Picnic Fun - Tips and Recipes

How to Plan the Ultimate Tailgate Party

Tailgating, in and of itself, is as much of a draw as the game for some people.  Great food, camaraderie and team spirit bring together people of all ages in stadium parking lots and driveways across the country.  If you enjoy planning tailgate parties yourself, you’ve undoubtedly thought carefully about every detail in an attempt to one-up the other tailgaters.  The right gear – and plenty of stuff proudly declaring your team loyalty – can make you king (or queen!) of the tailgating circuit.  Here are some tips for planning the ultimate tailgate party.

Get your Gear

The heart of any good tailgate party is the food, which makes your grill front and center of the action.  Since you can’t pack your giant backyard propane grill into your truck, you’ll need a good portable grill.  Get one that can be safely placed on a tabletop for maximum convenience.  If you want to keep your gear to a minimum, you could get a grill that also has other functions, like the Vulcan Tailgater Grill and Cooler (pictured above).  This all-in-one item combines a sleek portable propane grill with a cooler, and even comes with a 3 piece BBQ set.

A heavy-duty picnic mat can do triple duty as a tablecloth, floor covering or blanket.  Get one with waterproof backing for those less-than-sunny days, like the Mega Picnic Mat (pictured)  You’ll also need a cooler for all of your food and beverages as well as some tableware.  Check out this Tailgater Picnic Set on Wheels, a deluxe picnic set with a large insulated cooler compartment and all the tableware you need for four people.  If you’re expecting a large group, you’ll need disposable tableware – just don’t forget to bring a trash bag to put it all in after the party.

Don’t forget seating.  You can perch comfortably on your tailgate with a Picnic Plus Stadium Seat, or let your friends lounge in a Portable Sports Chair.  Ask them to each bring their own outdoor folding chair if you don’t want to provide seating for everyone.

Having something to put the food, drinks and grill on is important too.  A folding table that folds down compact to fit easily into the back of your vehicle will be a welcome addition to your collection of tailgating gear.

Check out a whole selection of tailgating gear including BBQ tools, coffee flasks, warm blankets, picnic sets and stadium seats at PicnicFun.com.

Planning & Packing

Make sure you’ve got everything you need and are all set to go by following these tips:

• You’re not attending a tea party with Grandma, so it doesn’t matter if the food you choose is messy as long as you have some wet wipes to clean it all up.  Some favorites include BBQ ribs, grilled sausage, hot dogs, burgers, chicken and steak.  Keep it simple with some hoagie rolls or buns, condiments, and an array of pre-sliced fixings like tomatoes, lettuce and onions.  You can get convenient pre-made sides from grocery stores or delis, or prepare them a day or two before the big game. 

• Keep food safety in mind – you need to keep cold foods cold until they’re ready to be consumed.  Cold packs in a high-quality cooler are often enough to keep your food chilled without having to use a lot of loose ice, which tends to melt quickly. 

• Check with the stadium ahead of time to make sure alcoholic beverages are permitted, if you plan to bring them.
• Don’t forget all the little things you’ll need to get your food and beverages open, like can openers and bottle openers. 
• Plan to arrive 3-4 hours before the game starts to get a good spot and fire up the grill.
• Aim to have all your food ready an hour and a half before the game starts to give everyone plenty of time to eat and clean up.

Want some tasty tailgating recipes?  Check out our previous post, Picnic Recipes, Tailgate Recipes - Food that travels!

Warm, Comforting Fall Picnic Desserts

Insulated picnic coolers can be used to keep foods warm as well as cold, so why not include a few warming desserts in your next picnic meal?  Just heat foods prior to leaving your house and wrap them in aluminum foil to retain heat.  You can use heat packs (follow the instructions carefully) to increase the heat retention.  Choose a picnic pack with a separate insulated beverage compartment (like the Cafe Pacifico Coffee & Tea Backpack for 2, pictured, which comes with an insulated beverage flask).  We recommend doing this because every time you open your cooler to grab a beverage throughout your picnic (which is generally quite often), warm air will escape.  Bring a small extra cooler along if you want a few cold food items as well; insulated totes are a great choice.

We’ve chosen the following three simple-to-prepare yet delicious user-submitted recipes from Recipezaar.com to satisfy your sweet tooth and keep you warm and cozy on your outdoor excursions this fall.  With three classic fall ingredients – apples, cranberries and pumpkin – they’ll invoke all the pleasant memories that make fall such a fun time.

Virginia Apple Pudding
By Chuck in Killbuck on Recipezaar.com

Ingredients:

2 cups apples, sliced thin
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Melt butter in a 2 quart casserole dish.
Combine sugar, flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and milk to make a batter.
Pour the batter on the butter (without mixing).
Put apples in the center of the batter (without mixing).
Bake in 375 degree oven until batter covers apples and crust browns, approximately 30 to 40 minutes.
Note: This is especially delicious if made with Northern Spy apples.

