Category: Special Occasions

5 Winter-Themed Desserts You Should Try Making This December

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date November 30, 2021

‘Tis the season, and whether you’re going to be having a quiet one or spending a lot of time with family, there’s never a bad time to get into baking. What better way to celebrate the holidays than baking winter-themed desserts?

As far as pleasing folks, you can’t go wrong with baking, and your baking experience will only get better as you get more practice. Desserts are enjoyed by most, and they make for a great addition to any gathering or party. If you don’t manage to eat your desserts in time, you can always freeze them for a later date, as most desserts freeze quite well.

Dessert #1: Gingerbread Cheesecakes Are Quintessential Winter-Themed Desserts

Gingerbread has always been a staple of the holidays, so why not try to work it into fun recipes other than cookies? You’d be surprised how well gingerbread can work with other ingredients, and you won’t regret preparing this no-bake dessert. Of course, unless you want to make your own gingerbread cookies, then you’ll have to bake those from scratch! But otherwise, crushing up some already made cookies will work perfectly as the base.

For those that prefer to bake, gingerbread will fit right in with any baked cheesecake recipe, simply switch out the biscuit base for cheesecake and enjoy!

If you’re not a fan of gingerbread but you’d still like to make your cheesecakes a little naughtier, you could try an oreo cheesecake instead! Separate the cream from the cookie, and mix the cream into your filling and use the cookies as a base! It’s no healthy snack, but it’s delightful to those with a sweet tooth!

Dessert #2: Cookies

If gingerbread cookies weren’t on your to-do list this year, then you’re making a big mistake. It’s the perfect treat to get you in the mood for the holidays, and it can be a fun activity to do either alone or with the family! Getting people involved is part of the activity, so if you let people in on creating your gingerbread cookies, you’re only going to get more out of it.

If you’re feeling extra creative, people often take the time to build their own gingerbread houses! If you’ve got the know-how to make the cookies, you’ll have no trouble preparing the pieces you need for a gingerbread house in no time. If you’re not feeling like baking but would like to make one, there are pre-baked kits you can get in stores!

It’s not just gingerbread cookies you should consider. Any kind of cookie goes down nicely with a warm glass of milk. Check out this recipe for homemade chocolate chocolate chip cookies. You might also like these Christmas cookie ideas:

Dessert #3: The Versatile Crumble

There’s a crumble recipe out there for everyone, and it’s the perfect dessert that can be shared or stored. It’s one of the more flexible desserts you can make, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to work some fruit into the treat. Enjoy cherries? Enjoy apples? Enjoy custard? There’s no need to eat all of them separately, crumble can accommodate it all into a delicious dessert. If you’re cooking for others, why not try making different flavors? You can’t go wrong with a little experimenting, and your crumble will be enough to satisfy all at any event.

Dessert #4: Christmas Pudding

While not a traditional dessert all over the world, if you’ve never given it a try, you should consider it in the upcoming holiday! This traditional British pudding is made by families around the world every year and is something you should consider treating yourself to.

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s certainly an experience you shouldn’t miss out on. There are so many recipes from so many different countries if you aren’t willing to give them a try, then you could be restricting yourself from your next favorite dessert.

It’s a raisin-based pudding that’s had its recipe perfected over the years, as most recipes have been handed down by the generations. Check out the odd home cooking blogs if you want to get the most out of your Christmas pudding recipe.

Dessert #5: Yule Logs – Winter-Themed Desserts That Oooze the Winter Vibe

What’s Christmas without a traditional Yule Log? If you’re someone that enjoys both chocolate and cream, or chocolate cream, then a Yule Log is the dessert for you! They can be great fun to make, and just as fun to decorate once they’re done. Yule Logs never leave leftovers, so if you’re planning a gathering in the coming holidays, you’ll want to make one of these for your guests. Why not try putting your own fruity twists on it? A hint of orange, raspberry, or strawberry can really make it interesting.

Tags holidays, winter

Cooking Techniques Ingredient Spotlight Special Occasions

Hot Dogs: A Guide for Cooking the Perfect Dogs at Your Next Barbecue

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date May 26, 2021

Hot dogs are an American classic and they are enjoyed throughout the world. No summer barbecue is complete without a round of delicious hot dogs, but so many people struggle to cook them properly.

