Picnic Baskets

Regardless of how big or small your picnic may be, you will need a pinic basket to hold your food supplies and other equipment. The compact picnic basket with its neat compartments for unbreakable dishes, a special section set aside for "eating tools" and other utensils, is always a welcome piece of picnic equipment. Attractive and serviceable baskets can be purchased; however, a little time and energy, a can or two of "left-over" paint, a fruit basket, or one or two empty wooden boxes plus some ingenuity will result in a picnic basket of which you can be truly proud. Any splint basket or an old suitcase no longer in use may be equipped with the same completeness from the general utility store. Certainly around the house there are a few odd dishes and pieces of silverware which could easily be spared to complete such a kit. In any case, picnic serving tools and pans can usually be secured at a very small expense. Let us try to always keep equipment together so that on the day of the picnic only the food will have to be packed. An empty household drawer set aside for picnic basket equipment is another aid in getting things together for an outdoor meal when the family decides on a "spur of the moment" outing.

If the food is to be prepared at home, then transported in a picnic basket, the following equipment is suggested for the permanent picnic basket: plates, non breakable cups, knives, forks, teaspoons, tablespoons, large knife for cutting, can opener, bottle opener, and containers for salt, pepper, sugar, butter, salad dressing, cocoa, and the like. If "work" is to be an unwelcome guest at your outing, nothing will help more in keeping it away than paper plates, cups, tablecloths, napkins, and towels. They make cleaning-up a real "snap". If the meal is to be partially or entirely prepared out of doors, add a pail or pot for beverage, covered kettle, frying pan, long-handled spoon and fork, matches, soap and handy towels. Other equipment which would be convenient but not essential might include a wire broiler, folding grate, reflectors, pot holders, and camp stove.

DOUBLE DUTY PICNIC BASKETS
In an effort to lighten the burden of the poor fellow who has to tote the boxes, bags, jugs, and tables that an average family finds necessary to the enjoyment of lunch in a spot which is usually miles away from the nearest parking field, consider a lightweight combination picnic basket and matching picnic cooler or wine, coffee, or tea tote.. back to picnic ideas & picnic baskets home page.