1.     Check out the facilities where the picnic will be held. Is there a grill, ample trashcans, bathrooms, and decent shelter? No one wants to run halfway across the park to locate a bathroom for their little ones. Know the place you will be using before you get there, if possible.

2.     Even if the weather is not hot, the sun can burn. Be sure that everyone has applied a good layer of sunscreen to protect them all day. Waterproof sunscreen works best so protection isn’t compromised. Don’t forget to bring along hats and sunglasses as well.

3.     Completely clean coolers before filling them with ice.  If the drinks are kept separate from the drinks, such as in bags then the ice cooling the drinks may be used to keep drinks cold in cups. And, as the ice melts, drain it into empty containers or cups for ice cold drinking water instead of buying bottled water.

4.     Don’t forget the insect repellant. Check labels to make sure it is safe for kids, if they will be attending the picnic. Avoid the eyes, nose, and mouth when spraying or rubbing it on the skin and reapply as needed to keep those nasty buggers away.

5.     Have adequate refrigeration for cold foods and raw meat. The night before the picnic, refrigerate all raw meats and anything that will need to maintain a cool temperature at the picnic. Move them directly from the refrigerator to a cooler full of ice. Dump the ice from the raw food cooler once the food has been prepared so no one mistakes it for ice to be used in their drink. A small kid pool filled with ice can keep the cold foods cold while everyone is eating.

6.     Cover all foods on the picnic table. Use aluminum foil or plastic wrap and keep your food safe from these unwanted guests.

7.     Bring hand sanitizer and a jug of water for hand washing and cleanup. Hand sanitizer works best when hands aren’t visibly soiled. Use water to rinse off dirt and grime, dry, and then cover hands will a generous dollop of hand sanitizer. The water can be used to cool off hot coals when grilling is complete as well.

8.     Throw away any mayonnaise or milk based dish that has been sitting out for more than an hour. In the heat, it doesn’t take long for these types of foods to go bad. Really, any dish that needs to be served cold should be taken care of after meal time as well.

When you remember these and other picnic safety rules, you’re in for a day full of fun and protection for everyone who attends. 

Enjoy!

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Cool and crisp is what most people are looking for during the heat of summer.  They want something that will not be heavy to eat.  To ensure everyone’s safety, remember that if you’re taking cold salads they must be kept cold, especially if they contain mayonnaise.  This is easily accomplished by placing the bowl with the salad into a larger bowl and place ice between them.  If you want to be fancy, place the two bowls together, carefully pour water between the bowls and place flowers, shells, or any item that will fit and put the bowls into the freezer.  When you are ready to leave for your outing, put the salad into the inner bowl.

Nothing is better on a hot summer’s day than a huge bowl of fresh fruit salad.  It’s not hard to make, either.  It may be time-consuming, but the effort will be so worth it.  Purchase your favorite fruits, cut them up, and place them in a large bowl.  You don’t have to use a dressing for fruit salad, but you probably want to squeeze lemon juice over it to keep the fruits from discoloring.

If you do choose to put a dressing on a summer fruit salad, consider adding one package of vanilla pudding to the fruit.  This option also works well for those with diabetes as they can add sugar-free pudding.  You may also choose to use yogurt or whipped cream.

People are used to having potato salad, especially during summer barbecues.  Recipes for potato salad vary according to region and family.  Some families use mustard, others use a vinegar base, and some add sour cream to theirs.  No matter what you add, potato salad is something that families across the country will enjoy.

Cole slaw is another quick summer salad, and again it’s something that each family makes differently.  The major ingredient, of course, is cabbage; what you add to it is what makes it different.   Many people use a cider vinegar in their cole slaw, but you may prefer to leave it out.

Are you looking for something different to take to a summer party?  Are you tired of tossed salad with lettuce, tomatoes, and dressing?  Are you sick of potato salad or cole slaw?  Consider taking a broccoli salad instead.  It’s very easy to make.

Broccoli Salad

2 lbs. chopped broccoli 
2/3 cup mayonnaise
½ cup grated cheese 
¼ cup sugar
4 strips crumbled bacon 
4 tsp. vinegar
1 diced red onion

Fry the bacon until crispy; drain well and then crumble.  Add the bacon to the broccoli, onion, and cheese.  Mix the mayonnaise, sugar, and vinegar together in a small bowl and then pour that over the salad.  Toss well to evenly coat the broccoli.  Chill well before serving.

Warm weather is a great time to make summer salads for any occasion.  They’re healthy, quick to fix, and won’t heat up your kitchen.  All in all, they’re the perfect summer fare for any event you need to attend.