There’s nothing more disappointing than a bad hot dog and they often end up being a bit lackluster because people don’t give them enough care and attention. If you throw some sausages on the barbecue and stick them in a bun with some mustard, you’ll have an average hot dog, but it could be so much better. This guide will help you make the perfect hot dogs every time, so your barbecue guests always leave happy.

Cooking the Perfect Sausage

The first and most important step is obviously the sausage itself. It’s the star of the show and if you don’t get it right, you can’t just cover your mistakes with toppings. You could go for classic American hot dogs but a German Bratwurst makes for a much better hot dog. You could argue that it’s not technically a hot dog because you’re not using an American sausage, but you won’t have any complaints once people taste it.

People often struggle with bratwurst because they don’t know how to cook it. Knowing how long to grill brats on a gas grill is key, but you need to know how to prepare it first. If you throw them straight on the grill, the juices expand and they burst, so you lose a lot of the flavor. That’s why it’s best to parboil them first. You can do this in water or even in beer for extra flavor.

Once they are boiled, they are mostly cooked, so you just need to sear them on the grill for 4-5 minutes, making sure to get all sides.

Bread and Toppings Pefect the Hot Dogs

Now that you have the perfect sausage, you need to sandwich it in some delicious bread and add your toppings. Most of the time, people pick up hot dog rolls from the store and they’re fine. But the perfect hot dog deserves more than that, so you should consider making your own hot dog rolls. They’re simple to make and they taste so much better than store-bought ones.

When it comes to toppings, everybody has their own preference, so giving people plenty of choices is key. Make sure that you have all of the most popular hot dog toppings to hand, including mustard, ketchup, relish, and even some sauerkraut.

Sides

No hot dog is complete without some delicious sides to complement it. There are a lot of classic options like fries or coleslaw, but baked beans are often the biggest hit with hot dogs. They pair perfectly and they’re simple to make yourself. This is an easy side for a barbecue because you can just make a big pot ahead of time and let everybody dig in, leaving you free to focus on cooking your delicious hot dogs.

Next time you have a barbecue, follow these tips to make the perfect hot dogs and wow all of your guests.

Tags hot dogs, summer cooking

Special Occasions

Holiday Gift Ideas for Food Lovers

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date December 7, 2020

Do you have a foodie on your list? Strangely enough, it can either be very easy or very hard to come up with gift ideas for food lovers. I hope to make it easy with this article.

First, you need to realize that not all food lovers are the same, so before you buy that “Fruit of the Month” club subscription or box of pre-packaged cookies, take a moment to identify what kind of foodie you’re buying a gift for.

How does this person express their love of food? Do they seek out new food experiences, trying out new restaurants, and buying the newest items at the grocery store? Or do they spend their time creating new recipes in the kitchen? Do you clip recipes and collect cookbooks? Or do they delve into the chemistry of cooking?

Knowing in what way the foodie on your list most enjoys experiencing food can help you choose the right type of food-related gift.

Now that you’ve given some thought about the type of person you’re buying for; you can start to shop! Here are some gift ideas for food lovers that will be sure to please the food lover on your list.

Cooking Classes

A gift certificate for an in-person or online cooking class makes a great gift for the food lover is wants to expand their cooking skills. It is perfect for the beginner, however, depending on the courses available, it can also be good for someone with some level of skill. For example, I wouldn’t be interested in a general cooking class, but I would be interested in a class on how to use a wok or how to frost a cake like a pro. I can do these things – but not very well.

Cooking Magazines

If your food lover is a recipe clipper, then a subscription to Milk Street, Fine Cooking, Cook’s Illustrated, or any of the many cooking and food magazines would make a great gift. Match the magazine to the person’s personality and interests. If they are more of a home cook interested in simple, easy to cook recipes, Taste of Home is a good match. If she is a health-conscious cook, Eating Well might be better. And for those who want to explore the finer side of life, perhaps Food & Wine or Bon Appétit are good choices.

Baking Equipment

Does your food lover enjoy baking cookies, cakes, bread, and other baked goods? Then baking equipment is a good choice. You could pull together your own baking gift basket quite easily and inexpensively. Here are some suggestions.

Bundt Cake Kit – A high-quality Bundt pan, with some wooden spoons, a whisk, and perhaps a box of pound cake mix and a Bundt cake cookbook. (*wink*)

Pie Baking Kit – a good quality (or fancy) pie dish, pie weights, pastry mat, and a pie cookbook. (*double wink*)

Cupcake Baking Kit – A cupcake pan, cupcake carrier or display stand, cupcake liners, and perhaps some wooden spoons. (Wooden spoons make great gift basket fillers for these types of gifts. They should be replaced every so often, so it’s always good to get more.)

