'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Silverware {Mason Jar}

Place a bandana along with utensils in a mason jar. Yup! It's that easy. Why has this not ever been thought of before?

Picture from ASoftPlace.net

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Rhubarb Mint Lemonade

Cool. Refreshing. Lemonade. With a twist.

Rhubarb Mint Lemonade

6 cups water, divided
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 stalks rhubarb, greens removed and stalks chopped (about 2-1/3 cups)
2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
Fresh mint sprigs
Ice cubes

In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of the water and 1-1/2 cups sugar to a simmer. Add rhubarb and cook, uncovered, until it starts to soften, about 10 minutes (don't cook the rhubarb too long or it will become pulpy). Strain sugar syrup into a large pitcher and discard rhubarb. Stir in lemon juice and remaining 4 cups water. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours until cold.

To serve, place a couple of mint sprigs in each glass. Lightly crush mint leaves with the back of a spoon. Add ice cubes to glass. Pour lemonade over ice cubes.

Recipe and picture from CountryHome.com

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Baked Sweet Potato Chips

If you are looking for a bit healthier of a snack while on a picnic, try these delicious Baked Sweet Potato Chips.

Baked Sweet Potato Chips

2 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed and sliced 1/8 inch thick
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt, preferable sea salt
1 lime, cut into wedges, for serving

Preheat oven to 400 degrees, with racks in center and lower positions. Divide sweet potatoes between 2 rimmed baking sheets. Drizzle with oil, toss, and spread them in a single layer on sheets. Bake, flipping once, until center are soft and edges are crisp, 22 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle with salt, and serve with lime wedges.

Recipe and picture from MarthaStewart.com

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Corn on the Cob Cupcakes

These cupcakes are great as an April Fool's joke but would also be great as a dessert for a picnic.

Corn on the Cob Cupcakes

White and yellow jelly beans
White frosted cupcakes
White decorating sugar
Yellow Starburst candies
Corn holders

For each ear, press rows of jelly bean kernels onto three frosted cupcakes. Line up the cupcakes and sprinkle decorating sugar across the tops.

To make a candy butter pat, microwave a Starburst for about eight sends, stretch it into a melted butter shape, then set it on top of the center cupcake.

Add a corn holder to each end of the cob, and serve on a corn plate.

Recipe and picture from FamilyFun.go.com

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Invitations {Cutlery}

This would be a great picnic invitation! The picture is not attached to any instructions, but it looks pretty easy to do. The knife, fork and spoon remove from the "picnic tablecloth" and has all of the details written on them. Maybe someday in the far off future, we'll have a picnic and make them. Stop laughing! I'm serious!

Picture from Flickr.com {The Coconut Chronicles}

Fritz

Our computer is a bit on the fritz right now and makes it seriously hard to update things. I have a date with the Apple store tomorrow with the high hopes that things will get figured out quickly and cheaply. Will be back soon (hopefully!)!

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Silverware {Bag It}

This silverware solution includes the whole lunch but also requires a few extra ingredients. It's simple yet handy especially if your not going far for your picnic like a concert in the park.

Bag It

Brown bags with handles
Back pocket of a pair of jeans
Bandana

That's it! Simply attach the back jean pocket to the bag with super glue and put your cutlery in the pocket. The bandana serves as a napkin as well as cute decoration.  Throw a few "Howdy Partners" in and you're ready for a picnic.

Picture taken off of Pinterest.com

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Easy Blackberry Pie in a Jar

Food in mason jars is all the rage right now. This recipe is part of the rage. It's an easy way to take pie with you on a picnic without it slip sliding everywhere and getting ruined.

Easy Blackberry Pie in a Jar

1- 9 inch double crust pie frozen
4 cups fresh blackberries
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Combine berries, flour, sugar and lemon juice.

Cut out circles of pastry to fit in and place in the bottom of jars.

Spoon filling to jars and dot with butter.

Cover with top crust circle or get fancy with some lattice work.

Bake for 15 minutes.

Reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue baking for 35 to 40 minutes, or until browned and bubbly.

Recipe from www.MegansCookin.com / Picture from cdn.blogs.blabble.com

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Macaroni Medley Salad

This is probably Chris' favorite version of Macaroni Salad. I like it because it's different. Not your "regular boring" Macaroni Salad. Delicious!

Macaroni Medley Salad

1 package (7-1/4 ounces) macaroni and cheese
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
2 - 4 hard cooked eggs, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 small cucumber, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons chopped onion
1 dill pickle, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Prepare macaroni and cheese with milk and butter according to package directions. Place in a large bowl; cool for 15 minutes. Stir in mayonnaise and mustard. Fold in remaining ingredients. Refrigerate until serving.