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1/3 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pound Golden Delicious apples, cored, cut into 1/2 inch slices (6 cups)
1 pound Granny Smith apples, cored, cut into 1/2 inch slices (6 cups)
1 (15 ounce 2 crust) package refrigerator piecrust
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon water
1 (12 ounce) jar caramel ice cream topping
Instructions:

Combine butter and cinnamon together in a large mixing bowl.  Add both types of apples and toss to coat.  Line two large baking pans with aluminum foil. Heat oven to 475 degrees.  Roast apples one pan at a time for 5 minutes turning once while roasting.  The apples should just start to brown around the edges. Allow the apples to cool right in the pans.  Reduce oven heat to 375.  Bring piecrust dough to room temperature.  Place one crust in the bottom of a 9 inch pie plate.  In a mixing bowl combine the brown sugar, flour and salt.  Place the roasted apples, both pans juice included into the bowl with the brown sugar mixture.  Coat the apples well.  Place the apples in the pie plate.  Flour a flat surface and roll the second dough out to a 14 inch circle.  Cut 4 slits in the dough.  Place the dough over the top of the apples.  Cut dough to 1/2 inch beyond plate.  Crimp edges.  Place the lightly beaten egg in a bowl.  Add the water and mix together.  Brush the top of the pie with the egg mixture.  Place aluminum foil around the edge of the pie to keep the crust from browning too much and becoming hard.  Bake 30 minutes.  Remove the aluminum foil from the edges and bake 35 minutes longer.  The top should be a golden brown and the filling bubbly.  Drizzle with the caramel topping as soon as you take the pie from the oven.  Cool.     

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If entertaining your guests in Martha Stewart fashion isn’t your strong suit, but you want to dazzle some guests for your next special occasion we’ve got a great place to start.  Create a dessert spread that is to die for and guests will talk about the gathering for years to come.

There are three main options for creating an excellent dessert spread. The first, of course, involves doing all the whipping up, baking and crafting yourself. The second requires a phone call to the local bakery. The third is a great combination of the first two.

If you choose the first route, don’t worry, some desserts really lend themselves to being made in advance. You can store them quite well for several days in airtight containers, in the refrigerator or freezer. Should the second or third appeal – you’re not alone. Some people simply adore baking, but others hate it. Some don’t mind baking, but hate the clean up.  Having a baking phobia does not have to exclude you from putting on an incredible spread.

What exactly goes into creating a stunning dessert display? The first thing is to keep visual appeal in mind. Even if your cookies, cakes and pies are visually appealing, having the right serving trays and plates can really lend to the overall experience. Consider tiered cookie and cake slice holders for some desserts, silver platters for others and even elevated cake holders. Create several visual layers of desserts on a well-decorated table and the display will not fail to capture attention.

Now, to make the display also please the taste buds, you’re going to need to keep one word in mind. Variety! The simple truth is that if you pack 30 people into a party, they are all going to have their own ideas on what constitutes an excellent dessert. Ideas for making this happen include:

Cookie assortment – Use those tiered holders to offer up a wide selection of cookies. If the idea of making dozens of different flavors doesn’t appeal, bakery purchases work very well here.  Ordering cookies from a bakery also ensures that you get a bigger variety.  When you bake them yourself you end up with dozens per recipe, you can order as few or as many as you want from the bakery.

Cakes – Offer up a plain cheesecake, a luscious chocolate cake and maybe some sinfully delicious angel food cake with fresh fruit garnishes. Baking these with a good outcome is not as difficult as some might think.  Offering some fancy sauces goes a long way to creating multiple desserts with only one baked item.  You can also add sprigs of mint and fresh berries to any sauces for a more elegant look.

Pies – Adding a pie or two and some fresh whipped cream to top it off can very much add to eye and stomach appeal of a dessert table.

Petit fours and other fancy items – You might want to call on a bakery if you decide to add more complicated items to the menu, but they can really bring a lot to the tasty landscape. If you adore baking, these items can present a fun challenge.  There aren’t many chances that something so fancy is called for so take the chance to create something new.

Candy – A dish or two of assorted candies – homemade or not – can please those with a sweet tooth, but not a big appetite.

Fruit – Not everyone wants their sweets to contain a ton of calories. Offering a healthier alternative is an excellent way to score with guests who are so inclined.

Creating a dessert spread can turn an ordinary entertaining experience into an extraordinary one. By offering up a variety of flavors, you are more assured of dazzling guests and finding just the right flavors to make their mouths water and their tongues wag about your elite hosting skills for years to come.

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