Picnic Fun - Tips and Recipes

Eco Friendly Outdoor Recreation Tips

When you’re planning your outdoor activities – packing your picnic basket, loading up the camper or buying supplies for a tailgate party – do you consider the impact your outdoor fun might have on the environment?  You might think that spending time outdoors, in close contact with nature, is eco-friendly in and of itself – and it can be, so long as you are careful that you don’t harm the ecosystem in the area where you set up camp, or dump a bunch of non-biodegradable trash after a BBQ.  There are so many small ways you can ensure that your actions don’t cause harm to the world around you.  Here are some of our favorite outdoor sports & leisure tips to help you lead a more environmentally responsible lifestyle.

Nix the disposables.   It’s easy, more cost effective, and makes a big difference.  Instead of taking along paper napkins, paper plates, Styrofoam cups, disposable food containers and other things that will just end up as trash at the end of your picnic, camping trip or other outdoor excursion, pack reusables.  A simple picnic set can save you lots of money over the years – you’ll already have everything you need instead of having to purchase it over and over again.  Getting coffee to bring along on your morning hike?  Bring your thermos or mug to the coffee shop instead of getting a throwaway cup.  Think about what you end up throwing away at the end of each activity, and try to find ways to eliminate most of it.  It’s easier than you think!

Pack it in, pack it out.  That means leave nothing behind – bring it all back with you.  If you were able to carry it with you in the first place, why not tote it home as well?  Leaving behind something as small as an aluminum can will have repercussions that will last beyond the lifetimes of generations of your descendants – they don’t decompose for 200 to 400 years!  Furthermore, if you see litter along the trails, at parks and other outdoor areas, pick it up.  You can bring a small washable cloth bag or re-use a grocery bag to keep it in.  You’ll be making your favorite outdoor recreation spots more beautiful and you’ll feel good about what you’ve done.

Stay on the beaten path, and check out the rules & regulations for the areas you’re visiting.  Some national parks, for example, may have strict rules about fishing, boating or making campfires.  They aren’t trying to put a damper on your fun – they’re protecting the plants and animals in the area.  Endangered or protected species may have a fragile residence within the park, vulnerable to being upset by oblivious humans going about their outdoor recreation. 

Use manpower.  Instead of a gas powered boat, take a rowboat on your next fishing trip out on the lake.  Ride your bicycle to the park instead of driving.  Rather than taking your car right up to your camp site, which can disturb wildlife, park near the road and walk.  Get gear that will be lightweight and easy to carry – streamlined, soft-sided coolers and picnic backpacks can be a big help.

These are just a handful of small ways you can do your part to keep the world a more beautiful, healthy, hospitable place to live.  Check back with us often for more eco-friendly outdoor living tips.

Want to know more about eco-friendly products, learn how you can make a difference and get explanations for ‘green’ terms and definitions?  See the Eco Friendly Buyer’s Guide on SpecialtyLiving.com.

Winter Picnic Tips

Stuffy noses.  Fatigue.  Irritability.  Is it any wonder we don’t feel so great in the winter, if we’re staying confined to small indoor spaces all the time?  People tend to spend three to four months out of the year breathing stale air, passing each other our colds and viruses and just generally feeling ‘blah’.  Don’t let low temperatures give you the winter blues – you can still get out and have fun, and get some fresh air and exercise while you’re at it.  Here are some tips for enjoying picnics, cookouts and other activities even if it’s snowing outside.

The Gear – Many of the same items that you use for warmer seasons can still be used in the winter, such as coolers and insulated food compartments in picnic backpacks (which can keep food hot as well as cold).  However, you may want to consider a few extras if you’ll be spending a lot of time enjoying the outdoors during the winter months.  A coffee and tea pack can be a really helpful item to have on hand in cold weather – and it can be used for more things than just coffee and tea!  Soups, stews and chowder can be kept warm in the insulated flask, or you could bring along some hot apple cider or cocoa. 

A thick, warm picnic blanket is also very welcome on chilly outdoor excursions.  One trick you can use if you already have a thin picnic blanket that’s not really suitable for cuddling up in is to simply re-use the carrier (if it’s not attached to the blanket) for a warm blanket you already own. 

Also, winter is an especially important time to have waterproof seating.  Nobody likes sitting on the uncomfortable, cold frozen ground – especially when it’s wet.  Get a few portable picnic chairs to really up the comfort factor.  You also may want to pick up some stadium seats to warm and soften those cold, hard bleachers during concerts and sporting events.

