Picnic ideas for warm summer days

Picnics are a staple during the summer. Eating outdoors lets you switch up your routine and enjoy the nature near your home. You want to pack foods that won’t spoil, but that your friends and family will enjoy at the same time. Having a picnic doesn’t mean you have to get out a bunch of gourmet food or spend a ton of time preparing it. Put together a list of picnic ideas for warm summer days and mix and match your favorites to keep your picnic meals new and interesting each time you spread out your blanket.

Sandwiches are a crowd pleaser and there are so many versions that you’re sure to lay out a spread that everyone will enjoy. Spread some bread with peanut butter and jelly to please the younger set. Layer turkey slices and guacamole on bread, roll ham and cheese in tortillas, or stuff pita pockets with tuna or chicken salad. Serve cream cheese and cucumbers or tomato slices and cheese on bread. Cut sandwiches into quarters so they are easy to eat while you’re sitting on the ground. If you have a place to cook, you can serve up some hot dogs and hamburgers for a hot meal.

No picnic is complete without potato salad or coleslaw. Grab some at the grocery store or make your own. But don’t stop there. Toss together chopped vegetables and hard boiled eggs or cooked pasta with pepperoni, olives, and cucumbers. Stir chunks of fruit together for a sweeter salad.

Many side dishes have a place on your list of picnic ideas. Keep it easy and bring a couple bags of potato or corn chips. Most people like them and they are easy to serve and clean up. Slices of watermelon, cantaloupe, or apples also make a good side dish when served with sandwiches or hot dogs and hamburgers. Bring carrot sticks, slices of cucumber, bell peppers, and celery stalks along with ranch dressing.

You can’t go wrong with the classics, but if you want something new for your picnic, there are so many options that you won’t have a hard time finding something everyone will like. Blend tomato juice with a handful of bread crumbs and a clove of garlic to make gazpacho. Bring along dishes of cut up bell pepper, avocado, onion, cucumber, and tomato and let your friends and family mix in their favorites. Serve with a side of crusty bread. Or slice up leftover chicken and sandwich it in a tortilla spread with pesto and shredded lettuce. Serve cold steak on spinach with cooked mushrooms, onions, and red wine vinegar. Combine corn, black beans, jalapeno, and tomatoes with lime juice and chili powder and serve with quesadilla wedges. Fill avocado halves with a mixture of avocado cubes, cooked and diced shrimp, and salt and pepper. You can also mix leftover brown rice and salmon with parsley, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar and serve it in pita pockets. Spread crusty bread with goat cheese and top with roasted red peppers. Serve with olives and pear slices.

No picnic is complete without tableware. Bring a blanket to sit on and to keep your food clean. Pack serving utensils for each of the dishes you are bringing. Don’t forget plates, napkins, and silverware, which come in handy when you sit down to eat.