It’s a clear sign that summer has officially arrived. By now most families have planned their summer getaways, and are enjoying them to the fullest by now. The summers getaways that are the most fun are the ones we can enjoy together that are the least cost effective and don’t require much in gas, as travel is concerned. A preplanned picnic would fall into this of category of being cost effective most of us are looking for.
More importantly a summer picnic is an activity that is fun and family oriented ,while including just a few of our close friends. While keeping the high heat index in most areas across the United States in mind, It is best to pack up quick picnic appetizers that don’t require much cleanup afterwards.
One of the major don’ts I have found in the past that works when having a picnic outdoors in the heat is staying away from food items that contain mayonnaise. The last thing anyone wants to worry about is having someone get sick. Appetizers are always a fun way to entertain even the most hardest to please guest. Appetizers for summer picnics are great, they do well with providing variety and color, as well as great textures. The possibilities when using appetizers are endless.Whatever idea you decide upon to use for your summer picnic let there be no worries about making a mistake or doing anything wrong or out of order.
Prior to making the appetizers we want to begin by setting the scene by selecting our picnic basket. Before you go out to Bath , Bed and Beyond or Pier One Imports to name a few try looking around the house for that old gift basket that was given to you as a gift during the holidays. Now here we have this old basket just waiting in line to be used for a higher purpose like your summer picnic. The other idea is the possibility of using a cute decorative box is to be sure to select a box that is a decent enough size to pack your food and eating utensils in.
Why not use a small child size wagon to tote food items in for your summer picnic? The key is finding something that can easily tote your picnic items to its designated spot.
If using a traditional picnic basket is more your style then go for it, no one will be mad at you. Now that storage has been decided upon, it always helps when the place you plan to have the summer picnic at is thought out well in advance.
Be sure to check with your cities Local Park and recreation. Do searches online to find out what others folks living in your community near your home find to be the best open parks to go to? Once you decide on location be sure to find an area that is loaded with lots of shade, and be sure to inspect the area for ants or unusual bugs.
This helps when sitting up for a picnic outside. Prior to going decide if you and your guest will sat at a open picnic table or just spread a blanket out on the ground. Whichever choice you decide be sure to accommodate it by taking a favorite blanket to lay on the ground or maybe a fun colorful tablecloth to spread across a picnic table.
Most people may think that picnics are more successful when generated in the back drop of a open green park. Anywhere including having a picnic indoors can become a great staged arena for a picnic. Once the location has been decided upon the next challenge is deciding what to eat. Although there are many ideas for fun treats to embrace we have three original fun recipes to get you headed in a right direction. I hope that the picnic appetizers I have provided will be the beginning to a great start for your next picnic.
Upside down layered hamburger bun sandwiches
One Pack of your favorite store brand hamburger buns
Several packs of your favorite lunch meat.
Your Favorite Cheese
Lettuce Leaf
One Slice of Tomato
Place hamburger bun open faced up, Start by placing three Dill Pickles on the bottom bun. Next place a nice size lettuce leaf over your pickles. Then place your tomato on top. Now it’s time for you favorite cheese, followed by your favorite lunch meat. I choose roasted turkey laced with sun-dried tomato as my favorite. My upside down layered hamburger bun sandwich turned out yum- yum. good.
Fruit Kabobs & Cube Cheese
Strawberries
Dole Can pineapples
Sliced Apple Wedges
Sliced Mango
Seedless Grapes
Diced Sharp Cheddar cubes
Diced Swiss cheese cube
Kabob Sticks
Begin by taking a fresh strawberry and sticking it on your kabob stick. If you like you can place a piece of pre-cubed cheese on the kabob stick. Most of the items are ready for use except the mangos and apples. When cutting them up be sure to make the fruit large enough to push onto the kabob stick.
The key is to have fun no kabob you make will look the same. If you like you can take all of the fruit and cheese items above to your picnic so that guest can have fun by making their own unique fruit kabob & cheese cube summer appetizer treat.
Strawberry Graham crackers with ants
A pack of graham crackers
A small 8oz tub of Philadelphia strawberry cream cheese
California Raisons
Start by spreading the strawberry cream cheese onto the graham crackers. If you like you can substitute and use you favorite flavor a cream cheese or go with the plain cream cheese if you like next end this quick desert by dropping some healthy raisins on top.
When choosing my appetizers I was sure to use items that would be quick to make with less clean up as possible. I then made sure, that I had at least one meat item,. If you have guest that are vegetarian’s, the sandwiches above can easily be served without meat. All of your vegetables are on your sandwiches above. Notice that I choose to use fruit and a little bit of cheese to cover our dairy.
I then followed up with a super quick desert that wouldn’t be too heavy in the summer heat. I was sure to keep in mind food items that are light and quick for our summer getaways picnic. The key is to have summer appetizers that will easily satisfy all of your guest palettes.
Once everything is prepared and ready to go be sure to grab a pretty set of fresh flowers while you are at the grocery store shopping. It doesn’t hurt to look for flowers that had recently been marked down. This sort of deal would serve great in achieving the task of having a picnic that doesn’t cost a fortune. The last step is easy, simply have fun and enjoy the company of your guest and some great summery picnic appetizer treats.
