Easy Picnic Recipes, Hints & Videos

Sandwiches, salads, sides, desserts and drinks need to be easy to prepare, easy to carry and easy to eat. It's summer, so don't get bogged down in details. Make it easy and make it tasty with these great recipes.
Easy Picnic Appetizer Recipes
This cool, creamy, snappy spread has a great zing, snap, bite to it that only Feta can bring. Your friends will be impressed with this new simple dish and it's a sure crowd pleaser!
Ingredients
8 oz. Feta cheese
4 oz. sour cream
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 Tbs. fresh parsley
1 tsp. chopped garlic
2 Tbs. spring onion
1/4 tsp. cumin
1 Roma tomato chopped fine for garnish on top
Directions
Put all ingredients except tomato in food processor, (blender works just as well). Blend until creamy. Put into serving bowl, top with tomatoes.
Serve with Kalamata olives, fresh figs, tomatoes and flat bread on the side. "The senses will go wild"!!! YUM! YUM! YUM!
Serving Size
6
Preparation Time
15 minutes
Cooking Time
10 minutes
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Easy Picnic Sandwich Recipes
Roast Beef and Red Pepper Sandwiches
This is a great picnic idea because you can make the sandwiches ahead of time and stick them in the fridge until you're ready.
Ingredients
1/3 C. light mayonnaise dressing or mayonnaise
1/3 C. Dijon-style mustard
2-4 Tbs. prepared horseradish
6 6 or 7-inch Italian flat bread shells, Boboli or focaccia.
12 oz. thinly sliced cooked roast beef
1 12 oz. jar roasted red sweet peppers, drained and cut into 1/4-inch wide strips
6 oz. thinly sliced Monterey Jack cheese
2 C. fresh watercress
2 C. fresh spinach
Directions
In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise dressing, Dijon-style mustard, and horseradish. Slice bread shells or flatbreads in half horizontally. For each sandwich, spread one side of bread shell or flatbread with mayonnaise mixture. Top each with roast beef, red peppers, cheese, watercress, spinach, and remaining half of bread. Wrap sandwiches in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 24 hours. (Or, serve immediately.) To serve, slice sandwiches in half.
Yield: 12 servings (half sandwich per serving)
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Peanut Butter and Jelly Roll-ups
California Club Roll Ups With Sesame Slaw
Easy Picnic Salad Recipes
This recipe is a bright, eye-catching salad that goes fast when served at potlucks or picnics. It is a refreshing change to traditional pasta salads with a perfect blend of ingredients and flavor.
Ingredients
1/2 C. olive oil
2 lb. fresh asparagus, cut into ½ - 1 inch pieces
2 Tbs. garlic powder
2 Tbs. onion powder
1 lb. penne, cooked and drained
2 Tbs. dried rosemary
2 tsp. seasoned salt
1 C. mayonnaise
Directions
In a skillet, sauté asparagus in olive oil until tender crisp, about 4-6 minutes. Sprinkle garlic powder and onion powder on top of asparagus and cook for 1-2 more minutes. Pour over hot pasta and toss to coat. In a bowl, mix rosemary, seasoned salt, and mayonnaise. Add mayonnaise mixture to pasta mixture and stir until ingredients are mixed through. Refrigerate 2 hours or until chilled. Serve.
Serving Size
8-12
Preparation Time
2 1/2 hours
Cooking Time
30 minutes
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Easy Picnic Side Recipes
German Potato Salad with Beer Dressing
Just so you know, this makes for a lot of potato salad - cut the recipe if you are not cooking for a large picnic crowd.
Ingredients
10 small red potatoes
12 slices bacon
1 small onion chopped
4 ribs celery chopped
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. butter
2 Tbs. flour
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1 Tbs. sugar
1 C. beer
1/2 tsp. Tabasco sauce
2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley
Directions
Peel and cube potatoes, boil until tender, drain. Fry bacon until crisp. Drain well, crumble bacon, and mix with onion, celery, and salt. Set aside. Stir butter and flour in a small saucepan to make a roux. Add mustard and sugar. Slowly stir in beer and Tabasco sauce. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Pour over potato mixture. Sprinkle with parsley. Toss lightly and let stand 1 hour. Add bacon mixture, toss gently.
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Easy Picnic Dessert Recipes
For the ultimate in brownie goodness without cutting into your day, try this easy recipe.
Ingredients
4 bars (4 oz.) HERSHEY'S Unsweetened Baking Chocolate, broken into pieces
3/4 C. (1 1/2 sticks) butter or margarine
2 C. sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 C. all-purpose flour
1 C. chopped nuts, optional
Creamy Quick Chocolate Frosting (recipe follows), optional
Frosting:
3 Tbs. butter or margarine
3 bars (3 oz.) HERSHEY'S Unsweetened Baking Chocolate, broken into pieces
3 C. powdered sugar
1/2 C. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. salt
Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13x9x2-inch baking pan. In large microwave-safe bowl, place chocolate and butter. Microwave at High (100%) for 1 - 1 1/2 minutes or until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth when stirred. Add sugar; stir with spoon until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add flour and nuts, if desired; stir until well blended. Spread into prepared pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
For the frosting, in small saucepan over very low heat, melt butter; add chocolate pieces. Cook, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Pour into large bowl. Add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and salt; beat on medium speed with electric mixer until well blended. If necessary, refrigerate 10 minutes or until of spreading consistency. Frost brownies. Cut into squares.
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Easy Picnic Drink Recipes
For your more adventurous juice-drinkers or just a refreshing cocktail.
Ingredients
1 12 oz. can cranberry juice concentrate
1 6 oz. can orange juice concentrate
Juice of 1 lemon
2 C. water
2 C. red nonalcoholic wine
1 qt. sparkling water
1 orange, thinly sliced, for garnish
Directions
In a large pitcher, combine the cranberry juice concentrate, the orange juice concentrate, the lemon juice, and 2 C. of water. Stir to mix, and then add the wine, if desired. Just before serving, stir in the sparkling water and garnish with orange slices.
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Easy Picnic Recipes Hints & Videos
How To Pack A Romantic Picnic Lunch
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