Grilling Essentials

I know it’s the dead of winter, but if your food lover longs for summer so he can smell the wonderous aroma wafting from his barbecue grill, you can’t go wrong with a BBQ grilling tools set with a stainless steel spatula, grilling fork, a basting brush, and long-handled tongs. You can even through in a fun grilling apron or oven gloves.

Gourmet Food Basket

Do you have a Cost Plus Imports, Big Lots, or even a Target in your neighborhood? Then you can create a fun and interesting gourmet food basket for the adventurous food lover on your list. All of these stores have sections where you can find gourmet, imported or organic foods. You can even create a themed gourmet basket. For your Anglophile, gather together some British foods such as crumpets, black currant preserve, lemon curd, digestive biscuits, Bird’s Original Custard Powder, and maybe a fancy Christmas pudding.

Calendars for Food Lovers

There are lots of things you can give a food love that won’t contribute to their waistline. I love hanging a food-themed calendar in my kitchen. And, if you go to your local mall, you are bound to find a pop-up calendar shop with plenty of food-related options.

Movies Featuring Food

Food-enriched movies are another idea. Perhaps they’d enjoy Chocolat starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp? Sideways is an interesting film starring Paul Giamatti and features California’s wine country. If they are open to foreign films, Babette’s Feast is a really good French film.

Cookbooks

This one is obvious. For some cookbook gift ideas for food lovers, check out the many cookbooks I’ve reviewed on this blog. If your foodie is diabetic, I’ve created a special page listing all the diabetic-friendly cookbooks I’ve reviewed.

Other Food Books

All food-related books are not cookbooks. Some are about the history of food, others are about the chemistry of food, and some are just about the joy of eating food. There are also food memoirs by both chefs and non-chefs. You can even find anthologies of food writing.

Wrap Up Your List with Food Gift Wrap!

Once you’ve purchased your gift or gift items, you’ll need to package them before giving. You can use a nice basket you can get at Michael’s or find some food-themed wrapping paper and top it with a bow.

Tags gift giving

Special Occasions

COVID Is Changing Gift-Giving this Holiday Season

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date November 19, 2020

The COVID Pandemic is affecting so many areas of our lives: The way we work, the way we celebrate the holidays, and the way we shop. I recently learned of a survey commissioned by Cratejoy, the largest marketplace for subscription boxes, that sought to understand consumer 2020 holiday gift-giving expectations and plans. The findings were interesting, although not necessarily surprising.

In this post, I’m going to highlight some of the results of the survey, along with some creative tips inspired by the trends.

People will be shopping earlier this year

More than 50 percent of the respondents planned to or had already started their holiday shopping as early. The survey was taken in September and 29% planned to start in October and 33% planned to start in November. Interestingly to note, 15% of respondents had already started their holiday shopping when they took the survey.

One practice I’ve done for years is if I see a gift that would be perfect for someone, I either buy it on the spot or put it in a special gift-giving list I keep on Amazon. This has saved me so much time in shopping around when a gift-giving opportunity comes around.

In addition, shopping earlier will reduce the odds that you’ll have to give your gift in January because it didn’t arrive on time. The holidays are always a mad scramble for shipping because more people purchase things online and through catalogs around the holidays. This year the stress on the shipping system will be greater because people have been ordering online more in general due to the lockdowns and safety concerns.

[one_fourth] [/one_fourth]
[three_fourth_last] Why not shop all year round for those you give gifts to the most?
When your husband mentions something he likes, write a note, or save it in an online wish list. That way you’ll never be stuck for ideas! And, start shopping NOW! Don’t wait for Thanksgiving to arrive. [/three_fourth_last]

Retailers are re-thinking holiday sales

Have you noticed that there have been more themed sales events lately? Amazon held their Prime Day in October (they usually have it in July). Several major retailers teamed up to make October 10 a shopping holiday. And many businesses are making the entire month of November “Black Friday.” It will be interesting to see what happens over the Cyber Weekend!

[one_fourth] [/one_fourth]
[three_fourth_last] Now is the time to be keeping your eyes out for sales with a gift-giving mindset.
You never know what great gift you’ll be able to get your loved ones because it was on sale! Also, check out the clearance sections. Many retailers are giving an extra discount on top of the already discounted price. [/three_fourth_last]

Shoppers are being more mindful of the gifts they are giving

My philosophy of gift-giving has always been to find a gift that expresses the relationship in some way. I like to give gifts that the person will like that also is something they might say, “Oh! That is totally something Carma would give!” It seems that the pandemic is encouraging folks to take a similar mindset.