Pumpkin Eggnog Pie
By Divinemom5 at Recipezaar.com

Ingredients:

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups eggnog (from dairy case)
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie shell

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In medium bowl, beat pumpkin, eggs, sugar, spices, and salt until smooth.
Slowly stir in eggnog.
Pour into crust, bake 15 minutes.
Reduce heat to 350 degrees.
Bake 45-50 minutes longer or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Cranberry Bars
By Bonnie Young on Recipezaar.com

Ingredients:

2 eggs (beaten)
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup chopped nuts
2 cups cranberries (fresh or frozen)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Beat together eggs, butter, sugar and vanilla.
Add flour and baking powder and mix well.
Fold in nuts and cranberries.
Pour into prepared 9 x 12 cake pan.
Bake for 40-45 minutes

Fall Picnic Essentials: Our Top Picks

With the heat of summer fading and cool breezes picking up, you’ll soon be spending a lot of your free time outdoors enjoying the weather.  Fall is full of tailgate parties, sporting events, concerts, festivals, block parties and holiday celebrations.  Make sure you’ve got all the outdoor gear you need to stay warm, hydrated, comfortable and well-fed.  We’ve chosen some of our favorite products for the season, sure to come in handy for you and your family and as gift ideas for the upcoming holidays.

Rendevous Picnic Basket for 4 – The rich, deep green hues of this basket contrast with warm leather accents for a look that’s perfect for fall.  The wooden frame of the box is covered in durable canvas, and has plenty of room for all your picnicking essentials.  It comes with four wine glasses, four ceramic plates, four sets of utensils, four cloth napkins, a wine opener, and an insulated wine cooler bag.  Pack a hot, comforting meal and invite a couple friends out for a scenic drive.  You’ll love the elegance and functionality of this picnic basket.

Luxury 100% Wool Blanket – A cozy picnic blanket is an absolute must once the cool weather kicks in.  We love how thick and soft this one is, and the ‘Antique Buchanan’ design is just right for the season.  It would be the perfect item to pull out and wrap yourself up in, cup of hot cocoa in hand.  If you’re looking for something in a lower price point, check out our perennial favorite, the Sunshine Blanket Tote.  It’s a bit thinner and has a waterproof backing.

Trekker Coffee & Tea Tote for 2 – Coffee isn’t just for a morning jolt – it’s a great way to warm up in cold weather.  The Trekker can also be used for cocoa, tea and other hot beverages.  This compact tote holds two insulated steel mugs, an insulated flask, two spoons and a printed waterproof picnic mat.  It’s compact with a convenient shoulder strap in shades of sophisticated browns and greens - what more could you ask for?

Picnic Plus Stadium Seat – You’ll be the envy of all the other spectators at sporting events you attend with this luxurious stadium seat – it’s practically a portable version of your living room armchair.  With foam padding, arm rests and extra-wide hook & loop fasteners to secure it, it sure beats sitting on the bare bleachers!  It folds completely flat and has a handle for easy transport and storage, and even has a couple pockets on the sides to stick your sunglasses and other accessories in.


Tailgater Picnic Set on Wheels for 4 – This deluxe set takes care of half your tailgate party shopping list.  Instead of gathering a bunch of disposable tableware and napkins, just slide this baby out of your trunk and set it up on a folding table.  This durable pack with its rugged wheels and telescopic handles comes complete with stainless steel flatware, melamine plates, acrylic glasses, cloth napkins, salt & pepper shakers, a wooden cutting board & cheese knife and a stainless steel multi-purpose corkscrew.

Want more cool gear for all your upcoming tailgate parties?  Check out the tailgating category on PicnicFun.com.  It’s full of great holiday gift ideas for sports lovers!

Rainy Day Picnic: Bring the Fun Indoors

If you had your heart set on a picnic and it’s pouring outside, you can still get your way.  Having your picnic indoors with the sound of the rain beating on the roof can be just as romantic and fun.  Just gather up your picnicking gear and start thinking creatively.

First, spread out your picnic blanket on the ground.  You can have your picnic in the living room or on a covered porch.  Use throw pillows to make the seating area even more comfortable.  Make sure you’ve got enough room for the picnickers and all your gear.

Turn down the lights and use candles for soft, romantic illumination.  If you’ve got kids, let them use flashlights instead of candles.  They’ll get a kick out of the ‘spooky’ rainy day atmosphere.  You could also put a string of white lights in a small potted tree, if you have one, or just hang them somewhere in your home.  Some people even like to go so far as to place all their houseplants around the picnic area to give it more of an outdoor feel.  If you have a fireplace (and the weather is cool enough), now’s a great time to get it going!

If you have carpeting, be extra careful about glasses of wine, juice and other drinks that could get knocked over and leave a stain.  It’s wise to give kids clear liquids instead, just in case.  Since your picnic is indoors, you’ve got a wider array of choices for your meal.  You can either use that to your advantage or go ahead with whatever you had planned before it started raining.  Hot soup or dips for chips and vegetables can be really comforting on a cool day.  Kids will have a great time helping you prepare the food before you sit down on the picnic blanket to eat.

Another idea to keep kids occupied on a rainy day that doesn’t involve the TV is to set up a tent.  Kids love nothing more than building forts, even when all they have is cardboard, sheets and some string, so they’ll love having a real tent to play in.  Just make sure you have another adult present to help you out and keep them at bay while you’re setting it up.  Some tents have parts that snap into place automatically as you’re setting them up that could be dangerous if a child is too close.

Of course, no picnic would be complete without a picnic basket.  Check out the selection at PicnicFun.com.  You can also find picnic blankets, coffee & tea sets, wine and cheese sets and much more.