The Food – Be creative with your winter picnic meals, and remember that a campfire or portable grill can be the key to hot, comforting picnic meals that really hit the spot on a cold day.  While you’re out and about enjoying winter activities, you could be warming up with veggie & meat skewers, hot campfire-style foil packets, fire-roasted chicken and other sizzling treats.  Portable propane grills are uniquely well suited to winter picnics – you don’t have to worry about wet kindling, it’s ready immediately and you can store it inside.  Check out our "Winter Picnic Recipes" and "Top Ten Greatest Campfire Recipes" for ideas.

Activities – Cold weather is no reason to stay inside for months at a time!  There are a wide variety of activities you can take part in, even when it’s snowing – whether you want to take the kids out for a fun day sledding and making snowmen, or impress your date with a creative night they’ll never forget.  See our previous posts, “Creative Picnic Ideas for Cold Weather”, “Fun Cold Weather Activities for Children” and “Romantic Winter Dates”.

Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas!

Great ideas for procrastinators

Still haven’t gotten all of your holiday shopping done?  It’s getting down to the wire, and shopping malls are guaranteed to be a giant headache from now until Christmas Eve.  Avoid the traffic snarls, lack of parking, pushing and shoving matches and pick pocketing free-for-alls.  Instead, use our holiday gift ideas to pick up what you need online or during your next trip to the grocery store.  We’ve got unique last minute gift ideas for anyone who loves picnics, entertaining, sports or any kind of outdoor fun.

Pair a high quality hostess’ cheese board with assorted cheeses from the supermarket.  3-4 different cheeses will be just right.  When selecting varieties, consider the flavor, consistency and milk type.  Flavors vary from mild to strong, and consistency from soft to hard.  Cheese is typically made from cow, goat or sheep’s milk.  You could also choose a regional theme such as Italian, English or French.  For example, a nice Italian sampler would be Fontina Val d’Aosta, Pecorino Toscano, Gorgonzola and Asiago.  There is often someone in the deli department of the market who can help you choose if you’re uncertain.

Give a wine accessory set or wine carrier along with a nice bottle of red or white.  When shopping for wine, choose something right around the middle of what the store offers, price-wise.  Unless your gift recipient is a wine connoisseur, it’s best to stick to well-known varieties like Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet.  People who love to entertain will especially enjoy this gift!  Whenever you bring wine to a holiday party, don’t expect the host/hostess to open it and serve it immediately – it’s a personal gift for him or her to enjoy on their own time.  Place it in a wine cooler or wrap it with tissue paper or cellophane, and tie it with a ribbon.

Give that BBQ lover in your life a nice set of quality grilling tools along with a bottle of marinade picked up from the food market.  Go with a gourmet or locally produced marinade, to give it a little something extra special.  Choose a BBQ tool set that’s well suited for the recipient – from a basic tool set in a canvas carrier to a tailgater’s dream set that comes complete with a portable grill.

Bring a picnic basket and pack it full of goodies.  There are so many different ways you can do this – from placing coffee, hot cocoa mix and muffins in a coffee and tea set to filling a cooler with chocolates, crackers, pretzels and sparkling cider.  If you don’t have the time to make one up yourself, check out PicnicFun.com’s picnic gift baskets.  They’re all pre-packed with high quality gourmet food and beverage items, and they can be sent directly to your recipient if they live far away from you.

Check out the Quick Ship section at PicnicFun.com and SpecialtyLiving.com .  This is another great source of gifts for recipients you won’t be seeing in person.  Instead of purchasing the gift at a store, adding your personal note and braving the post office crowds to ship it yourself, you can simply purchase it online and have it shipped directly to the recipient with a gift message.

If you’re not sure what to get, a gift certificate is a far better choice than randomly selecting something they may not like.  Gift certificates are a great option for people you don’t know well enough to purchase a personalized gift for.  It gives them the freedom to choose exactly what they want – plus, it’s super easy to give.  With e-gift certificates, you simply provide the recipient’s email address and it’s delivered straight to their inbox.  That’s a lightning fast gift!  Perfect for those of you who are going to wake up on the 24th with the cold realization that you left someone important off your list.  Internet shopping to the rescue!

Pictured from top: Lucerne Cheese Board, Celebration Wine Accessory Set, Fiero BBQ Tool Set, Corsica Wine Gift Pack.

Hot and Toasty Picnic Brunch Recipes!