46% of respondents are looking for “unique and thoughtful” gifts
32% are looking for gifts that “shows that I care”

Conversely, only 8% are seeking something that is convenient to buy, 7% are looking for great deals and 5% are waiting for last-minute availability.

[one_fourth] [/one_fourth]
[three_fourth_last] When coming up with your gift ideas,
think about what you know about that person.
Is there something they are passionate about that you could tap into? For example, do they love traveling to Italy? Give them a “Virtual Tuscan Vacation” in a box. You can include things that evoke the feelings of Tuscany such as a book about Renaissance art, a bottle of Chianti, and a jar of Tuscan olives. Put them in a picnic basket complete with red-and-white checkered table cloth, a coupon to a local grocery store, and a note telling them to enjoy their “virtual picnic in Tuscany”! [/three_fourth_last]

Gift-givers are looking for experiential gifts

Because we’re all stuck at home, gifts are reflecting the need to have fun while there. Common experiential gifts that respondents to the survey say they are looking for include:

Gifts related to hobbies (46%)
Books (40%)
Crafty gifts (38%)
Cooking related gifts (34%)
Games (33%)

This probably explains the up-tick in subscription box sales. Because Cratejoy is a website where you can find all sorts of subscription boxes – it is kind of an aggregator of these types of services – they’ve noticed increases in these categories, as well. Craft subscriptions are up 222%, cooking boxes up 199%, books are up 177%, games are up 163% and hobby subscriptions are up 108%.

[one_fourth] [/one_fourth]
[three_fourth_last] There are creative ways to give experiential gifts.
Giving a subscription gift can be pricy – many of the boxes you can find on Cratejoy are $12 and up per month. That means your gift will cost you $144 and up for a full year’s subscription. That might not fit into your budget. But don’t despair, when you think creatively, you can still give an experiential gift.

I provided one example above, but you can do it in a wide variety of ways! I outlined how to create a virtual Thanksgiving-related basket a few days ago. The thought process for any type of gift basket is the same: [/three_fourth_last]

Choose your theme: What kind of experience do you want the gift basket to evoke?
Select an appropriate container: Gift baskets don’t always come in baskets? You can choose a container that is related to the experience. For example, a popcorn bucket for a movie-themed gift, or a box made from record album sleeves you found at a thrift store for a music-themed gift.
Decide what will go into the container: Choose items that are related to your theme, even better, that work together. For example, you can include a cookie-dough scooper along with a cookie cookbook.
Purchase all the items: There are lots of places where you can find cool items to include in your gift basket. I’m a big fan of dollar stores and Big Lots. Remember to buy some pretty filler, as well.
Arrange the gift: Start with putting the tallest items in the back and move forward from there so that all the items in the gift can be seen.
Add some filler to make sure everything stays in place: You can find inexpensive, yet pretty, colored shred filler at most dollar stores.
Wrap it up and ship it out!

Kitchen creativity can serve you well this holiday gift-giving season

Sure, the way we do things has changed. But “necessity is the mother of invention,” so I know what when you unleash your Kitchen Creativity, you can make the best of this situation and create some amazing new memories this holiday season.

Tags gift giving

Special Occasions

Virtual Thanksgiving: Create Your Best with these 6 Tips

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date November 6, 2020

Are you planning a virtual Thanksgiving this year? You aren’t alone. A recent national poll released Oct. 26 by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) found that many Americans are turning to Zoom and other video conferencing platforms for their celebrations.

The poll was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 2,714 U.S. adults between October 16–20, 2020. Among Americans who have already settled on their holiday plans, 24 percent say they will be using an online platform such as Zoom, Facetime, or Google Hangouts as part of their Thanksgiving celebration. Among families with children under 18, 41 percent say they will be using a virtual meeting platform for their gathering.

Participating in a virtual Thanksgiving is not ideal, but “As we all try to stay safe and healthy,” says Theresa H. Rodgers, MA, CCC-SLP, 2020 ASHA President, “we can use available technology in ways that enhance communication and connection.” The ASHA offers these 5 tips for a successful virtual Thanksgiving:

1. Set expectations for participants in the virtual Thanksgiving

Virtual meetings can be tiring, especially for young children. If everyone is on the same page, it can help reduce stress and conflict—allowing everyone to enjoy each other’s company. So, in advance, agree to certain parameters in advance, such as what time you’ll start and how long you’ll stay online together.

