Things to Pack in a Picnic Basket
The origin of the "moveable feast" is the medieval hunting feast, which morphed into outdoor banquettes during the Renaissance. Generations later, the modern-day picnic, complete with a fabric-lined, dual-lid basket, became popular in the mid-19th century. Sadly, with the advent of fast food, the traditional picnic basket full of homemade goodies is often replaced by a drive-thru order and the art of packing a picnic basket is fast becoming a lost one. Does this Spark an idea?
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The Basket
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Picnic baskets come in many styles, but the most iconic is the basket with two hinged trap doors that open on either side of a handle. If you have no picnic basket, try a cardboard box with cutouts on either side for handy carrying. Sturdy paper grocery bags will do the trick; even better are the reusable bags with a rectangular shape preserver at the bottom to prevent the bag from caving in on itself. The most important thing when choosing a picnic receptacle is fitting into it everything you need.
The Food
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Choose foods for your picnic that are lightweight, easy to eat and slow to wilt or spoil. Traditional picnic fare includes deviled eggs, sandwiches or cold chicken, macaroni or potato salad, homemade cookies and something cold to drink in a thermos. Really, though, anything goes. Wrap up some leftovers, roll up a few burritos, pack up a meatloaf -- anything you can eat at home, you can eat at a picnic. Do avoid foods that need to be cut with a knife or eaten with a spoon, such as steak and soup.
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The Essentials
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You will need plates, forks and napkins for ease of eating; salt and pepper for seasoning; and cups for drinking. If you're packing wine, don't forget the bottle opener. Keep food cool with an ice pack or freeze a few bottles of water for drinking and cooling the other items in the picnic. Tuck in a couple of plastic grocery bags for garbage and dirty silverware. A lightweight sheet to spread out for sitting upon is a must, and pack some clamps in case you happen upon a picnic table and want to use the sheet as a tablecloth.
Extra Gadgets
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A small can of bug spray will keep the mosquitoes at bay. If your picnic is to take place after dark, some tea lights and matches will provide ambiance. Create a picnic playlist and tuck away the MP3 player and portable speakers for mood music. Toss in a couple of travel-sized games or a deck of cards for after-dinner entertainment.
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References
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