Spring is on our doorstep and we can’t wait to take our picnic basket out of storage to enjoy an outdoor feast in plush greenery and sunlight. Make sure to use these great packing tips for your next al fresco meal: 

Keep the menu simple 

Choose foods that can sit outside for a while and make your menu straightforward. Who says simple has to be boring? “Any time you’re trying to overdo it at a picnic, you’re heading in the wrong direction,” says Wendy Weston, founder of Perfect Picnic New York City. Foods like sandwiches, quiches and pizzas are easy to pack, transport and eat anywhere – hot or cold.  

Impress your friends with these delicious chicken, corn and chive mini quiches! 

@allydavina_ugc Easy was to give your picnic the cute vibe#sandwiche#picnic#togo#kitchen#fresh#fyp ♬ Cupid – Twin Ver. (FIFTY FIFTY) – Sped Up Version – sped up 8282

Pack for comfort 

You’ll spend most of your day lounging with your loved ones, so why not make it as comfortable as possible? Throw in a generously sized picnic blanket, preferably lined and thick. Depending on how far you have to lug your items from the car, pack some camping chairs, a small fold-out table and cushions (your back will thank you later). 

Don’t forget the entertainment 

Pack activities for an entertaining afternoon. A board game is small enough to take with you – just make sure it’s suitable for a large group of people (the 30 Seconds board game is always a winner). You can also take a Bluetooth speaker for music or think of fun lawn games to get everyone up and moving. 

Use a cooler box instead of a wicker basket for food 

Wicker baskets may give you that traditional picnic aesthetic (for that perfect Instagram-worthy picture you plan to snap), but it’s not great at keeping your food and drinks safe from the heat. Pack your food in a cooler box instead to control the temperature. A great tip is to freeze water bottles and pack them to keep your drinks extra chilled. Added bonus? You’ll have cold water to drink as it defrosts.    

Cut back on waste with reusable containers 

Ditch the single-use plastic containers and pack and transport your food in reusable containers. You’ll cut back on trash, they’ll fit neatly into the cooler box and will be easy to pack and unpack. 

Take utensils 

Do you really need to take a bottle opener? Is it necessary to take a butter knife and a breadknife and a serving spoon? Yes! It depends on the food and drinks you are packing. Remember, you are outside. So, pack the items you’ll need to open, serve and eat. 

Make this refreshing ice tea – perfect for the whole family. 

Also read: Snack planning for your next road trip 

 Photography: Pexels

The post 6 tips to pack your picnic basket like a pro appeared first on MyKitchen.

Braai season is here, which means that it’s time to dust off your trusty cooler bag for outdoor adventures! But before you get too excited and throw everything in your cooler, make sure you’ve followed these steps to get all your cooler bag essentials prepped and ready for the summer season!

By Taryn Wilson

THE PREP WORK

1. Get the right cooler for you. If you love to carry around a lot of drinks, food and tools, you ’ll want to invest in a sturdy and solid cooler box as opposed to a soft material bag.
2. Make sure that you clean your cooler box/bag thoroughly and that it is dry and ready to use the day before you intend to pack it. If it doesn’t dry properly, it will start to smell musty.
3. Keep your cooler cold for longer by ‘pre-chilling’ it with ice bags inside.

THE FOOD

1. Head out before the time to buy all the foods you want to take with, and package them yourself to fit in the cooler box.
2. If you’re going to a braai, you know what meat you’ll want to include. Don’t forget to include some drinks, a salad or side dish, and some snacks.
3. Always pack plenty of water.
4. Don’t overstock on food (unless you love braai leftovers the next day)
5. Keep certain tools ready-packed in your cooler. You’ll always want to have a knife, spoon, dishcloth and some braai tongs on hand.

PACK IT UP

1. If you choose to bring ice, this will help to keep your cooler box cold, and you’ll be able to use the ice for your drinks throughout the day. However, reusable frozen blocks and packs are much more convenient and cause less mess than ice blocks. If you don’t have, frozen dish sponges make the most amazing and convenient ice blocks!
2. Once you have everything together, pack some ice/ice packs in the bottom. Then start adding the food, with softer ingredients on top. Pack more ice on top and down the sides.
3. Keep your cooler box tightly closed when you aren’t getting something out or putting something back in.
4. Leave packing the cooler box until right before you leave – this will allow your items to stay colder for longer, especially for long drives.

Image: freshoffthegrid.com

The post Pack the perfect cooler bag for your summer outings appeared first on MyKitchen.

They say brekkie is the most important meal of the day, and that’s why we’ve put together this amazing breakfast pack. It’s healthy and will keep you going strong until lunch time.

SERVES 2 // COOKING TIME 15 min

INGREDIENTS
2 cups oats
1 cup peanut butter
¼ cup honey
3 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted
4 eggs
Lemon juice
2 nectarines, halved

METHOD
1. Mix the oats, peanut butter and honey. Roll into balls, then flatten, pressing into the sesame seeds.
2. Cook the eggs in salted boiling water for 6 minutes. Transfer to an ice bath to prevent further cooking.
3. Squeeze lemon juice on to the nectarine halves to stop them going brown.
4. Pack all the elements into airtight containers and munch away throughout the morning.

Recipe & styling: Chiara Turilli
Photography: Andreas Eiselen

The post The ultimate breakfast pack: Raw cookies, nectarines and jammy eggs appeared first on MyKitchen.