NSBR: Picnic Food and Drink

[hz80408]

We have a group of people going out to a "concert park" on Saturday. The show's at 4:45. We're setting up a spread on the lawn and have all agreed to bring food and drink to share for picnic style night.

I'm planning on making sangria for drink; but I'm torn on food. Any suggestions on easy items to make/share that won't need to be heated. We're taking coolers, so having to keep them cold for a few hours would be okay, but can't take up too much space.

Already being brought is: greek salad, caprese sandwich bites, cheese/salami/crackers and possibly italian pasta/quinoa salad.

Help!

[joanis018]

this watermelon salsa is amazing:

www.thebaloneybug.com/2011/07/25/watermelon-salsa/

or cheesecake in a jar:
www.thebaloneybug.com/2011/07/11/and-now-cheesecake-in-a-jar/

[Deleted]

I usually bring a couple kinds of dip, chips and veggies for dipping, some kind of sandwiches, pasta or potato salad, fruit like grapes or strawberries, and some kind of sweetie (cookies or brownies) to these types of things.

[wawa]

oh, oh cheesecake in a jar!

I was thinking you needed a dessert, but all I could come up with that wouldn't be messy to pack was boring old brownies or cookies.

[Deleted]

You could do mini cheesecakes in a muffin tin too, there's a recipe floating around somewhere for ones with a Nilla Wafer in the bottom of the muffin liner for the crust.

[Deleted]

Idea for dipping crackers is pepper jelly over cream cheese. Super easy and delicious.

[hz80408]

Yum, me too Mav! Thanks for the ideas, keep them coming!

[valhaman]

Oh! The little tortilla roll-ups!

Pimento cheese, pasta salad, chicken salad, marinated vegetables

[bimbi284]

These seem easy enough if you're into cake batter. The puppy chow is like crack:

gimmesomeoven.com/cake-batter-rice-crispy-treats/

www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/02/chex-funfetti-cake-batter-buddies.html

I made these for a recent BBQ (thanks to a rec from a fellow GBCNer), and people were going crazy over them:

www.recipelion.com/Gluten-Free/Chocolate-Peanut-Butter-Marshmallow-Bars#

[janegold]

Wine & cheese are my go-to picnic items. Especially a nice, aged gouda. I also like to bring cold roasted Balsamic veggies and sort form of dessert bar.

[Laura Palmer]

Are you going to Ravinia?

I think you need to have wine or sangria (I prefer red sangria to any kind of fancy or flavored ones). As far as food - I like classics. Fried or baked chicken (even cold), pasta or potato salad, bruschetta or caprese skewers, watermelon slices, s'mores (bring a small disposable fire thing, they sell them everywhere), grapes, cheese and good meat (serrano ham, good salami, etc.), olives...

I like a lot of variety so I can nibble there all day.

[hz80408]

Yep Laura! Any words of advice? Of our group, only 2 people have been previously.

Bimbi- um, YUM!

[vampsterdam]

Hz, are you going to Ravinia?

If so, when I've gone, we like to keep it simple. Like PP mentioned, wine and various pairings of cheeses, crackers, jams and things like grapes or dark chocolate.

Some of my friends have brought chips, salsa, cookies, etc.

Bring bug spray, too!

Have fun!

[hz80408]

Jun 21, 2012 14:17:44 GMT -5 vampsterdam said:

Hz, are you going to Ravinia?

If so, when I've gone, we like to keep it simple. Like PP mentioned, wine and various pairings of cheeses, crackers, jams and things like grapes or dark chocolate.

Some of my friends have brought chips, salsa, cookies, etc.

Bring bug spray, too!

Have fun!

Yea, are you in Chicago-area?! Thanks for bug spray.

I've heard if gets fairly eleborate, friends who have gone before have seen candles and even centerpieces!?

[vampsterdam]

Jun 21, 2012 15:09:59 GMT -5 hz80408 said:

Jun 21, 2012 14:17:44 GMT -5 vampsterdam said:

Hz, are you going to Ravinia?

If so, when I've gone, we like to keep it simple. Like PP mentioned, wine and various pairings of cheeses, crackers, jams and things like grapes or dark chocolate.

Some of my friends have brought chips, salsa, cookies, etc.

Bring bug spray, too!

Have fun!

Yea, are you in Chicago-area?! Thanks for bug spray.

I've heard if gets fairly eleborate, friends who have gone before have seen candles and even centerpieces!?

Yes, I am! I was the former nestie that had macarons in her sig pic so we've talked before

My boss's sister goes all our for Ravinia. She has a special "Ravinia table" and yes does things like candles LOL

I went with a group where everyone invited someone they knew so we ended up having 15-20 people. We layed out some blankets and chilled. A few of us a lot of, but others were having more fun socializing/drinking.

Some people get pushy with "their territory" haha. But don't let that ruin your mood if it happens! Also, public transportation is a good idea!

We drove when we went, but we parked in a further parking lot that was free. Don't pay the $20!

[hz80408]

Oh yes! Were you Tita?

Ha, thanks for heads up! We're taking Metra out from the city so that everyone can drink and enjoy