This post about our summer picnic traditions is sponsored by Gold Peak Tea. All opinions are my own.
Summer is well under way and we are right in the middle of picnic season! We do a lot of outdoor eating this time of year, and I think it is a great way to bond with the family aside from the traditional dinner table. It’s something that the kids have come to really enjoy, and we make it a point to do it at least once a week, whether it’s in our back yard, at a park, or even at the table on our back deck. Being an outdoor family, we love anything under the big blue sky, and I think it’s really important to have simple, low-key family traditions. Since the kids are young, they can’t help too much in the preparation, but when I’m planning our menu I usually make sure to include easy to make and oven free dishes that they can get in on. Here are just a few of my favorite picnic staples that are super easy to whip up and great to bring on the go!
Fresh fruit is one of my absolute favorite picnic staples. It’s easy, delicious, and great for cooling off with on a hot day! In the warmer months there is a great selection in season, and since we have our own garden out back the kids love to pick their own. One of the best ways to pack fruit for a picnic is in a fruit salad mix. Just cut/combine everything in one dish, seal it, and you’re good to go! PS – don’t forget forks!
Another picnic must is sandwiches. I don’t know about you, but I feel like sandwiches are the perfect “on the go” food. They’re easy to transport, you can make them any way you want, and there is virtually no clean up afterwards! Oh, and did I mention how easy the prep is? Just slap some ingredients between two slices of bread and voila: you’ve got a meal! I love wraps too, but hand me a nice spicy pimento cheese sandwich and I’m in heaven.
If sandwiches aren’t your thing, why not pasta salad? I love combining noodles, fresh veggies and a small amount of dressing in a mason jar and packing it up along with a fork. It’s SO simple, and when you are ready to eat all you have to do is give it a shake! YUM!
Now that the food is out of the way, lets talk about refreshments. My husband and I can’t go on a picnic without sweet tea. We both grew up in the South, so it’s something that is a no-brainer to me. Now, you know I was just talking about convenience being key here, but do you have any idea how long it takes to make sweet tea? You start out with the boiling, and then move to the steeping, and then finally the cooling which takes hours. Seriously? I don’t have time for that. Lucky for me there is Gold Peak Sweet Tea. It’s a ready to drink tea that tastes just like the homemade tea I grew up with.
It’s got a great subtle sweetness to it that isn’t overpowering (if you’re from the South then I’m sure you know what I mean) and it really has the perfect balance of flavors. Gold Peak Tea comes in a number of different flavors and sizes, so if sweet tea isn’t your thing, chances are they have a flavor for you. And anything that saves me time is great in my book!
Once we get our picnic packed it’s time to head out, unplug, and have some old-fashioned quality time as a family. I love these moments, and it seems like we never quite get enough of them. I hope to keep it up for years to come, and I can’t wait to have more!
There’s nothing like Gold Peak’s home-brewed taste. Gold Peak, the taste that brings you home.
