Fourth of July Picnic

Khalil shares tips and advice for hosting a fabulous picnic this Independence Day!

By Khalil Hymore

For most folks, the 4th of July is synonymous with barbecue, but for all of you without a big backyard, or any backyard, the 4th of July is also prime time for picnics (you know how much I do love a good picnic!). For the ultimate 4th of July picnic you'll need:

• Recipes That Travel Well! - Choose recipes that can be made well in advance and that pack up and carry well. Easy to assemble items--like sandwiches (obviously) and cheese and charcuterie platters are great things to pack.  While fried foods are best eaten immediately after they come out of the hot oil, I find fried chicken to be a hugely popular picnic item (I love it straight from the icebox!). In my humble opinion, there is nothing better than cold or room temperature fried chicken (be sure to check back on Thursday for my no-fail recipe). Other great Summery picnic recipes that are easily transported: Italian Sandwich Wraps, Steak and Gorgonzola Sandwiches, Asian Chicken Salad with Ginger-Soy Dressing, Lentil Salad, Panzanella, Haricots Vert with Lemon Zest, Chocolate Squash Brownies, and Summer Fruit Pies.
  

• Fun Food Containers...TO GO! - Of course you are going to need some stylish yet practical ware to carry your delish food in. I am huge, huge, huge fan of French Bull products, and I own (and love) their melamine storage containers (even if Crate and Barrel did knock them off--imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery). Speaking of Crate and Barrel, these glass storage dishes would happily be at home in the bottom of your picnic basket. I also find the lightweight, airtight Oxo Pop Containers great travelling companions since they refuse to leak!

• A Basket (Duh!) - What is a picnic without a basket? Get your inner Little Red Riding Hood on with a fabulous basket. French Bull strikes again with a very modern take on the classic picnic basket. I'm also in love with this sweet wire picnic basket from Crate and Barrel (sorry French Bull!). Ten Thousand Villages, a wonderful company that specializes in fairly traded products, currently has a lovely little basket from Vietnam that would work perfectly for picnicking.
  

• Don't Forget the Blanket! - Stay dry and grass-stain free with a waterproof picnic blanket. I got mine for $5 at a Marks and Spencer store in London and I use it ALL the time. Kohl's has a great striped picnic blanket for only $16. You could, of course, always make your own out of oilcloth or just grab an old sheet from the closet!

Be sure to have a safe and happy 4th of July! To make this weeks recipe for Buttermilk Fried Chicken (posting on Thursday), you'll need:

From the pantry:

• kosher or sea salt
• ground black pepper
• all-purpose flour
• onion powder
• garlic powder
• paprika
• cayenne pepper
• non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening or vegetable oil

From the market:

• 1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds), cut into pieces
• 1 quart of buttermilk
• 1 bunch of fresh thyme
• 1 bunch of fresh rosemary
• 1 head of garlic
• 1 lemon

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