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Picnic Packing Checklist

In order to have a stress free picnic, consider a checklist to ensure nothing is forgotten.

Food and Beverages

Casual foods, preferably sandwiches or other things you can eat without utensils

Ice pack or bags of ice

Drinks

Condiments

Salt and pepper

Tableware

Cups and plates

Utensils, if needed

Serving utensils, if needed

Cutting knife (wrap blade in a kitchen towel)

Small cutting board

Napkins


Cleanup

Trash bags

Moist towelettes (or hand sanitizer)

Paper towels


Miscellaneous

Blanket

Tote, backpack or picnic basket

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Invitations {BBQ Apron}

Picnics are great but sometimes you just gotta have a good 'ole fashion BBQ. A Pretty Life In The Suburbs.com has some great BBQ apron invitations. Click on the link below to check them out!

BBQ Aprons

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Cutlery {Sew Cute}

This cutlery idea requires a bit of sewing ability, but would be "sew" cute! "Bolt" on over to the link below to check it out.

Sew Cute

Picture from TodaysCreativeBlog.net

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Egg Salad Sandwich

One of the easiest sandwiches to make {that is if you can hard boil an egg properly} is a egg salad sandwich. Confession: I struggle with hard boiling eggs. You think it would be so easy, but somehow someway it just doesn't work out sometimes. Weird I know.

BonAppetit.com says this is the "Best Ever Egg Salad Sandwich". I'll let you be the judge of that on your next picnic. For now, we'll just call it "Egg Salad Sandwich".

Egg Salad Sandwich

12 bacon slices
8 large hard boiled eggs, peeled, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup finely chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped pimiento stuffed green olives
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
12 slices white sandwich bread, toasted
12 red leaf lettuce leaves

Saute bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Cut bacon slices crosswise in half.

Combine chopped eggs, celery and olives in bowl. Mix with 1/4 cup mayonnaise and mustard. Season with salt and pepper.

Place toast slices on work surface; spread lightly with remaining mayonnaise. Divide egg salad among 6 toast slices. Place 4 bacon pieces, then 2 lettuce leaves atop egg salad on each. Cover with remaining toast slices, mayonnaise side down. Cut sandwiches diagonally in half.

Recipe and picture from BonAppetit.com

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Frozen S'more Pops

S'mores are a staple during the summer time. I mean what gets better than a marshmallow and chocolate oozing out from a graham cracker sandwich. It always amazes me when I meet someone who has never had a s'more. Really?!? Come forth from the cave and live! Now, it's really hard to take a s'more on a picnic, right? Not any more! Make these ahead. Freeze them. Take them on your picnic. Eat them. Have s'more!

Frozen S'more Pops

10 large marshmallows
1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup (3 ounces) milk chocolate morsels

Line tray with wax paper. Press one wooden pick into each marshmallow. Place graham cracker crumbs in small, shallow bowl.

Microwave morsels in medium, uncovered, microwave safe bowl for 45 seconds; stir. The morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10 second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted.

Dip marshmallows into melted chocolate using wooden picks; roll marshmallows to cover completely with chocolate. Dip into graham cracker crumbs, rolling to cover. Transfer to prepared tray.

Freeze for 20 minutes or until chocolate is set. Enjoy immediately or transfer to airtight container and store in freezer for up to 1 week. Be sure to allow marshmallows to sit at room temperature for a couple minutes prior to eating.

Recipe and picture from Meals.com (The best from Nestle kitchens)

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Antipasto Kabobs

Antipasto salad is one of my very favorites during the Summer. It's cool and light. Mix it up a bit and put them on skewers instead. Extra bonus: keeps the salad from sliding all over your plate.

Antipasto Kabobs

1 (9 ounce) pacakge three cheese tortellini, cooked to package directions
1 can pitted black olives
1 (5.75 ounce) jar green olives
2 (12 ounces each) containers marinated mozzarella balls
30 slices salami, cut in half
60 pieces pepperoni
1 cup balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing

Place the cooked tortellini in a bowl or large ziplock bag. Pour the salad dressing over the top and marinade in the fridge for a few hours. Drain pasta.

Place each item on the skewer.

Recipe and picture from TheHungryHousewife.com

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Invitations {Sandwich Invitations}

What better way to invite your guests to a picnic than a brown paper bag with a "sandwich" invite inside?

