The most simple meals, when taken outside, are often the most amazing - all it takes is a sunny day, a warm breeze, a blanket piled with great food and good company, and you’ve got all the makings for a memorable occasion.
Preparing the perfect picnic takes a little prep and a little strategy – you don’t want your cheese to melt into a pile of goo in the sun, and you want your snacks to taste great at room temperature A few ice packs can go a long way, as will a good cooler, but you’ll want to fill it with portable eats that do well in transit, like pasta salads, cured meats, hardy cheeses, and pretty much anything that you can fit and eat from a lidded jar is a plus.
Also on our list? flavorful tapenades that require no refrigeration, crackers that won’t break in transit, and an assortment of dried fruit and nuts that’ll will keep you fueled up all day (without weighing you down for the bike ride back) - let’s hear it for warm weather!
Easy as figs and prosciutto! Parmigiano Reggiano is a great cheese to take outside - it's hard and dry, and can really stand up against the heat. Prosciutto doesn't require refrigeration, and figs are an elegant choice - but feel free to replace with your peaches or the more traditional melon.
Above: Sweet figs + salty prosciutto ham and parmiggiano cheese are a match made in culinary heaven.
Good old deviled eggs are a picnic staple, but can get a bit boring. Dress them up three way with bacon, Spanish Pimenton de la Vera and avocado. Our recipe calls for caviar, but that might be better off left out, since it won't really keep in the warm weather.
Above: deviled eggs, three ways.
This fresh pasta dish is perfect to take to the park, beach or just the backyard. The salty anchovies give the simple dish a burst of flavor, while the seasonal veggies make it a healthy, fiber-rich meal. A touch of sweet honey and fragrant thyme is unexpectedly delicious.
Above: a simple pasta salad heaped with seasonal veggies.
These zesty shrimp are the perfect match to a cold drink! They're pickled, which means they will keep, and they can easily be transported in mason jars. Take some bamboo skewers for easy eating.
Above: pickled shrimp.
For a picnic, we're fans of anything and everything that can be transported AND eaten out of the same container, like this apple crumble dessert. Pack it in mason jars or even jam jars. A dollop of whipped cream can stand in for the ice cream in the recipe.
Above: the classic apple pie gets a new presentation that's perfect for the road.
If you're looking for a fresh, light and healthy picnic alternative, look no further than this quinoa salad. It's filled with veggies - and you could even throw in some seasonal fruit and dried nuts to boost that health power!
Seasonal fruit should always be a central part of your eating, and we love it combined with a little summer boozin'! This light and fresh sangria is made with strawberries and rose water, for a fragrant concoction that also looks oh-so-Instagrammable.
The classic summer picnic sandwich gets a smoky boost with luxurious smoked salmon. This recipe is heavy on mayo and sour cream, so make sure you've got ice packs in your cooler and don't let it sit out for too long in the sun (although if you ask us, you'll be tempted to wolf them down in two bites!).
