I can’t believe it’s almost Labor Day weekend – the unofficial last weekend of summer. I’m not quite ready to let summer go yet, so I’m packing up my family and some food and having a picnic this weekend! Want some ideas for the perfect picnic? Here are some of my favorites:
The Italian Job
Try a picnic with Italian flavors.
For an Italian-style picnic, include salami with Italian bread; prosciutto with melon (cantaloupe); pasta salad with olives, sundried tomatoes, onions and mozzarella cheese; tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese (bocconcini); fruit; and, for something sweet, cannoli with chocolate! Buon appetito!
Vive La France!
Another option is a French-style picnic.
Imagine yourself under the Eiffel Tower with this meal: French bread and assorted cheeses, fruit, wine, and macarons. To choose cheeses for your picnic, some say you should have one hard cheese, like cheddar; one soft cheese, like brie; one mild cheese, like gruyere; and one stinky cheese, like blue cheese. (No one in my house likes stinky cheese, so I went with the first three!)
The American Way
How about an all-American picnic?
Fried chicken, deviled eggs, rolls, pimiento cheese, fruit, and chocolate chip cookies. Yum!
A few tips for your end-of-summer picnic:
1. Keep the food cold. Don’t leave food out too long, or it will develop bacteria. Use a cooler and ice packs, if possible.
2. Use eco-friendly paper products and silverware, such as those made from bamboo.
3. Don’t forget plenty of water!
4. You can use anything for a picnic blanket – a tablecloth, an old sheet, or a dropcloth would work.
5. To give your picnic a fancy touch, bring a little vase of fresh flowers!
Enjoy your holiday weekend, everyone!
