Picnics can be romantic, adventurous, fun, and many other things. Most importantly, they help you connect with your surroundings (people and nature). Royal picnics are exaggerated, and the intention of the activity gets lost with the white gloves and sophistication.
Well, as fancy ‘shmancy’ as a royal picnic can be, we kinda want a piece of it. How do we do that?
We create our own ‘down-to-earth’ picnic with a fancy twist.
It all begins with the menu, followed by your creative decor.
Menu Planning
As a food lover, I like to think outside the box when planning my picnic menu. A few things that I focus on are fruits, vegetables, protein, and non-perishable items.
I know it’s easy to grab a bag of chips, salsa, and some precut fruit from the grocery store, but if you invest your time wisely, you can have that fancy picnic that your friends and family will forever remember. Some of these recipes are so easy that they will become a staple in your snack menu for years to come.
Cantaloupe Wrapped in Prosciutto
- 1 whole cantaloup or precut fresh cantaloup cut in cubes
- 1 slice prosciutto per cube
- Toothpicks
Wrap each cantaloupe cube with one slice of prosciutto and pin with a toothpick.
Puertorican Tea Sandwiches
- 16oz Velveeta cheese
- 1 can Spam
- 1/2 can evaporated milk (give or take)
- 2 small roasted pepper jars
- 1 package of white sandwich bread
Blend the first four ingredients. Make multiple sandwiches with the spread. With a bread knife, cut the corner crusts of the bread and proceed to cut each sandwich into four triangles.
Swiss Bites
- Sliced Gruyere or Swiss Cheese
- Sliced salami
- Dijon or whole grain mustard
- Small sweet pickles
- Rye bread
Cut the bread into squares and layer the mustard first, followed by the salami, gruyere, and pickle pinned with a toothpick.
Smoked Salmon and Cucumber
- 1/2 cup softened cream cheese
- 2 Tbsp softened butter
- 1 tbsp fresh dill
- 1 tbsp fresh chives
- 1tbsp fresh lemon juice
- smoked salmon
- 1 package store-bought mini toasts
Caprese Skewers
- Grape tomatoes
- Fresh mozzarella
- Fresh basil (dried basil works too)
- A good brand of olive oil
- Balsamic reduction or glaze
- Cracked salt and pepper
Sweet and Savory Bites
- 1 whole wheel of Brie cheese
- Lingonberry jam
- Salted walnuts
- Gourmet crackers
Top the crackers with one slice of brie, 1/tsp lingonberry jam, and one salted walnut
Fruit Salad Cocktail (Tizana)
- 3 cups diced cantaloupe
- 3 cups diced pineapple
- 3 cups diced watermelon
- 2 dozen halved grapes
- 2 sliced bananas
- 1 large diced apple
- 1/2 cup grenadine
- 5-6 cups of orange juice
In a large punch bowl, mix all ingredients. All fruits are welcome for this recipe!
Picnic Decor
First, you must pick your picnic location. Avoid going out to the store to buy props and hunt for coffee tables, rugs, cushions trays, beach umbrellas, and other useful items within your home. Then, search for appealing decorative and useful items such as candle holders, nice pitchers, server wear, table linens, etc. One thing that I do encourage you to acquire is fresh flowers like hydrangeas, sunflowers, daisies, etc. You will be surprised how they elevate the ambiance of your picnic.
Now it’s time to get creative and play ‘decorator.’ If this becomes a challenge on time or creativity, you can always contact one of these fantastic local businesses in our area who would gladly recreate your dream picnic:
Pensacola Picnic Co.
Posh Picnics Pensacola
Pura Vida Picnic Co.
Perdido Picnic Co.
Vintage Bee Picnics
Southern Charm Picnic Co.
Serenity Picnic Co.
What are your fun and creative picnic ideas?
Share them with us below!
