*Don’t miss the $100 Harris Teeter Gift Card giveaway at the end of the post!*
My mother got on my case the other night about not sharing the same experiences with my second son that I have with the first. Awesome. I needed some more mom-guilt in my life, but she was right. In year’s past, every Sunday night in June I packed an amazing picnic for my family, and we listened to free symphony concerts in the park.
See, my oldest son was a relaxed toddler; my youngest is more of a destroyer. Classy outdoor concerts and my two-year-old do not go hand in hand. But, that doesn’t mean I can’t introduce him to the wonderful world of dining in the grass. I felt a challenge coming on… So, I shook out my picnic blanket and hit up my local Harris Teeter to put together the Perfect Picnic. Let’s just say Harris Teeter can hook a momma up.
Fried chicken? Check.
Amazing prepared foods? Double check.
All my supplies to make setup and cleanup a breeze? You betcha.
The only downside? I had to drive to our picnic destination with the aromatic fried chicken wafting through my car. “Yes, officer, I was speeding. Can you blame me? Take a look at these legs!” Not mine. The fried chicken. Head outta the gutter, y’all. Possible speeding infraction aside, pulling off a fantastic picnic with Harris Teeter is easy peasy…
Six Steps to the Perfect Picnic
Step 1: Stake out your favorite picnic destination. Whether your backyard, a local park, or a great beach getaway, consider what kind of seating and eating surfaces you’ll have and what bathroom facilities are available.
Step 2: Make a few awesome dishes to pack and take. In my book, no picnic is complete without a homemade pasta salad, blondies, and pink lemonade. I freeze pink lemonade in a container overnight, then pull it out the morning of the picnic to thaw and keep everything cool in the basket until eating time.
Step 3: Pack up your basket and head to Harris Teeter for the rest of your supplies. Pictured above: 1) Big ol’ Picnic Basket 2) Plastic Tumblers 3) Serveware 4) Comfy Blanket 5) Portable chairs – such as the pictured Oniva Seat 6) Portable Containers
Step 4: Use one of your kids’ burp cloths to wipe up your drool after staring at the prepared food case, then make your selections. I picked out some hot fried chicken and great sides including Edamame Salad, Black Bean and Corn Salad, and Broccoli Salad with Berries and Pecans. Not to mention the most incredible bright red strawberries I’ve ever seen.
Step 5: On the way to your picnic destination remember to brake when you see that police officer. The chicken will surely stay warm the extra 30 seconds it takes to not get a speeding ticket.
Step 6: Set up shop and bon appetit! Oh, and you know that saying , “Like taking candy from a baby?” Yeah, it works for chicken too.
And now, dear readers, here are a few recipes to set you on your way:
Stoplight Pasta Salad with Charred Scallion Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
For the Vinaigrette
1/3 cup olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
1 bunch of scallions, white ends separated from greens
1 clove of chopped garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon of whole grain mustard
2 tablespoons sour cream
3 tablespoons of mayonnaise
Salt and Pepper to taste
For the Pasta Salad
16 oz. of your favorite pasta shape
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 red onion, diced
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 package of stoplight peppers (red, yellow & green), seeded and diced
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Sprig of basil (optional)
Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, heat one tablespoon of oil in skillet over medium heat. Add red onion and sugar. Toss occasionally and cook until the onion turns a slight golden color.
On a baking sheet, toss white ends of the scallions with remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil, salt and pepper. Put in preheated broiler and cook until softened and slightly charred, then remove and allow to cool slightly.
In a food processor or blender, mix together white and green portions of the scallions, olive oil, garlic, vinegar and mustard and process until smooth. Pour into a small bowl and gently mix in sour cream and mayonnaise and season to taste.
Once cooked, drain pasta in colander and rinse with cold water. In a large bowl, mix cooked pasta with caramelized red onions, diced peppers, and dressing. Top with a sprig of basil, if desired.
Toffee Chocolate Chip Blondies
Ingredients:
3/4 cup room temperature butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 ounces room temperature light cream cheese
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/3 cup chocolate chunks
1/3 cup toffee chips
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat the butter with an electric hand mixer until fluffy, then add the brown sugar. Beat for three minutes, then add the egg and vanilla and combine well.
In a smaller bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, then add the dry ingredients to the wet. Stir until just incorporated. Fold in the cream cheese, then the nuts, coconut, chocolate and toffee chips. Spread into a greased 8×8 glass dish and bake 22-25 minutes, until golden and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature before cutting.
Store in an airtight container for up to three days or freeze.
What are you most excited to try? Let us know and enter our giveaway for a $100 Harris Teeter gift card!
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*Harris Teeter provided me with the supplies for the picnic and compensated me for my time. All opinions are my own.
If this was my picnic those napkins woulda been blowin in the wind and we all wouldve been working up our appetite chasing them down. Not you, though!!! Fab right down to her lunch on a blanket!!
