What's your favorite meal for a picnic?

[ama47369]

We are taking some people that are coming to visit to the beach and am looking for new ideas for a picnic type meal. I am thinking about making the spicy chicken wraps. What is your favorite portable meal?

[donleyk]

We don't picnic very often but when I saw the chicken wrap recipe I also considered it a good choice for packing. I think pasta salads travel very well, too.

[SandyM]

Any kind of wrap, cheese, fresh fruit, cut up veggies, and of course one cannot forget the obligatory bottle of wine!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

(if allowable at the venue, of course)

[patsyk]

The Asparagus Turkey Wraps from May 01 are also a good choice... I made them for dinner one night, and had the leftovers the next day and they were delicious... no reheating required, so this would be a good beach picnic choice! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

I would also suggest pasta salads not made with mayo for a couple of reasons... they are not as light in fat/calories and they don't keep well for long periods of time... must be kept cool to prevent spoiling.

[emilycat]

My personal favorite would have to be lots of fruit, fresh, crusty bread and exquisite cheeses. Heaven on Earth http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Grace]

The Spring Tortellini Salad is outstanding, and will be something we will be packing for the beach this year, and for our long bike rides on weekends.

The wraps idea is a good one too. I'm going to try that one this year as well. Our favorite wraps are the Ginger-Peanut Chicken Wraps. I think I could eat those every day. I will be watching this thread for more ideas, too....thanks everyone.

[funnybone]

Most anything is great for a picnic - as long a you like the food. The secret is to have proper storage containers to transport the food. Nothing is worse than leaky containers or ones that have opened up. If I don't have proper containers for something, or I am unsure if it will survive the travel, then I just don't bother taking it.

One tip, I always carry "wet ones" with me. Nothing is worse than sticky fingers.

[carla m]

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is so yummy and very easily transported. Don't forget possibly one of my favorite storage innovations of all time...the Pyrex Portable. These are fantastic for picnicing.

[shoyski]

I tried the Jicama Salad w/Chicken from the April issue last night. I thought it was very good and that was in CL's "Picnic Food" article. I don't think I have the title exactly correct.

[browneye]

The only drawback to the spicy chicken wraps for a picnic, is that the filling was very runny, or did I do something wrong?

[Terrytx]

No browneye, I don't think you did anything wrong. My t-shirt will attest to that. I just finished the left overs from the other night and dripped all over myself.

[ama47369]

Thanks for the replies, everyone!

I will definately use funnybones tip and take plenty of "wetones."

And, I think I will take this opportunity to buy a new set of tupperware type containers. Mine seem to get eaten up by my drawer.... Where do they go?

Also, I think I will reconsider making the spicy ranch wraps for this trip. I don't want everyone to be dripping! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I'll save that for a more private occasion-they do sound yummy!

Thanks for the ideas!

[AndreaU]

My favorite picnic meal would have to be that over which my husband (then boyfriend) proposed! He planned the whole thing, I didn't even know where we were going (or why) until we got to the park. He packed roasted chicken, homemade potato salad, strawberries, champagne, and Cracker Jacks! (My ring was in the Cracker Jack box, by the way.) Who could resist? Every time we've gone on a picnic, that's what we pack. Though I only got a ring just that one time...