The holiday season is a great time to host a picnic brunch, whether at a park or in your garden.  Regardless of the setting you choose, the most important part of brunch is the food!  Winter brunch recipes should be warm and comforting with a touch of holiday spark from flavors like cranberry and cinnamon.  Here are some of our favorite winter picnic brunch recipes from sources all over the web.

Harvest Pumpkin Apple Bread
Source: Kree at Recipezaar.com

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 cups granulated sugar
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree (such as Libby's)
4 large eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup apple juice (or water)
1 large baking apple, peeled,cored and diced

Instructions:

1.    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.    Grease and flour two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans.
3.    Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
4.    Combine sugar, pumpkin, eggs, vegetable oil and apple juice in large mixer bowl; beat until just blended.
5.    Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture; stir just until moistened.
6.    Fold in apples.
7.    Spoon batter into prepared loaf pans.
8.    Bake for 65 to 70 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
9.    Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
10.    To make using three 8 X 4-inch loaf pans: Prepare as above and bake for 60 to 65 minutes.
11.    To make using five or six 5 X 3-inch mini-loaf pans: Prepare as above and bake for 55 to 60 minutes.

Mushroom, Pepper, and Fontina Frittata
Source: Health.com

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 thinly sliced onion
1 thinly sliced green bell pepper
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 garlic clove, minced
8 large eggs
2 large egg whites
1/3 cup 1% low-fat milk
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried basil
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup fontina cheese, cut into small cubes (about 5 ounces)

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a 10-inch, oven-safe skillet or sauté pan. Add onion and pepper; sauté over medium heat 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add mushrooms, cover, and sauté 3 minutes, stirring several times. Add garlic, and sauté 1 additional minute. Remove vegetable mixture from heat, and transfer to a plate to cool briefly. Wipe pan with paper towels, and return to stove.
2. Combine eggs, egg whites, milk, salt, pepper, and basil in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk until well blended; set aside. Heat skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes and add butter, swirling pan to melt butter evenly. Add vegetables to egg mixture in bowl, stir, and carefully pour entire mixture into heated skillet. Scatter cherry tomatoes and cheese over egg mixture (do not stir).
3. Cook frittata gently over medium-low heat 15-18 minutes or untilit is cooked most of the way through. To finish cooking the top, preheat broiler and place the frittata about 6-8 inches from heat for 2-4 minutes (watch frittata carefully to ensure that it doesn't burn).
4. Remove frittata from oven, cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes, and shake pan rapidly back and forth to loosen. Cool a few more minutes, then carefully put a plate over the frittata and invert it onto the plate. Invert it again onto another plate so the frittata is right side up. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Baked Garlic Cheese Grits
Source: Paula Deen, FoodNetwork.com

Ingredients:

6 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups regular grits
16 ounces Cheddar, cubed
1/2 cup milk
4 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
8 ounces grated sharp white Cheddar

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 4-quart casserole dish.

Bring the broth, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan. Stir in the grits and whisk until completely combined. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the grits are thick, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the cubed Cheddar and milk and stir. Gradually stir in the eggs and butter, stirring until all are combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle with the white Cheddar and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until set.

Baked Eggs with Farmhouse Cheddar and Potatoes
Source: FoodNetwork.com

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 pounds red-skinned potatoes, diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
8 large eggs
1 cup extra-sharp farmhouse cheddar, shredded (about 4 ounces)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Melt the butter in a large, well-seasoned cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally until tender and brown, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper, and remove from the heat.
Push the potatoes aside to make 4 evenly spaced shallow nests and break 2 eggs into each. Bake until the egg whites are cooked and the yolks are still runny, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle the cheese over the eggs and continue baking until it just melts, about 1 minute more. Serve immediately.

Mexican Hot Cocoa
Source: Lauralie41 at Recipezaar.com

Ingredients:

3-4 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 tablespoons Nestle Toll House baking cocoa
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 1/3 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1.    In a small heavy-duty saucepan; combine sugar, cocoa and cinnamon.
2.    Over medium heat, gradually stir in milk and stir constantly until hot, do not boil.
3.    Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Beat with a wire whisk until frothy and pour into cups. Serve immediately.

Additional Winter Brunch Recipes:

Cranberry Eggnog Tart   
Madame Quiche’s Quiche Au Fromage
Dried Cranberry, Walnut and Lemon Scones
Vegetable Stew with Potato and Cheese Pancakes