Things To Do – May 2008
Perfect Picnic
Our cows eat outdoors every day. And now the summer holidays are here, you can do the same - even if it's just in the back garden!
Preparation
Spontaneous picnics are great. But it always helps to prepare a bit in advance. Here's our checklist to get you started:
- Backpack/bag
- Cool bag/box
- Ice blocks - always keep a couple of reusable ones handy
in the freezer. - Rug or blanket - one with a waterproof backing is ideal in case the grass is damp.
- Suncream
- Cushions
- Paper towels
- Paper plates
- Plastic cups
- Umberalla or why not collect tokens for your Make a Moo rainmac
- Rubbish bags
- Flask (for hot or cold drinks)
- Face and hand wipes (it can get mucky out there!)
Tips
- Pack everything you need in your backpack. Once you're
out, you won't want to go back indoors! - Weigh your blanket down with something heavy (rocks, shoes etc) to stop it blowing away.
- No blanket? A double bedsheet will do the trick on dry ground.
- Cover food and drinks to keep the bugs at bay.
- Try to pack food and drinks side-by-side in your cooler so you can get to particular things easily.
Food
Anything goes with a picnic! Good old finger food like sandwiches, sausage rolls and fruit tend to be simplest. But if you want something a little different, you can find some great recipes here.
Safe and sound
All that outdoor fun can get pretty grubby. So don't forget to wash your hands before you eat. It's also a good idea to pack your food at the last minute - and don't leave anything out of the cooler for more than a couple of hours.
Here are some other general picnic safety tips:
- Slap on the sunscreen - your skin can still burn
if it's cloudy - Use an insect repellent (but don't spray it near the food!)
Thirst-quenchers
Take plenty of water. It's a good idea to pack twice as much as you think you need - you'll be surprised how quickly you get through it! Fruit juices and soft drinks are always safe picnic bets, but for a delicious alternative, why not try our refreshing home-made lemonade. Here's how to make about 1 litre:
You will need
- 4 large unwaxed lemons
- 1 cup of sugar
- 4 cups of water
- Saucepan
Method
- Mix the sugar with 2 cups of water in the saucepan and bring
to the boil - Stir well and leave to cool
- Squeeze the lemons
- Add the lemon juice and the remaining water
to the sugar solution - Add some ice and hey presto - home made lemonade!
Tip: for a more lemony taste, add some grated lemon peel to the cooling sugar solution.