Tag Archives: picnic

Frugal Picnic Night

One of the favorite activities that my kids like to do as a family is also economical. Recently, I’ve made it even more frugal. Here is what we did last night and how we had a fun time for pennies. When the weather warms up, my kids are always clamoring for the park. One fun way to enjoy the park and get out of a warm house is to visit the park around dinner time. We eat dinner on one of the picnic benches, and then after dinner is done, mom and dad pack up while the kids play on … Continue reading →

End of the Summer Picnic Dish—Kicked Up Pasta Salad

This evening I was reminded by our local TV meteorologist that we are losing more than two minutes of sunlight per day. So much for summer, right? Wrong. After hearing that the big ball of fire, which has fueled so many incredible summer memories for my family over the past few months, was slowly weaning us from its warmth and light I decided to take action. I called my playgroup moms and we set a date for an end of the summer picnic in the park. Next week we will round up the kids, make our favorite potluck dishes and … Continue reading →

Preparing Popular Picnic Foods

When planning a summertime picnic there are a few staples that always make the cut. In my family they include potato salad and hot dogs (if my dad is cooking it’s potato salad and Kielbasa sausage). The crowd-pleasing summertime foods are favorites in many families namely because they are simple to prepare and can feed a ton of people without too much effort. The following recipes might be a tad labor intensive, but the time you put into them will win you raves from your guests. The recipe for Kielbasa and Peppers can do double duty as an appetizer or … Continue reading →

Cultural Smorgasbord—-Mexican Rib Eye Steaks and German Brats with a Twist

I grew up in Hawaii, which is well known for its cultural diversity and equally varied cuisines. In the Aloha State it’s not unusual to have a breakfast of Japanese rice, Portuguese sausage and Hawaiian sweetbread; lunch of Filipino Chicken Adobo and Chinese noodles; and dinner consisting of Italian pasta and kalbi (Korean short ribs). As we countdown to Independence Day I thought it would be appropriate to salute our nation’s wonderfully rich cuisine with the following ethnic dishes that can be easily grilled up for a classic Fourth of July picnic. The first recipe features an All-American rib eye … Continue reading →

Destination: San Francisco–Perfect Picnic Spots

San Francisco is known for its world-class restaurants, shops, museums, and sports teams. But some of the most memorable moments I’ve spent in the city by the bay have been in settings far removed from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Angel Island offers a quiet reprieve from the city’s busy tourist attractions and offers visitors access to one of the most spectacular picnic spots in the country. To get to this serene spot (Angel Island is an uninhabited island surrounded on both sides by urban skylines) you must take a 45-minute ferry ride from San Francisco. The commute offers … Continue reading →

Have A Frugal Picnic

Does anyone have any nice plans for labor day? If not, why not have a picnic? Picnics can be very frugal, especially if you follow some of the following ideas. To reduce food waste, why not pack individual lunches for each person, selecting things you know they will eat. Pack it all up in individual plastic beach pails. These can be found for pennies right now as stores are trying to get rid of their summer inventory. This way, dad can have his beloved cold fried chicken, while the kids can cart their own sandwiches, grapes, etc. Use the pails … Continue reading →

How To Pack A Healthy Cooler

No, I’m not going to give you a rundown on what low fat foods you should pack for your next picnic (you can click here for that). This blog gives tips on how to pack a cooler properly so you can avoid getting food poisoning. Take it from me; nothing dampers a summer picnic faster than a bad case of the runs. So we’ve established that picnics are no fun when they cause illness and you likely know that warm weather combined with a lack of refrigeration can increase your chance of getting a food borne illness. But how can … Continue reading →

Elegant Fourth of July Decorations

Who says you can’t be festive and still create an elegant look? There’s no reason that an outdoor gathering can’t be chic and attractive. Even though some bright red, white, and blue decorations may not seem to lend themselves to elegance, it’s all in the way you put things together. You can try country chic with nostalgic Americana accents. Another idea is to simply choose deeper colors. Deep blues and darker reds create a richer backdrop. Then, instead of fun and funky decorations that you see at most Fourth of July picnics and parties, you can try something a little … Continue reading →

Picnics- A Summertime Tradition

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It is Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer. This means the consistently warm weather will be here before long and nothing screams SUMMER louder than a Picnic! We love to dine alfresco, whether it is outside on a restaurant ‘s patio or deck, in our backyard or at a local park. To be outside, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of nature while enjoying a meal with family and friends can be one of the most cherished memories of summertime. The best part of this simple, fun idea is that you don’t need too much in the … Continue reading →

Four Fun Date Night Ideas

You finally made time for a date night, but now you can’t come up with an idea for something fun to do. Well, the ideas below might appeal to you or maybe they’ll inspire you to come up with something. As the weather gets warmer, more opportunities will present themselves, so take advantage of the great outdoors whenever possible with picnics, hikes, and the like. Check out some of these ideas instead of the same old stuff: Be a Good Sport In other words, go outside and play. Playing sports together can be a lot of fun and a little … Continue reading →