Celebrating Summer: Cool Food for Hot Days
For many people, the warmer weather of summer means escaping a hot kitchen to picnic out of doors, either at the seaside or somewhere among the shade trees of a grassy park. It’s a nice thought: toting a delicious meal to a cooler place, hopefully catching a breeze and some relief from the heat. An enjoyable and relaxed picnic is hard to pull off, though.
I spent the summers of my childhood on Cape Cod, experiencing more than my share of sand-enhanced peanut butter sandwiches and brazen seagulls. A lifetime of avoiding those unpleasant moments has led me to create checklists for both the logistical and creative details of picnicking so friends and I might have a wonderful time dining al fresco.
Let’s get the practical things out of the way first. Once these are crossed off your packing list, you’ll be able to let your imagination soar when planning and preparing what to eat. Keep in mind, you may wish to adjust this list to work for your specific needs. But here’s a start.
You’ll need some sort of vessel for carrying your meal. Traditional picnic baskets are always a nice, whimsical touch, but coolers can be more practical. I always recommend using what’s on hand. Roomy backpacks make for easy carrying, as do large tote bags that you can sling over your shoulder. Whichever you choose, don’t forget the ice or reusable freezer inserts. Keep all food in sealed containers to keep it fresh, sand-free, and seagull-protected.
Remember to bring the cold beverages of your choice in thermoses or on ice.
Make sure to pack utensils and tableware. I like recyclable bamboo for utensils, as well as cloth napkins, melamine for dishware, and reusable plastic glasses for beverages. The idea is to minimize waste. If that’s not possible, go for molded paper for plates and cups, as well as paper napkins, and recycle or compost these when possible.
Bringing a few extra bags for trash and recycling is recommended if you’re picnicking at a carry-in/carry-out spot.
For comfort, don’t forget the sunscreen, hats, sun umbrella if needed, sunglasses (great for the littles too!), bug spray, basic first aid supplies, and wet wipes.
If you’re picnicking with folks who need to be entertained, you might want to include a list of games to play that don’t require carrying more equipment (such as Red Light, Green Light, I Spy, and Charades) or something simple and lightweight like bubbles and bubble wands.
You’ll want blankets if you’ll be sitting on the ground, towels for drying off if you’ll be near a beach or lake, and perhaps even a tablecloth if you choose to sit at a communal picnic table instead of the ground.
Now for the food, the indisputable star of any picnic.
Sometimes, a few sandwiches and some sodas, such as my mother packed for those beach lunches way back when, will suffice. However, if you’re aiming to take a full meal out of the house, you may like to consider this formula: one or two substantial things, two side dishes, finishing with a simple dessert.
The Main Course
Sandwiches are the go-to for the simple reason that you can include several treats in one handheld package. Go traditional with cheese, your favorite ham (country, prosciutto, speck) or turkey with tomato relish in a pita. Or how about going minimalist while celebrating summer tomatoes with this hard-to-beat classic Tomato Sandwich. Or try my new favorite sandwich–this vegetarian twist on the Nicoise Pan Bagnat.
A jug of wine, a loaf of bread, and thou — make for a cool charcuterie board. Photo by Calvin Shelwell on Unsplash.
But if sandwiches aren’t your thing, make a large frittata using local, seasonal vegetables. Slices can be eaten cold or at room temperature. Or, for something both a little more casual and a little more romantic, try charcuterie and/or cheese boards. When bringing these on a picnic, keep the construction simple and save the more elaborate boards for your next dinner party.
Here are some great tips for creating a portable spread. If you need a change from, or a healthy boost to, all this meat and cheese, add your favorite hummus with cut veggies and pita chips. A store-bought favorite is always fine, but why not try your hand at making hummus at home? I find this recipe from Michael Solomonov makes enough for a party, but it’s easily cut in half.
The Accompaniments
Yum! Photo by Kateryna Hliznitsova on Unsplash
You probably have tried-and-true cole slaw and potato or pasta salad recipes in your repertoire. But sometimes a picnic offers a good opportunity to shake things up. A good rule of thumb is one dish made with all vegetables and a second that includes whole grains. If that kind of change sounds good to you, look no further than these three favorites of mine: Nigella Lawson’s Sweet and Sour Slaw, Smitten Kitchen’s delicious Broccoli Rubble and Farro Salad, and my own Toasted Bulgur Wheat Salad with fresh corn and tomatoes.
The Finale: A Little Something Sweet
Desserts should be easy to pick up by hand and not messy. I always recommend brownies and blondies. Bring your favorite fudgy or cake-style brownie. Or try a Blondie for a change. This Peanut Butter Blondie is always popular in my circle. But if you need to accommodate anyone with nut allergies, try King Arthur Baking’s Classic Chocolate Chip Blondie, omitting the walnuts or pecans.
I hope these ideas for packing supplies and food will inspire you to get out into the beautiful outdoors to enjoy a stress-free and delicious meal with family and friends!
P.S. — Don’t forget to bring a summer read along! Here are three of my favorites.