Planning a Picnic Menu

Summer is in full swing, and as one might expect, everyone is raring to go out and take advantage of the season. And no doubt the best way to do that is to go on a picnic. Whether you\'re with friends, family, or both, nothing beats a day under the sun, enjoying good food and great company. But preparing for it isn\'t all that fun-in fact, a lot of people just stay in to avoid all the planning. Well, that doesn\'t have to be the case.

Preparing for a picnic isn\'t really complicated. Since you\'re taking it outdoors, you\'re actually forced to keep it simple and avoid fancy, time-consuming dishes. Most people just toss a quick salad and make a few sandwiches before heading out the door. That said, it does take a bit of work-you just have to know in advance what you\'re going to need so you don\'t waste time fumbling in the kitchen on the day itself.

Choose foods that are easy to transport, such as patties, bread sticks, chips and hot dogs. These are all versatile foods that you can season and mix according to your tastes. So if you want it a bit spicy, go ahead and load on the peppers; if you have more of a sweet tooth, mix in some honey or a few sweet spices. If the kids can\'t agree on how to make it, make a basic mix and let them choose their own condiments.

Picnics tend to blur the line between main and side dishes, so it\'s usually best to have a bit of everything. Salads are great to have along because they\'re easy to carry and serve. If you\'re with a big group, you can simply mix in some vegetables and bring a variety of dressings. That way, everyone can mix and match as they please, and you don\'t have to worry about catering to everyone\'s tastes.

Cupcakes make an excellent picnic dessert. Obviously you can\'t bring a large cake, so cupcakes give you the same flavor and sweetness in a more picnic-friendly package. You can even frost and decorate them with appropriate toppers-you can find themed edible toppers at most cake decorating shops.