Photo: Alex Lang

Spring is a time for lounging around, getting your garden ready and picnicking in the park. Planning the perfect picnic is one of the loveliest things to do during the spring as with the cold winter days behind us, and long summer days ahead we all want to spend as much time outside as possible.

One of the easiest ways to plan the perfect picnic in the park is to stroll on through the Farmer’s Market, select some of the freshest fruits and vegetables available and take to your kitchen to create a few masterpieces. Of course many stick to the traditional picnicking basics of a creamy potato salad, peanut butter sandwiches, and cheese, grapes and wine, but why not expand your horizons to enjoy the fruits and vegetables harvested by local farmers? Think of this as a time to explore all the sweet spring flavors out there, all the while keeping localism in mind.

When fruits and vegetables are in season, you of course want to get your hands on them. These are just a few quick recipes you can create using fresh, locally in season fruits and vegetables that you can find in your local farmers market.

Here are a few fresh farmers market picks that can spice up your spring picnic: Read More

Summer days conjure images of fresh mountain air, lakeside picnics and raucous outdoor dinners that go on until the wee hours.  However, for those of us in the city, summer days actually mean soaring temperatures, stuffy subway rides and frizzed hair.  Kids at camp don’t know how good they have it!  Here are some great ideas for camp care packages for those lucky little ones who are away for the summer.  Of course, you can always fashion a care package for yourself, sit back and take full advantage of your summer staycation!  Read More

A Well-Stocked Picnic Basket Makes for a Great Fourth of July Picnic

Beachfront house or barbecue event: check. Fireworks display: check. Blanket to sit on: check. What’s left but to pack up your picnic basket? With all your Fourth of July planning you may not have time to think of what is best for your basket. So to help you out, here’s a list of foods, ingredients and tips to pack with you for your perfect picnic. Read More

You'll never forget a meal cooked over an open campfire flame!

Sleeping under the stars, hiking underneath a canopy of trees, and cooking over an open flame. If those activities tug at your heartstrings, then perhaps you should plan a summer camping trip. Of course, travelling, whether it’s on a road trip or into the wilderness, requires food that lives up to the scenery. For maximum enjoyment, a modicum of advance planning is necessary to enjoy a satisfying meal around the campfire. Check out our guide to food and equipment for a camping trip to remember.  Read More

Photo: stevendepolo on flickr

Take advantage of the summertime weather and bring the dining room outside. Picnicking is one of warm weather’s great pleasures and is a fantastic way to showcase a wide variety of dishes, so that there’s something for each person’s tastes and a range of things to try. Read More

One of the best parts of Spring‘s long evenings is the chance to sit outside after a long day of work. Plan for a fun evening picnic with a nice bottle of Merlot and a chunk of Cantalet, a fantastic French cheddar-style cheese. Read More