x
Breaking News
More () »

Unpack these 3 cool picnic experiences

Choose your difficulty! 425 Magazine lifestyle contributor Monica Hart has three picnic ideas from easy to put together to takes some work. #newdaynw
Credit: KING 5
Choose your difficulty! 425 Magazine lifestyle contributor Monica Hart has three picnic ideas from easy to put together to takes some work.

Whether you are picnicking in the garden or heading to the park or the beach, I’m sharing a few fun summer picnic tips, tricks, and essentials to make it memorable.

Picnic 1 - Difficulty Level: Easy!

  • French market basket with leather handle, outdoor pillows to sit on.
  • Strawberries + real whipped cream in a can, chocolate magic shell, cubed cheeses, and a baguette for slicing, cutting board.
  • Beatboxes — adult sippy boxes optional.
  • TIP: Use bento boxes or take-out boxes to tote bites.

Picnic 2 - Difficulty Level: Still easy!

  • Picnic basket + blanket.
  • Individual cucumber, tomato, basil baguettes + garden rosemary lemonade, spike it if you like with mini vodka bottles.
  • Storebought shortbread cookies.
  • TIP: Wrap baguettes in parchment paper and tie with twine.
  • Create cute wood utensil carriers with paper lunch bags.
  • Wine bottle chiller.

Picnic 3 - Difficulty Level: Not gonna lie, takes some work!

  • Lidded chest picnic hamper, floor pillows, cutting board, candelabra, vintage plates, and flower arrangement.
  • Picnic activity — Paint the park! Bring along a watercolor kit, art paper, paint, and brushes.
  • Eats:
    • Lemony pasta salad with basil and toasted pine nuts.
    • Tip: swaddle containers in dish towels to keep the lids tight before toting the food to the picnic — like my grandma did! (My Italian-born grandma Nettie used to bring along a big banana box to picnics at Redondo Beach on Puget Sound, heaped with yummy goodness: chicken cacciatore, housemade pizza, sausage, and pepper! She would tie up her serving bowls and pans with pretty dish towels to keep them safe and warm!)
    • Caprese baguette with prosciutto, slice sandwiches on-site with French knife.
    • Berry crisp.
    • Grab and go aluminum wine bottle singles.

RELATED: Make it pretty! Effortless backyard entertaining

Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest at 11 AM weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.

Before You Leave, Check This Out