Packing the Perfect Picnic

On a hot summer’s day, we are spoilt for choice for picnic locations in Ireland. From beautiful beaches to lush countryside parks, we are never too far from somewhere suitable to lay down a picnic blanket.

What to pack:

A must for all picnics is a large comfortable blanket to sit on. A few cushions are optional, but nice to have to hand if an afternoon of relaxing al fresco is on the cards. Depending on what food you are packing, reusable plastic plates, cups, and cutlery, may be needed, while kitchen paper, some wet wipes, antibacterial gel, and a plastic bag for rubbish are important additions to any picnic bag.

The best food to bring:

When choosing what food to bring on a picnic, any portable finger foods, such as sausage rolls, mini quiches, rolls, or sandwiches, are good choices as they can be enjoyed without the need for plates and cutlery. For any shared dishes, such as a quiche, it is best to have this portioned out before leaving the house. All precooked and cold foods should be refrigerated until ready to leave the house. To keep the food as cool as possible when transporting, it is best to use a cooler bag or box, lined with freezer blocks. To keep the food fresh, I tend to wrap sandwiches, rolls, and pies in greaseproof paper then pop them into a sealed container. Cakes and biscuits can be transported in a tin. All drinks or dressings can be transported in tightly sealed containers.

Make it fun!

A picnic, can be as simple or as elaborate as you please. When my children were young, the excitement of putting together a little picnic, even if it were simply a sandwich and a drink, and the thoughts of sitting on a blanket, whether it’s by the sea or in the back garden, always brought such a great level of excitement. When the sun is shining a fun afternoon is always guaranteed.

Sweet & Savoury Sausage Rolls

These sausage rolls are deliciously crumbly when enjoyed straight from the oven, but they can also be eaten cold, making them a convenient and transportable picnic option. Sausage meat can sometimes be difficult to source, so any sausage of choice can be used in place of the sausage meat, just simply remove the casing from the sausages before adding them to the mixture. The scallion, carrot, and apple also make for a delicious and nutritious addition to these tasty little pies. When transporting these rolls for a picnic, ensure you pack them into a container alongside some icepacks to keep them properly cool while travelling. Get the recipe here.

Ham & Cheese Jambons

The humble, yet glorious, jambon! Salty ham & cheesy goodness wrapped in buttery puff pastry, these parcels are delicious hot or cold. Grab one on the go when you’re heading out the door, add them to your weekend brunch table, or pack them for a sunny picnic when the weather permits. Very simple to make, very delicious to eat! We made these beautiful parcels using Glenstal butter and cheddar cheese. Get the recipe here.

Cheese & Chive Scones

We love a savoury scone! These cheese and chive scones are just the right amount of cheesy with a delicate hint of chive. Perfect for picnics, brunches, snacks, or afternoon teas. Serve with cream cheese or good Irish butter, maybe a bit of relish and slice of ham. We made these beautiful scones using Glenstal butter & cheddar cheese. Get the recipe here.

Cheese, Tomato & Pesto Tart

Using store-bought puff pastry, this is a very easy tart to throw together! So whether you’re planning a picnic, brunch or lunch, or perhaps a last minute visit, this delicious tart comes together with little effort, but it packs flavour! We’ve used 1 large juicy heirloom tomato in this recipe, often found in Polish stores, but you can use any ripe tomatoes you like. We made this using the delicious Glenstal Cheddar Cheese. Get the recipe here.