2. Plan conversation starters or games to keep everyone involved

Designate one person to come prepared with Thanksgiving-themed conversation starters (Family Dinner Project has some great suggestions). Other ideas include a word game such as Our Moments or Mad Libs, a virtual scavenger hunt (e.g., find your favorite family photo and bring it to the table), or a family trivia game (people can use the “raise hand” or “like” features within virtual platforms to answer questions).

3. Keep important traditions alive

Just because you are having a virtual Thanksgiving instead of gathering around a table in the same room doesn’t mean that your family traditions need to be set aside. You may need to tweak special customs for the virtual setting, but you can still honor them.

Get creative! For example, rather than going around the table and asking what each person is thankful for, collect responses ahead of time in a gratefulness jar to read out loud. Or do a thankful show and tell (e.g., bring an item that represents what you’re thankful for this year). This may help move the tradition along faster and allow for additional creativity.

A tradition I grew up with was watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on TV. If there is a favorite movie your family enjoys for Thanksgiving, perhaps you could host a watch party.

4. Accommodate family members with different communication needs

Many older adults are hard of hearing—consider modifications to help them stay engaged and hear better. For example, turning on closed captioning, seating a person closest to the computer or speakers, and projecting your meeting on a larger screen to allow better access to visual cues (such as seeing the facial expressions of those talking) can all make a world of difference. Keep in mind that online meetings may be tedious, overstimulating, or otherwise challenging for children with autism, ADHD, or a speech or language disorder.

5. Communicate respectfully

Give everyone a chance to speak, try not to talk over others, and limit side conversations during your gathering. This may be more difficult with everyone in different locations but doing your best to do so will make the experience better for everyone.

And I have one more idea:

6. Bring your virtual Thanksgiving into the real world

Perhaps one of the things your family looks forward to for Thanksgiving is Grandma’s special pumpkin pie or Aunt Tillie’s lemon cookies. Why not package the non-perishable ingredients into a box and ship them off with the recipe ahead of time? That makes a nice, warm heartfelt gift and can bring the family together as they chat about how well they did with the recipe!

If that won’t work, create a Thanksgiving menu, complete with family recipes, and send it out to folks. Then they can decide which recipes they want to make or not. This can be something as simple as a printout from your computer, or something more elaborately pulled together using a local printer or FedEx color printer. You can even get more creative and send the menu out with some Thanksgiving-themed decorations such as napkins, placemats, and a fold-out centerpiece, all of which you can probably find in your neighborhood dollar store.

Another idea is the record your virtual Thanksgiving, save it to a thumb drive and send it out with a heartfelt note.

Tags Thanksgiving

Special Occasions

How to Host a Beer Festival During a Pandemic Lockdown

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date August 13, 2020

Summer is beer festival season. Every summer, craft beer festivals pop up all over the country like dandelions. Fans flock to these boozy bastions of beer culture to try specialty brews and sample beers from far-off states. Brewers attend the festivals to chat with other brewers and see what’s happening at the cutting edge of the industry.

But with COVID-19 still looming, summer beer festivals across the country have already been canceled. Even The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) — the granddaddy of all U.S. beer celebrations with more than 2,000 participating breweries — is doing the whole thing online this year! (I think it’s a safe bet to say, “Not same.”)

So, if you love beer and love attending beer-centric events, what are you to do? Here are some of the ways festival organizers are trying to tackle social distancing, while still throwing some of the season’s best beer parties!

Beer Festival Idea #1: Go Digital

GABF isn’t the only fest moving to an online model this year. Plenty of online beer events have already happened, from The San Diego Beer Festival to beer review site Untappd’s Virtual Fest. And more are on the way.

Fresh Fest — the nation’s first Black-organized beer festival — is embracing the online model. They have a full calendar of events and speakers, along with an incredible line-up of beers, including offerings from heavy hitters like Allagash and from Weathered Souls, the brewery behind the worldwide Black is Beautiful initiative.

And, since they’re partnering with online retailer Tavour, craft fans across the country will be able to get many of the featured beers delivered to their doors.

The Chicago Beer Festival is also holding an online event, with the option to pick up a box of beer the day before the event kicks off, so fans can follow along with the tastings at home.

