July is National Picnic Month and there is no better way to spend a perfect summer day than by enjoying a simple meal spread out on a blanket in the sunshine. Fill your picnic basket or cooler with some delicious food and cold drinks, head out to your favorite park and you’re ready for al fresco fun.
The American Bakers’ Association founded National Picnic Month in 1952. And according to nationaltoday.com, the observance was created to celebrate the history of picnics and the way they bring people, cultures and even countries together. The word picnic is derived from the French “pique-nique.” Picnics go back to mid-18th-century outdoor French dining – a bottle of wine, a loaf of bread, some cheese and fruit made for an instant meal under the sky.
The best picnics include a scenic view, good company and most importantly, delicious food. It is important to keep it simple – think finger foods that travel well. National Today reports that you would be hard pressed to find a more perfect picnic food than fried chicken! Pasta salads and deviled eggs are delicious additions to the picnic basket. Also on the Top 7 list of picnic foods are homemade sandwiches, and it just wouldn’t be a picnic without the sweet, refreshing and classic summertime treat – watermelon.
Of course, a great picnic includes some tantalizing, yet simple desserts and brownies top the list of favorites. Since the weather in July is usually hot and sunny, it is always good to bring plenty of bottled water and other chilled beverages. Of course, lemonade tops the list of picnic drinks.
Besides the bountiful food and beauty of nature, a picnic brings families and friends the opportunity for the fun games we can play outdoors – corn hole is a favorite, as well as tossing the Frisbee. The most important thing is the time spent outdoors in the sunshine with family and loved ones. So, pack your basket, pick a park and get ready to partake in a perfect repast!
