Dan's Papers - August 3, 2007 - Planning the Perfect Picnic

A picnic is a perfect way to spend a summer afternoon, and with the summer creeping to a close there's no better time to bask in the sun with friends and family and revive that old tradition. Even if the little ones may be distracted playing catch or catching bugs, you can be distracted, too, because you'll have already prepared the perfect picnic.

Imagine this - you are laying out your picnic with the blanket, plates, forks, knives and wine glasses, but just as you remove the chilled bottle of wine you realize that you forgot the corkscrew! Isn't that one of the most frustrating feelings when you finally get to the park (or wherever you chose to hold your movable feast) only to discover that you've forgotten something important? So even though your mental checklist may often be your unfailing guide, take the time to write down all the essential parts of the picnic so you can literally cross them off one by one. Some of the simplest items are the easiest to forget. The corkscrew or bottle opener, the cutting board, the garbage bag or bug spray and sunscreen are items that somehow manage to escape your attention. Don't forget the napkins either, but also bring along some wetnaps to clean your hands off from the food and dirt. Try making your list now, while it's fresh on your mind. Put the list into your picnic basket for a future al fresco feast, so you will be prepared for those annoying memory lapses.

Also, reserve plenty of time to pack your picnic. It will help save you precious moments with your friends and family that afternoon.

Here are five helpful hints to perfect your picnic:

1) Separate your perishable foods from the non-perishable foods. This will save time and your food will last longer. It will also leave more room in the cooler for ice to keep the items that need to be chilled from going bad. Remember that the more stuff you pack into your cooler, the less cold it will be. Try to leave enough space so that at least 25-percent of the cooler can be just ice, but an even 50/50 split is always the best choice.

2) Try freezing your drinks the night before (unless they are in cans). This will help to keep the drinks cool and also act as an additional ice pack in the cooler. If you want to avoid the messy condensation from the drinks, try wrapping them in aluminum foil (which will keep them colder for longer) or put them in a Ziploc bag. Even if you don't freeze them, make sure they're cold going into the cooler, as the cooler will keep things cool rather than cool them itself.

3) It's backwards day! No, not really, but do pack your picnic backwards. Start with the dessert and work your way to the appetizers and snacks. This will keep you from digging through the cooler or basket to find the items you need. Not only will it save you time and effort but it will also help keep the cooler cold for longer. And you'll prevent the food from being knocked around and spilling.

4) If you have Tupperware and non-picky eaters, try packing individual servings. This will eliminate the need for serving utensils and also cancel out to the mess you might make on the blanket. Imagine the time you could spend eating your own food instead of dishing out the food to others.

5) A cookout picnic is always a fun alternative to a traditional picnic but if you are cooking out, make sure to keep the raw meats away from the cooked ones. Ideally, you should bring two coolers or baskets to keep them separate. You don't want to worry about cross-contamination.

Now that you're more than prepared, remember there are some great places and spaces to have a fun family picnic. And if you thought our high-speed society has forgotten the simple joy of picnics, don't worry because there are still plenty of parks, docks, boats and beaches full of picnic fun. So pack everyone and everything up and head outside for a good old-fashioned picnic.