Looking for Ideas for a Picnic Dinner!!

We travel a lot. One trick I use all the time is to freeze bottled water a day or two before traveling. That way the cooler is packed with frozen water bottles that serve a dual purpose. You also don't have to worry about things getting down in the water once ice starts to melt. May not work in what you're planning but I LOVE doing it that way. Lots less mess and if they are frozen solid it takes several hours before they start to thaw.

I love fresh fruits, cheese and veggies for a picnic. I always pack peanut butter and almond butter to spread on bread or fruits. Personally I LOVE the crusty french breads where you can just tear a piece off to share. Different types of crackers, (gold fish or something similar for the little ones). Trail mix with nuts and dried fruit is yummy. Pimento cheese is another spread I like but tend to only fix what I think we'll eat because I will throw it away if it's been out in the heat due to the mayo content. I think everything tastes better when eaten in the fresh air and sunshine!

Enjoy!

L.

These look REALLY good, either as an appetizer or a side. (probably more for the adults, since it looks like it has a little spice...) They even meet the vegetarian criteria. :)
http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/uncle-shiftys-antojitos/

I would probably just use a cooler, so that you can take PLENTY of things to drink, plus extra water. If you don't have one handy, they sell styrofoam one-time use ones pretty cheap.

Don't forget the sunblock! :)

I picnic all the time... I just bring whatever I would have eaten at home. To make more of an occasion about it (although picnicing turns ordinary food into an occasion) a theme usually works:

Brunch!!!

Waffles, and crepes, and berries, and bagels, and lox, and juice, and mimosas. Belgian waffles, btw, you can put on a stick and retoast over a fire. Crepes can be stuffed with (whatever) and eaten cold.

Sammies:

Caprese Sammies for the vegetarians (or heck, for everyone), sammies with meat for the non veggies

If you have fire... hotdogs/tofu pups (to cook on sticks), watermelon, devilled eggs, etc.

Appetizers / Mini Food (quiche, antipasti, stuffed mushrooms, vietnamese spring rolls, shrimpskewers, grapes, cheeses etc.)

I usually stick to food I can pick up with my hands on picnics. Forks are okay, but I'd rather pass on both forks and plates. Heck. I made caesar salad on a stick as a teenager to avoid plates and forks. Everyone thought I was nuts, but it worked.

etc

I don't have any vegetarian suggestions - we do cheeses, fresh breads, assorted crackers, prosciutto, olives, fruits, hummus, veggies, etc. As far as packing I have a canvas tote bag for dry things and a cooler for cold/wet things. In the bag I put a few extra plastic grocery bags for trash/what not, a roll of paper towels (or cloth dishtowels if you don't use paper products), paper/plastic plates, plastic/metal utensils (forks, spoons, butter knives, serving pieces, cheese cutter, bread knife, etc.), a plastic cutting board, cups if needed and whatever dry goods (breads, nuts, crackers, etc.). I seal the utensils in a large Ziploc bag and then wrap that in a dishtowel (the Ziploc neatly stores dirty utensils and the dishtowel is handy for wiping your dirty hands during prep/serving). In the cooler I carry bottled waters, whatever needs to be kept cool, assorted drinks (I make sun tea earlier in the day) in plastic bottles (used juice/water bottles work well), etc. I put the ice cubes in Ziploc bags that way the food stays cold, leaking water is kept to a minimum and we have ice for the tea/drinks. I toss a couple of blankets and/or folding chairs in the car for seating if there won’t be picnic tables. Also in the car I carry sunscreen, bug spray and a small first aid kit just in case. Enjoy and good luck.

Oh, one other thought, less is more but you need to have the basics of serving and food to be comfortable. There is nothing worse than needing paper towels and not having them. Or a knife and it's not there. We limit ourselves to the one dry bag and the one midsized cooler. Think carefully through each stage of the outing and you won't forget anything critical.

I ALWAYS bring watermelon!! that's my favorite picnic (or anytime) food!!
macaroni salad, celery + almond butter + craisins = fire ants on a log!! yums! I love the frozen water bottle idea, I'm going to use that next time for sure!! anything snacky like nuts, dried fruit, crackers, cut veggies...so many great picnic foods out there!

but watermelon is the best! :D

I absolutely LOVE this recipe for Orzo with roasted vegetables from Ina Garten http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/orzo-with-r...
It would be great for a picnic!

corn on the cob is a picnic favorite of mine, as is watermelon. some sort of cold pasta salad, gazpacho in a thermos, veg sticks and dip.

A favorite veggie food of ours is as follows -
equal parts brown lentils and whole wheat bulgur, cooked in a pressure cooker. brown a whole mess of onions in olive oil. Mix into the lentils & bulgur, season with salt and pepper. Can be eaten warm, or cold. tastes really good with something lemony/ pickled.

We pack picnic food communally, rather than having a bagged lunch for each person.

We like to have a 5 gallon thermos drink dispenser. I cram it full of ice, put some juice or wine in it, and add water over top. the contents become more dilute as the night goes on and the ice melts.

To keep things tidy, everyone must be sat down during the picnic part of the picnic, and shoes are off. Also, close up food containers as soon as stuff is dished out, keeps the bugs out/ away.

If you are doing dinner, will you need to bring lights? camp lights, battery operated candles or something else? blankets, bug spray, hoodies, sunscreen,

Will you be feeding the ducks, birds, fish before or after the picnic? if so, bring some snacks.

Brownies are always a nice way to end a meal.
You can do campfireless smores with the following- toast, nutella, fluff, cinnamon & sugar, put it in your foreman grill, cut into wedges, wrap in foil.

have fun,
F. B.