Hah! At least you would’ve had a fun game! 🙂
Well true that. And I wouldve made everyone chase them down doing walking lunges so we could call it a workout!
Let’s just say you will forever have better abs than me!
YUMMM!!! I love fried chicken and watermelon at picnics!!!
Those strawberries look delicious! Nothing better than fruit kebabs at a picnic – the kids love them!
I think we need some of that Harris Teeter fried chicken for our picnic!
Thinking that garlic shrimp looks good
Turkey sandwiches.
Love fresh fruit salad for a picnic!
Gotta have potato salad!!!!
thanks for the reminder and ideas..with baby #2 on the way, I better enjoy my quiet and calm household while I can..hopin Father’s day calls for some good picnic weather 🙂
I’ll have to have those yummy looking strawberries at my next picnic!
Hello
Honestly, right now all I want is those toffee chocolate chip blondies! yum!
What’s a summertime picnic without watermelon with seeds for spitting!
Cant have a picnic without Grandmas favorite Pound Cake!
I think garlic shrimp would be delicious!
Potato salad and corn on the cob
The kids are fruit lovers! Gotta have the berries!
I love the fresh fruit and picnic basket ideas. Such a wonderful Summer idea
I require fried chicken!
Fried chicken!!!
I love, love, love fruit in the Summer!
The recipes look super yummy, can’t wait to try them!
That pasta salad looks great, we always need a new way to eat pasta in our house. And fresh fruit for my picky eater! Definately going to plan a picnic this summer!
Love the idea to freeze the lemonade! All of the food looks great and now I am hungry!
Definitely want to try the Stoplight Pasta Salad!
No picnic is complete for me without a good cole slaw. It works great as a topping for hot dogs and burgers or side with fried chicken.
The pasta salad looks delish!
You’ll have to tell me more about how the kids did at Pops in the Park. I really want to try it this summer. Also, all of the items look great. Love the freezing pink lemonade idea and also there is something super fun about those wagon wheel pasta noodles. They make me giggle. I’m going to try that salad recipe.
Potato or macaroni salad
I’d have fruit casserole, chicken wraps, veggies, and lemonade!
Great ideas!
Fried chicken and potato salad…yummy!
I like the idea of having a wide array of foods available for a my family 🙂
Our favorite picnic, is cold fried chicken, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, lots of fresh fruit, tomatoes with mozzarella and a fresh basil leaf on top! We do not get to do it often enough because of busy schedules!
Fried chicken needs to be in my pic-a-nic basket the next time we go to the park! Yum!
Deviled Eggs are a must at every picnic!!!!
It never occurred to me to take fried chicken, but I will next time!
The pasta salad is wonderful
No picnic is complete without blueberries.
This article has some interesting recipes and ideas… Definitely a must read!
I love the idea of freezing the lemonade the night before.
supper picky daughter – she probably would like some of this
Love fried chicken for my picnic
Fruit is a must at all picnics for me 🙂
I have to have either my curry chicken salad or parmesan chicken.
I love all the prepared foods at HT. I think I’ve never seen the HT brand Raspberry lemonade though! I will definitely try that.
I like bringing fresh veggies like carrots and celery hearts with my favorite dip – cream cheese, crushed pineapple, and chopped pecans. Yummy! And my grandsons like it too.
I am taking frozen grapes on my next picnic.
This time of year nothing beats fresh fruit at a picnic!
fresh fruit and sandwiches
It’s not a picnic without watermelon.
I will definitely make the Stoplight Pasta Salad! The kids will devour it… it looks like school bus wheels 🙂
Homemade potato salad!
Now that I’ve had Scotch Eggs for the first time, I’ll never have a picnic without em!
Mmmm. Fried chicken!
Mmm makes me want to plan a picnic this weekend! We love HT’s Deli!
i can’t have a picnic without cheese & baguette!
Fried Chicken is a must have for a picnic!
Fried Chicken with lemonade topped with Strawberries!!
Picnics would go smoother if you could convince my kids to sit down and eat!
Our picnic must-have: fresh strawberries and blueberries. Super easy to pack, and no prep. required (other than rinsing them, of course!)
I would have to make the food myself. We have food allergies, but I could get some great picnic supplies.
Gotta have deviled eggs and fresh fruit like watermelon
definitely watermelon. cole slaw.
We just tried the Harris Teeter chopped salads – needless to say, these will be a new go-to salad addition in our house! And any picnic is not complete without lotsof fresh fruit for us.
I always make a pasta salad with all kinds of veggies, ham and then toss with some Italian dressing. I try to stay away from mayo based salads for the summer time.
We love potato salad at our picnics. Can’t wait to try some of these suggestions also.
Fried chicken is such an easy picnic food! and you can’t forget the watermelon!