[one_half] Pros:

You can avoid travel and ‘attend’ a beer festival from your own couch
You won’t need a designated driver
You can check in and out as you please without getting your hand stamped

[/one_half]
[one_half_last] Cons:

No matter how much you lick the screen, you won’t be able to taste the beers. Gotta get ‘em beforehand.
No conversations with some fellow beer lovers.
You don’t have an excuse to get out of the house and get some summer sun.

[/one_half_last]

Beer Fest Idea #2: The Drive Through

At least one beer festival — Raleigh, North Carolina’s Brewgaloo — is keeping it analog with a drive-through festival. The fest is usually a giant street party held in April, but for obvious reasons, they could not move forward this year.

Instead, the organizers are collecting canned beers from the state’s top breweries like Trophy and Barrel Culture, and fans will be able to drive through the pop-up event and pick them up. Details are still fuzzy, but it looks like live music and a good time are still on the docket.

Of course, there won’t be any tasting in the car, so fans will have to drive back home before they start cracking open cans.

[one_half] Pros:

It’s a drive-through beer festival!
You might be able to converse with fellow beer lovers.
You’ll have an opportunity to get out of the house.

[/one_half]
[one_half_last] Cons:

It’s a drive-through beer festival, so…
You can’t drink the beer at the festival
Traffic congestion — probably like waiting to get your food at a popular fast-food drive-through.

[/one_half_last]

Beer Fair Idea #3: Do It Yourself

Plenty of enterprising craft beer aficionados are taking matters into their own hands this summer — something that’s easier to do than ever before.

Many breweries across the country are offering home delivery for the first time ever, and thanks to online retailers like Tavour (mentioned earlier), serious connoisseurs can access rare, high-end brews from some of the most celebrated breweries in the country, like Anchorage Brewing, Weldwerks, and Westbrook.

If you choose to go this route, here are some ideas:

Set the mood: Decorate your home like a beer festival. This is the perfect time to hang your St. Pauli Girl poster in the living room.
Use beer steins: If you don’t have a collection already, splurge a little and invest in some fun beer steins to drink your beer from. You can go classic, like with a Libbey Heidelberg Glass Beer Mug set, get a little fancy with dimpled glass mugs, or go crazy, like with this Old German Petwer Coat of Arms German Beer Stein.
Buy a selection to taste from pale to dark: If you’re going to do this, do it right and give yourself an option to taste a variety of beers, as you would at a real beer festival.
Serve beer festival food: Get some giant pretzels, grill some brats, slow cook some beans. Serve whatever you’d like to eat with your beer.

[one_half] Pros:

It’s a good excuse to buy a lot of beer!
You can have fun decorating your living room with stuff you would never put there normally.
If you’ve been wanting to wear that pair of lederhosen, but were too embarrassed to do so in public, now you have the perfect opportunity!

[/one_half]
[one_half_last] Cons:

No festival grub — unless you make it yourself.
It will probably be way more expensive to buy all this stuff than it would to get a beer festival ticket.
No conversations with beer-loving strangers.

[/one_half_last]

Tags beer

Special Occasions

Hosting the Perfect Summer Fun Picnic

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date August 3, 2020

Summertime is in full swing, and in some locations, people are getting out and enjoying the warm weather. A popular warm-weather activity is a picnic. Depending on your resource, either July or August is National Picnic Month, and National Picnic day is celebrated in April. What a disconnect, right?

Regardless of when you celebrate picnics, there does seem to be a consensus that summer is a great time to go on a picnic, and in this post, I’ll help you have the best picnic ever!

Where did the word “picnic” come from?

Some people would like you to believe that it has a negative racial connotation. However, my research showed that the premise was false. Our modern word “picnic” comes from a 17th Century French word, “picque-nique.” A picque-nique was a social gathering where each attendee brings a share of the food or wine. The French word “piquer” either referred to a leisurely style of eating (“pick at your food”) or just plain “pick.”

Picnics today can be as simple as food shared while lounging on a tablecloth laid down on a lawn, usually at a park, to a big event featuring lots of people, picnic tables, and grilled foods. What I’m going to discuss in this post is the more intimate affair with 2 to 6 people in attendance.

Creating the Perfect Picnic

Step 1: Location, Location, Location

The first step in creating the perfect picnic is deciding on your location. Will it be at the park? The beach? Your backyard?