Sandwich Invitations

Picture from www.APartyStyle.com

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Silverware {Plate & All}

This is probably one of the best ideas I have seen for handling your cutlery and plate for a picnic. Simply add the silverware to the plate so that it is all in one! Brilliant!

Plate & All

~Take your plate and punch a hole on one side of the plate
~Run a piece of ribbon through to tie the silverware and napkin on

Idea from InMyOwnStyle.com

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Watermelon Slushies

It has been super hot here lately. One of my favorite things to have when it is so hot is crushed ice in some fashion. Combine the all-American favorite of watermelon and you have a watermelon slushie. Yumm!

Watermelon Slushies

3 cups watermelon, cubed and frozen
1 banana, peeled, sliced and frozen
2 limes (use juice and zest)
2 tablespoons agave nectar
1/2 cup water

Add frozen cubed watermelon, frozen banana slices, zest and juice from 2 limes, agave nectar and water to blender. Blend until smooth. Add more water if needed to keep the mixture flowing.

Recipe from www.Chef-In-Training.com / Picture from www.RawFoodRecipes.com

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Mason Jar Drinks

This is the most fabulous idea in my opinion! It would be great with lemonade, ice tea or water with lemon in them. The supplies are easy: mason jars and drinks. If you want to get super crafty, buy some chalk paint and paint a square on the side of the mason jar.  Pick up some sidewalk chalk at the dollar store and viola! you are ready to go!

Homemade Lemonade

7 large lemons

1 cup sugar

2 quarts cold water

Slice 6 lemons in half and squeeze each of them into a large measuring cup.  This should yield about 1-1/2 cups of juice.  Remove any seeds.

In a large pitcher, combine the juice and the sugar.  Stir in 2 quarts of cold water.  Slice the extra lemon and float in lemonade.

Sweet Tea

2 quarts water

1 big tea bag OR 2 small tea bags PER quart

3/4 cup sugar

Bring water to a boil.  Pull water off heat and put in tea bags.  Let steep for 5 minutes.  Take out tea bags.  Put in sugar and stir.  Let cool before putting into mason jars.

Picture off of Pinterest.com

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Watermelon Pops

In keeping with the popsicle theme, here is an easy way to serve and eat watermelon. Stick a popsicle stick in the rind end. Hello! Why have I not been eating it this way? Why do I prefer to end up with stickyness on either side of my face from trying to eat a curved piece of fruit? Not any more! Genius!

Picture from APrettyLifeInTheSuburbs.com

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Invitations {No Melt Pop Invitations}

What better way to enjoy a picnic than with friends and family. But of course, you have to have some invites so they know all about the picnic. Martha Stewart has the directions and templates for the most adorable No Melt Pop Invitations.

No Melt Pop Invitations

Picture from MarthaStewart.com

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Silverware {Tin Can}

Growing up we often went on picnics and one thing I remember is the wind blowing our stuff all around. Seems like us going on a picnic = a windy day. Oops! There goes your napkin! Grab your plate! Ah my fork!

There are so many cute solutions to keeping your stuff from blowing away and makes it a bit easier to carry all your stuff.

Tin Can Silverware

Clean out those cans the beans or veggies came in

Measure and cut scrapbook paper to fit around can

Glue or tape (for can to be used again) paper around can

Adding name tags is also a great idea

Place all your cutlery and napkin inside

Picture from PatchworkHarmony.blogspot.com

'Tis the Season for a Picnic - Chili and Cornbread in a Jar

The idea of eating food out of a jar is fun in and of itself which makes it ideal for a picnic. I got the idea from GiversLog.com but am adding links to recipes already on the blog. Don't they just look fun and delicious?!

Chili Recipe

Cornbread Recipe

Make chili
Add to quart size jars
Make cornbread (but do not bake)
Spoon cornbread on top of chili
Place jars on racks in oven
Bake according to cornbread directions (you may have to add a few minutes to cook cornbread through)
Careful jars will be hot

Picture from GiversLog.com

Tis the Season for a Picnic - Baked Beans

July is probably technically more of a picnic/bbq month than August but there were just too many good canning recipes to pass up (updates to finish off the month coming later - sorry). August is still a good month to not heat up your oven but instead picnic or bbq. So here's to a new month!

Normally when "making" baked beans, I would break open a can of Bush's Grilling Beans, stick them in a pot and call them "baked beans." While I still love them, I recently discovered this recipe from The Pioneer Woman that would actually qualify as baked beans and they were quite good reminding me alot of Bush's Grilling Beans.

The Pioneer Woman {The Best Baked Beans Ever}