Underground Journal

How to Prepare for a Holiday Picnic

Holidays are great occasions for picnics; the most popular of which is the fourth of July.  The focus of these events is always food and the planning and preparation of the food requires considerable thought and a little work.

Find out about the facilities where you plan to go.  If fire pits or BBQ grills are allowed on the picnic grounds, you may want to carry foods that can be prepared there.  If so, the “cooking out” can be a fun part of the trip.  Things like corn on the cob, hamburgers, hot dogs, sloppy joes and even baby back ribs are great when prepared and eaten on the spot.  This is where the cold beverages, whether soft drinks or beer, are most enjoyed while standing around the fire, smelling that wonderful aroma coming from the cooking food.

If you don’t plan to cook on location, you’ll need to prepare everything at home and pack it for traveling.  Sandwiches are always a staple as well as fruits and raw veggies with dips.  My two favorites to carry to any picnic occasion are potato salad and fried chicken (You can tell I’m from the South).  The potatoes should be cooked well done so that when you stir in the mayo, the mustard and the pickle relish, you get a mash potato texture with small potato lumps.  A deep non stick frying pan is great for frying the chicken; you’ll want to almost cover it with oil and fry at 350 for ten to fifteen minutes to make sure it is completely done throughout.

When transporting your food to the picnic area, make sure to pack it in coolers for safety sake and make the cooking and eating of the food your first activity so it doesn’t sit around in the heat too long.  To avoid food poisoning, never allow foods to sit out in the sun for any period of time and be aware that mayonnaise and raw meat products are especially vulnerable.

Last, but not least, take along a good first aid kit, a bottle of sun tan lotion, insect repellent and lip balm.  With a little planning, your holiday picnic can be a fun filled, memorable occasion.  Happy picnicking!

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