Life’s a picnic…

I haven’t been on a picnic in a long while, but hope to do so this year while the weather is fitting. I haven’t yet had a chance (or, if I’m going to be honest with myself, made the time) to try out the beautiful, custom-made picnic blanket a friend brought back from Africa last year. If that’s not enough motivation, dining out – really out – can add a nice twist to mealtime, be it a fun, relaxing, or even a romantic one.

Picnicking is not hard to do either. Decide on a nice spot with some shade (make sure to check out The Chronicle’s Best of the West section on Aug. 20 for some of the West Island’s most picturesque spots for some ideas) and pack your picnic basket with a few essentials: a blanket, plates, utensils, napkins, a cutting board and knife, serving utensils, cups/and or wine glasses, a corkscrew, and a few cloths and garbage bags for cleaning up. Bring some insect repellent too if your worried about those little pesky intruders ruining your meal.

And, of course, you can’t forget the food! It doesn’t have to be as elaborate as the picnics depicted in some Victorian art (think iced champagne and lobster), but there are many simple recipes out there perfect for making a picnic, well, a picnic.

My mom introduced me to this little snack she likes to make when her and my dad decide to spend the day along Lake St. Louis. You take a baguette and slice it lengthwise down the middle. Spread some cream cheese on both sides, and then top the bread with some pesto (the store-bought kind works just fine), some chopped marinated artichoke hearts, some sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and grated parmesan cheese. Reassemble the two baguette halves into one big sandwich, and then wrap it tightly with some plastic wrap. Refrigerate it for an hour or two, and the loaf is ready to be packed in your picnic basket. Once you’re ready to eat, simply slice the baguette into small pieces and enjoy.

Pita sandwiches are also great for picnics, because they’re easy to make and not very messy to eat. One sure-fire way to make yourself some good pita sandwiches is to cut up some cucumber, tomato, and carrot and blend the vegetables with your favourite creamy salad dressing (Thousand Islands for me, please). Cut your pitas in half, and fill them with some of this mixture. Add one or two slices of cheddar cheese (or whatever else floats your boat), and some ham or turkey cold cuts, and your simple picnic lunch is pretty much ready.

If you want to travel light, but still want something to snack on while you’re enjoying nature, why not try some cheese and fruit kabobs. Get some toothpicks or skewers ready – depending on how big you want to make them – and cut up some cheddar cheese into little blocks. All you need to do is skewer them with some grapes, apple slices, strawberries, and kiwi. Pack a nice, chilled bottle of white wine or rosé with you, and your picnic date is about set.

Of course, there are so many possibilities out there, so experiment, try out different things, and enjoy your outdoor eating experience.