It’s National Picnic Day! We’re finally seeing some nice weather, so why not celebrate with your own curated al fresco dining. Whether you choose to dine in your backyard, a neighborhood park, or out on the trail, here are six recipes to pack.
The Food
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Don’t worry about cooking anything at a picnic, just enjoy the outdoors. Try these one-dish recipes that can be made in advanced. All you’ll need to do is pack up and head to your favorite spot.
Heirloom Market's Korean Kimchi Slaw . If you prep the night before, the flavors will develop deeper, the cabbage will become tender. The longer you let the kimchi rest, the more it will ferment and become spicier. Add cooked chicken to the salad to make it a meal.
Fuji Apple and Fennel Salad . Both apple and fennel hold well when dressed in advanced. The crunch is refreshing and apple's natural water content will keep you feeling hydrated. You can opt to omit the blue cheese if you'll be in the heat for a long time.
Slow-cooked barbecue pork. Get the crockpot going the night before so that all you have to do is pack your picnic the next morning. Plain ole' white bread is the only way to go here. Build your sandwich at the picnic. For a side, shave raw corn off the cob and toss with sliced tomatoes and peppers for a refreshing fiesta salad.
Camden's Favorite Chicken Fingers. This comes from cookbook author Rebecca Lang's book "Fried Chicken: Recipes for the Crispy, Crunchy, Comfort-Food Classic." You can make the chicken fingers the morning of your picnic, because they taste just as good a little chilled, especially with the perky, spiced "comeback sauce."
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
The Drinks
Sweet Tea from Mary Mac's Tearoom . A ½ cup of sugar makes this recipe delicious, and it pairs perfectly with the beating sun. Unlike sodas which taste diluted with ice, sweet tea feels lost without a few jingling cubes in the cup.
Pura Vida's White Sangria. Sometimes, picnics call for some booze. As fruit mulls overnight, sangria becomes juicier and tastier. We pay homage to Poncey-Highlands' deceased restaurant, Pura Vida, with a concoction that uses four alcoholic mixers.
The Basket
And if you’re looking for picnic baskets that are as useful as they are decorative, these options all include coolers and come with plastic wine glasses, silver utensils, plastic plates, and even a cheese board and knife.
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
Credit: Alexa Lampasona
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