Summer is in full swing, the days are longer, the air is warmer and we are all about finding any excuse to soak it all in. A picnic is a great way to bring all your friends together, lay out in the sun and just enjoy summer together. We put together a list of our favorite recipes, tips and essentials that will help you plan your next outing. Let us know what your picnic essentials are and tag us when you try one of our recipes!
Picnic Essentials:
No picnic can be complete without these essential items, some may be obvious but sometimes you need a compiled list to help with planning!
Blankets!
Portable speaker ( + a great playlist)
Coolers
Wine, beer, or a fun fruity drink
Water (water is key, don’t forget to hydrate)
Food (because, duh!)
Picnic Friendly Recipes:
What is a picnic without food? These recipes are easy and take no time, because who wants to spend all of their time in the kitchen when it could be spent outside!
We’ll be releasing our picnic series starting next week, so stay tuned.
Pesto Pasta Salad
Strawberry Balsamic Galette
Soda Bread with your choice of toppings
How to Make a Fruit/Veggie & Meat + Cheese Board:
While it might seem a bit extra or even a little excessive to make your fruit/veg/cheese/meat boards look Instagram worthy, it is totally worth it and will make all your guests impressed. It takes little time, and you will look like an absolute pro. Here are some tips to creating the most colorful and enticing boards:
Tip #1: Colors! Think about creating a variety of colors, sometimes we end up picking foods that are in one color palate but for an eye catching board you need vibrant colors. For a meat and cheese board this is important when it comes to the extras that are on the board (like olives, pickled veg, and fruit).
Tip #2: Textures! A good meat and cheese board has things that will be crunchy to go with the smooth, creamy cheeses and will have bright, pickled items to cut through the fatty meats. Even on a fruit/veg plate you want to pick out produce that have varying textures, crunchy carrots with softer, sweeter cherry tomatoes.
Tip #3: Filling the space. There shouldn’t be large empty spaces on the boards when you first make them. It should be filled but not over crowded. These can be items like a little pile of roasted nuts, pot of honey, olives, edible flowers or herbs. If a board is too crowded it could look cluttered but with intention and a little time you can make a cheese/meat board look professional. I like to alternate between a main item (cheese or meat) with extra items in between.
Tip #4: Choosing the right board/platter. Large wooden cutting boards or blocks look rustic but also polished with a cheese and meat assortment. Marble and slate are also great options, they look profession and polished but can be pretty costly. You also don’t need to spend an arm and a leg on a platter, visit your local thrift store and look for long platters or uniquely shaped cutting boards. These add character and will add to the rustic vibe of your picnic.