Panicked about Picnics?

July is here! Summer at last! - And the last place you want to be is in the kitchen preparing a meal. You want to be digging in the garden, swimming, wake-boarding, hiking up a mountainside or just lazing in the hammock.

So if you'd rather be enjoying the warmth of the sun than the heat of the kitchen, pack a picnic basket. Get out and play and when you're hungry, unpack the basket and enjoy.

Packing a picnic doesn't have to take hours of preparation. With the right ingredients and equipment, you can have a wonderful meal packed in minutes and have more time to enjoy summer activities.

Here are a few ideas for packing a successful picnic:
1. Start with a great basket. It doesn`t have to be one specifically designed for picnics. Just use what you have or can find. I like one with a big, strong handle and a wide top opening.
2. Line the basket with a cotton tablecloth or a large piece of fabric. This will be handy to spread the food out on or to sit on. Tuck in plenty of cloth napkins as well.
3. Pack plates, cups, bowls and all the other utensils you'll need. I like the bright colored, plastic sets because you don`t need to worry about fragile dishes and they're inexpensive and readily available.
4. Slide in one sharp knife with the handle easily visible for cutting up cheese, bread, fruit and veggies.
5. If you're taking a thermos or beverage jug place it on the bottom of your container so it doesn't crush more fragile food. If you want to avoid packing too many dishes, pack tetra packs of juice, bottled water and soda.
6. Now pack the food. Some ideas are homemade rye bread, foccacia, rolls, rusks, crackers, fresh cheeses, fresh fruits and veggies, locally made sausage, cold meats, patés, brownies, loaves, cookies and a really good piece of chocolate to top it all off.
7. The idea of a picnic is no fuss. There's no point spending hours in front of a stove when the idea is to get out of the kitchen. Choose one or two things to prepare and then visit your local farm markets to find fresh baked goods, homemade cheeses and fresh summer fruits and veggies. Avoid perishable items like soft berries and vegetables that could be squished in transit.
8. Depending on the company, a bottle of wine and plastic wine glasses might not be a bad idea either. Happy Picnicking!