few minutes away, put all perishable foods in a cooler with ice or a frozen gel pack. 
• If you're going to have to be in the car for awhile before arriving at your picnic destination and you don't want to hassle with a cooler, consider going vegetarian for the day, or buy your perishable items once you near your destination.

Mayonnaise has gained an undeserved reputation as the most dangerous food to take on a picnic. It's true that homemade mayonnaise, which contains raw eggs, should never roam far from a refrigerator. Store-bought mayonnaise, however, contains pasteurized eggs and enough salt and lemon juice or vinegar that it actually inhibits bacterial growth. Low-acid foods in picnic dishes such as potatoes, chicken, and ham are much more susceptible to bacterial growth than the mayonnaise itself. So, while you should still be careful about keeping everything cool, don't let that stop you from using all the creamy mayo you like in your picnic sandwiches, salads and dips!

From the fanciest to the most casual of picnics, every single outdoor dining experience can be picture-perfect, and it doesn't take much:

• Use a picnic basket. This is a handy way of keeping all your food and utensils together. If you don't have a traditional picnic basket, any large basket or canvas tote bag will work. You could even get a sturdy box with handles and let the kids decorate their own made-to-order picnic basket.
• Bring a blanket. The blanket or tablecloth will make your picnic pretty, as well as keeping you and your food comfortably away from the dirt. Keep it all in your basket so you'll be ready to grab it and head out the door whenever the picnicking whim strikes you! 
• Invest in a durable set of plates and extra silverware. Make it easy on yourself by always having these items ready to go in your picnic basket.

Try some of these popular recipes for your next picnic:

Drinks and Snacks

Main Dishes

Salads and Side Dishes

Desserts