Date Nights

Picnic Basket At Home Date

Whether you are staying home or going for a drive, here are the perfect Picnic Basket date ideas to share with your family or someone special.

Warmer weather means more time outside – my sister and I were homeschooled from 3rd grade on. One of the many benefits of being homeschooled was the ability to pack up the car and head out to a nearby park with school books in toe.

Picnic Basket Date - Places

At Home:

Your backyard
Living room
Driveway tailgate picnic (Car/Truck)

Driving Distance

Tailgate – overlooking your favorite cityscape (Car/Truck)
Local park, mountains, lake or beach

Picnic Basket Date - Menu Ideas

Finger Licking’ Good – Boxed Lunch

Classic: Sandwiches, chips, pickles, fresh fruit with tea/lemonade
MY FAVORITE: Fried Chicken, Biscuits, mason jars of lemonade for the kiddos and pre-made cocktails for the grown-ups (see batch recipes below) and Hand pies for dessert

A day picnic is a great way to get the family outside, just pack a lunch and get to it. Think finger foods: you can go classic with sandwiches or my personal favorite fried chicken. Bring lawn games, bikes or skates and make the most of the outdoors.

RAINY DAY? PICNIC AT HOME: If the weather isn’t cooperating with your picnic plans, don’t cancel, just move inside. Your living room can be a great alternative or set up your picnic in the car/truck if you are determined to get out of the house.

Wine & Cheese

Charcuterie Board (prep in advance)

Meats: salami, prosciutto
Cheeses: sharp cheddar, pepper-jack, gouda
Crackers: multi-grain, flat pretzels, nut thins
Fruit/Veggies: berries, dried fruit, cucumbers
Nuts: almonds, cashews
Other: honey, jam, mustard, olives

A couple bottles of your favorite wines

This menu would be great for a romantic night picnic with its variety of grazing options and could be a precursor to stargazing. Pick a local, pack up the car, and set the stage for a beautiful romantic evening. OR take a walk outside (to your own backyard), set up the projector, blankets, pillows for a movie night.

Night-time Picnic

STARGAZING: Take a drive away from the city lights to gaze at the stars. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate or coffee and cozy up for the show.

Batch Cocktails for Two

6 oz strong earl grey tea
2 oz simple syrup
6 oz whiskey bourbon
Frozen blackberries

Make your simple syrup (water/sugar mix). In a mixing glass muddle berries in simple syrup. Add the earl grey tea, bourbon and ice to the glass. Stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled mason jar and keep on ice until ready to serve. Serve with a sprig of rosemary and a blackberry.

Adapted from: beginningwithbergamot.com

4 oz grapefruit juice
4 oz gin
1 oz Triple Sec
Fresh Basil leaves

Muddle 2 basil leaves with gin and triple sec. Muddle until the leaves break down and you can smell the basil. Add ice to a mixing glass and pour in the grapefruit juice. Stir the basil mixture and grapefruit juice until well combined. Strain into a chilled mason jar and keep on ice until ready to serve. Serve with a basil leaf.

Adapted from: elletalk.com