Ideal locations are scenic, they have a view worth looking at that you find beautiful or pleasing. Some of the best picnics I’ve been too were at National Parks such as Yosemite or the Grand Canyon. But I’ve also had some memorable picnics as my local city park, or even a vista point along a highway while traveling.

Secondly, you want to find a location that is comfortable. Is there enough shade for those who want it? Are there good locations to place the food and sit down? Some people like to sit on a blanket or tablecloth on the ground. Others prefer a picnic table. What is right for the people at your picnic?

And finally, does the location have the facilities you need? This may be as simple as a tree to lay your blanket under to as complex as a gazebo with grill and restroom facilities.

Step 2: The Food

Now that you know where you’ll be having your picnic, what will you serve?

You have plenty of options and what you choose really depends on your taste, what ambiance you’re trying to create, and what tools and facilities you’ll have available to you. Here are three ideas:

Traditionally Simple Picnic: Sandwiches and Sides
Each person gets a sandwich, some chips, and a soft drink. August is also National Sandwich Month, so this might a very good option for you. For a little flair, some fresh fruit, potato or macaroni salad, and a cookie can be added.

Continental Picnic: Baguette, Cheese, and Fruit
This is perfect for a romantic picnic. A freshly baked French baguette along with a selection of cheeses, fruits, and perhaps some cured meats, served with a bottle of wine and you’ve got a recipe for romance!

Summertime Grilling Picnic
If there is a grill available, or you’ll be bringing along your hibachi, then you can have some fun with a summertime grill. Hotdogs and hamburgers are typical, but some people like to grill chicken or even veggie burgers. Typical accompaniments are buns, condiments like ketchup, mustard, and mayo, potato salad, macaroni salad, corn on the cob, a variety of salads – you name it, if it goes with grilled food and can be packaged in a plastic container, you can bring it to the picnic. This type of picnic is great for family and friend picnics.

Step 3: Picnic Apparatus

You’ve got your location and you know what you’re going to serve. What tools, equipment, and other apparatus will you need to serve your picnic meal? Here are some suggestions:

Picnic Basket or Backpack: This is what will carry your food and equipment. Put some thought it this. You want something that will be convenient, can enough space, and will keep your food protected.
Cooler: You’ll need this if you are bringing something that needs to be chilled, such as drinks or perishable food items.
Tablecloth or blanket: Make sure you choose the right type for what you’ll be doing with it. Something you’ll put on a picnic table may be different than something you’ll place on the ground. Will you need something that has a water-resistant element to it?
Plates: Paper plates are your best option because they make for easy cleanup. But even with paper plates, you have a lot of options.
Cups or glasses: What kind of beverage will you be serving? If you’ll be providing canned beverages like soda or beer, cups may not be needed. But if you’ll be serving wine, you may want to bring along plastic wine glasses.
Napkins, paper towels, and utensils: You’ll want something to help clean up spills, as well as cut and eat the food you’re serving.
Cutting board and sharp knife: If you’ll be bringing food that you’ll need to prepare on-site, be sure to bring what you’ll need to prepare it!
Specialized tools: If you’re bringing wine, you may need a corkscrew. If you have bottled drinks, bring a bottle opener. If you are grilling, you may need togs or a large grilling fork. If you plan to make s’mores, be sure to bring skewers to roast the marshmallows with.
Ice: You’ll need this for your cooler as well as to cool down your beverages. If you have time, you can freeze some bottles of water to use as ice. The benefit of this is that you can drink them when they defrost!
Trash bags: Please leave the picnic area as clean (or better) as you found it. Pick up after yourself!
Bug repellant: Depending on your location, you may want to bring along some bug spray, citronella candles, or both. Who wants their wonderful picnic to end with endless itching?
First Aid kit: It is always a good idea to have a first aid kid handy to attend to cuts, bruises, and other minor mishaps that can happen when out and about. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy. Just make sure you have some antibiotic spray or ointment and some bandages.

Step 4: Logistics

Now that you’ve got the big, important things decided, let’s cover a few minor details.

How will you get there? Will you drive? Hike? Kayak?
Will attendees go together or meet at the location? If the latter, be sure to provide very good directions.
What will you wear? Comfortable and flexible clothes are usually your best option.

A Picnic Is What You Make of It

There is no “right” way to have a picnic. It is what you make of it. You and your guest(s) decide what you’ll do and how much fun you’ll have. I hope the suggestions above will help make every picnic you have the best. Now go out and enjoy the summer weather!

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