Sunday, October 27, 2013

By Rachael Gutierrez


Laid back summer afternoons are an ideal time for picnics. However, all the preparations required for the meals leave people wondering what they should pack in a basket. The good news is that putting a little effort in advance will pay off when a family decides to go for an impromptu outdoors dinner. Below is a look at the essentials of unique picnic baskets to get someone started on a summer laden with fun meals set outside.

Each family should have a well-stocked basket in handy. The family may be planning to have fried chicken at a park or sandwiches at a beach prior to an evening of fireworks. Whatever the case, there is something nice about a family spreading out a blanket and coming together for a meal. Picnic baskets seem to have come a long way. As much as traditional woven baskets are ideal for non-perishable food, plates and utensils, they really are not good enough for protecting most of the things a family may want to eat.

An insulated basket can be a better choice. There are new models have cooler-like technology in a way that they can cool food at safe temperatures for about three hours. If the owner stuffs ice packs in them, they can even cool for longer.

One the family find the ideal basket, they should then stock in properly in readiness for impromptu picnics. They can either choose a more convenient approach whereby they will use disposable utensils to serve the food. Alternatively, they can go for a more economical approach whereby they will utilize reusable plates and cups. If any of these options does not do for them, then they can go for green utensils to serve the food, such as those made from bamboo and other recyclable materials.

Irrespective of the option chosen, it is vital to ensure the basket is always full and ready for use. A family can organize the kit in a way that they just take it and go for the outing with no worries of whether it has everything needed or not. This saves time that would have otherwise been wasted packing up.

Once the meal is over, the basket should be cleaned while any reusable dishes that have been dirtied are washed and dried. The basket should be repacked the day it is cleaned in a way that the next time it is ready to go the next time.

As much as what is actually eaten on picnics varies, there are certain things that should always be there in hand. A well-stocked basket should have plates, cups, flatware, sanitizing wipes, salt and pepper. It can also contain a number of rocks to weigh down the corners of tablecloths or blankets, a hand sanitizer, individual packets of mayo, ketchup and mustard, together with straws. If there is a toddler or baby in the family, a spare bib can be carried, as well as garbage bags and a paring knife.

Once the unique picnic baskets are stocked, it is just a matter of throwing in some food for a family meal on the go. Things can be made easier by keeping the basket in the car trunk and the family will never think twice about last minute picnics again.




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