Picnic Meals Without Pots and Pans!

It's a glorious day outside, there are children playing and you've got an itch to put on a picnic at your favorite park. Then the thought of pulling out the pots and pans to create a dish that is worthy of being taken into the great outdoors, comes over you, destroying your passionate moment. Until now. Check out these great tips and ideas for outdoor cooking using only the necessary utensils and without need of the stove.

First, be sure to have a picnic cooler and plenty of picnic food storage. Dozens of amazing meals can be made by combining a list of ingredients in a plastic container with a lid for shaking and mixing, so long as they're kept cold. Salads, for example, are an obvious, tasty lunch. Chopped greens, croutons, shredded cheese, pearl tomatoes, diced sandwich slices, fresh chopped broccoli, nuts...the ingredients are limitless! And never rule out fruit as a meal. Chopped fruit like strawberries, oranges, pineapple, peaches, pears and grapes are amazing shaken up with yogurt, nuts, granola and spices.

For meals with more comfort, become familiar with the tortilla, as it is a creative palate for picnic artists. The tortilla can be filled with just about anything from shredded greens, beans, rice, peas....the list goes on. And never assume that you need pots and pans! Garbanzo and green beans are great uncooked and straight from the can and so is asparagus. You can get pre-cooked rice meals in the Asian section of your grocery store as well. And as for the taste--cold food filled tortillas are always excellent when topped with ranch, bleu cheese or Italian dressing! Don't forget the shredded or crumbled cheese.

Perhaps a light meal, more suited to be called a snack, is the right meal for your picnic. Here the ideas are also limitless--crackers topped with tuna, cheese, cold cuts, leftover cold pasta or veggies. Pita pockets are tasty when filled with cheese, tomatoes, spices and dressing. If you're inclined to get out the crock pot an hour before you leave for your picnic, however, combine 2 cans of your favorite chili with a block of lite cream cheese and a diced green onion. Let it simmer on high until you're ready to leave with a hot, filling dip great for tortilla chips!

If you're spending time with a loved one on a more romantic picnic adventure, order out and pick up ahead of time or have something delivered that you can take with. With great Italian and Asian eats available in every community, you are not tied down to just pizza or stuck with cold food. This is an especially excellent idea for those of us who are not endowed with cooking skills. In fact, trying something new, like Thai or Persian can add more atmosphere and a theme to your romantic picnic mood. You can also add a bottle of wine to a Wine and Cheese Set for a more intimate approach that's sure to please your partner.