Tips for the Perfect Picnic
The key to a successful picnic is planning and preparing ahead of time — so that you can simply relax and enjoy yourself once you unpack your picnic basket. Things to pack include:
- Blankets or ground cover
- Forks, knives, spoons, plates, cups, bowls, etc.
- Serving utensils & dishes, including large spoons & forks
- Sharp knives
- Cutting board (can double as a serving tray)
- Tablecloth, serviettes & paper towels
- Can opener, bottle opener & corkscrew
- Salt & pepper
- Appropriate condiments including mustard, ketchup, relish or whatever works with your menu
- Plastic containers or storage bags for leftovers
- Trash bags for clean up
- Moist towelettes for clean ups
- Ice
- Beverages, including water
- And of course, your food….
- Other items to consider: insect repellent, sunscreen, bathing suit, books or magazines, deck of cards, camera
TIP: I keep a checklist of items in my picnic basket at all times. Every time we head out for a picnic I always have a quick way of ensuring I don’t forget anything before we leave the house!
It’s all in the (picnic) bag!
As summer breezes fill the air, it’s time to take dining to a whole new level. Get your family together or call up friends and head out to a local park, the trails, or your own back fields, spread out a blanket and enjoy the best an Ontario summer has to offer.
Picnicking has never been easier than with this classic picnic bag from Kitchen Basics. Featuring an insulated centre for storing food, this strong, sturdy bag has everything you need for your picnic, including four colourful melamine plates, four polystyrene wine glasses, four stainless steel forks, spoons and knives, and four classic cloth serviettes. All you need to do is pack up the food (and perhaps a bottle of wine) and head to the hills, the beach, the trails or the meadow. Bon appetite!
Sunny Summer Entertaining with ZAK
Bring some fun & colour into your outdoor entertaining with Zak — the hottest new trend in casual tableware!
Zak Designs is dedicated to serving the dinnerwear needs of families by providing playful, colourful, modern and fun products that highlight innovative designs and crisp clean lines.
Featuring retro-look melamine, ceramic and polycarbonate dinner and drinkware, Zak products are dishwasher safe and nest easily into one another — perfect for taking on a picnic, storing in your boat or RV or to pack up and take to the cottage.
Top Ten Reasons for Picnic Entertaining:
- You don’t have to clean the house.
- Nothing can get broken or stained in your house.
- You have no mess to clean up the next day.
- You don’t have to worry about the noise.
- You don’t have to worry about guests who stay too late — you can just leave!
- You don’t have to limit the number of guests you invite due to space restrictions.
- You can entertain without worrying about your mother, your pets, your roommates…
- If you’ve planned properly there should be no leftovers.
- It can be a great romantic gesture.
- Picnics are much less expensive than eating out!
A Few Places to Picnic in The Hills of Headwaters
Did you know?
Picnic comes from the French word pique-nique, meaning "a fashionable social entertainment" in which each guest brings a contribution to the feast. In other words, pique-nique was a fancy way of saying "potluck."
"Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors.” Alice Walker
A teddy bears' picnic, traditionally a party for young children and their teddy bears, is believed to have originated from the 1907 “Teddy Bear’s Picnic instrumental march by John Walter Bratton.
WORDS TO THE TEDDY BEAR'S PICNIC SONG
If you go out in the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go out in the woods today
You'd better go in disguise.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.
CHORUS
Picnic time for teddy bears,
The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,
And see them picnic on their holiday.
See them gaily dance about.
They love to play and shout.
And never have any cares.
At six o'clock their mommies and daddies
Will take them home to bed
Because they're tired little teddy bears.
If you go out in the woods today,
You'd better not go alone.
It's lovely out in the woods today,
But safer to stay at home.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic
CHORUS
Every teddy bear, that's been good
Is sure of a treat today
There's lots of wonderful things to eat
And wonderful games to play
Beneath the trees, where nobody sees
They'll hide and seek as long as they please
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic
CHORUS