Mmmm… strawberries
The recipe for Stoplight Pasta Salad with Charred Scallion Vinaigrette looks amazing. I will definitely try it for July 4th!
Pasta salad!
picnic food I have to have at my next picnic, easy finger food
My favorite picnic food is potato salad! Now I’m hungry just thinking about it!
Brownies look yummy! have to try
Always have to have some refreshing fruit!
We ALWAYS have to have fresh strawberries with Chai dip at all of our picnics! My boys LOVE strawberries!
We tend to have picnics at the beach, and due to the wind/sand try and keep things simple. PB&J sandwiches, grapes, apples, crackers and yogurt pops are some of our faves. Oh, and lots and lots of water and juice to drink!
Deviled eggs!
I always love potato salad!
The fresh fruit looks delicious, but I am personally partial to Whole Foods’ Bistro Pasta Salad. It’s a great picnic dish.
Chicken and I might try the mac salad with peas n’ chives 🙂
Nothing beats Fried Chicken, Baked Beans, & Lays Ruffles Potato Chips
I’m making Sweet and Spicy nuts (from pinterest).
I would love some potato salad right about now.
I have to have my buffalo chicken dip – everyone loves it!
Brownie recipe looks yummy
Had seedless watermelon this past week. It was so refreshing. That is a necessity for a picnic.
Deviled eggs!
I love Fried Chicken!
I have to have fresh fruit!!
Gotta have BBQ, potato salad, baked beans, chips, angel food cake, fresh fruit, wine, and the best ingredient of all–great company!
fried chicken (drumsticks yum yum), pasta salad, fruit salad (watermelon for sure)
Fried Chicken!!
Definitely the fried chicken
Strawberries are an absolute must for our family.
Barbecue chicken
I love pasta salad at picnics.
Harris Teeter potato salad – I’ve been craving it for months.
I can’t wait to try the Stoplight Pasta Salad! My 15yo is looking over my shoulder and said “Wow, that looks awesome.”
garlic shrimp yum!!
My kids love strawberry’s with wipe cream.
I would love to try the broccoli salad W/ the berries & pecans! And the pasta salad w/ the charred scallion vinagrette looks amazing! I love HT!
My kids will eat anything with pasta, I’m going to try that pasta recipe
Great ideas! I love the recipes too!
The pasta salad recipe looks great!
It all looks amazing!! Perfect for a summer day!
I have to steer clear of the fried chicken but the toffee chocolate chip blondies look amazing!
We usually take chicken tenders instead if fried chicken to avoid the mess with the bones. Watermelon is a must!
My boys would love those blondies.
The Stoplight pasta looks delish and flavorful. I am happy to see a pasta salad dish that is full of flavor and not bland, like so many can be.
Oooo, that raspberry lemonade looks tasty! We always have to have fruit for our picnics, most especially grapes and often watermelon.
Potato salad from Harris Teeter and Watermelon for the young ones!
Great ideas! Thank you! Will try the pasta salad.
It’s not a picnic without watermelon.
The cake for sure I have a big sweet tooth lol
I can’t wait to try the Toffee Chocolate Chip Blondies. The look & sound delicious!
I want that pasta salad – it looks so good!
I love a good picnic. As long as you are with friends and family, any food will work great.
Oh yes the chocolate chip toffee blondies !!!!
ILOVE SUMMER PICNICS!
Those brownies look delicious!
This all looks amazing! I love fried chicken but I fry tenders for the kids 🙂 I want to try the Broccoli Salad with Berries and Pecans
How awesome, love all those picnic foods!
All those foods looks amazing. Really want to try that pasta salad though.
The blondies look delicious. I am a fan of anything with toffee any it so I will have to give those a try!
My Green Pea Salad with Leeks, Bacon and Goat Cheese!
I’m still drooling! Thanks for the recipes!
I would love to have some ice cold watermelon
I want to try the toffee blondies!! Delish!!!
Watermelon is always a hit!
I love a good dip and chips and also jalapeno poppers.
Pasta salad!
It’s not a picnic without fried chicken-and potato salad-with watermelon for dessert!
Everything looks so good!
Fried chicken….yum. We definitely love that at picnics. I want to try the Toffee Chocolate Chip Blondies recipe, they sound tasty.
The Toffee Chocolate Chip Blondies recipe sounds good. Will try this!
fried chicken!
Toffee Chocolate Chip Blondies
Fried chicken!
strawberries and grapes
Oh those brownies sound absolutely HEAVENLY! We have lots of ants around here, so I’m wary of “outside” picnics… but one on the kitchen floor might be a go!
I’d take Bajan or Jerk chicken and macaroni pie
chips and dip and sandwhiches
I love pasta salad at picnics
Fried chicken is a must at picnics!
Definitely fresh fruits and edamame, my favorite quick snack and so healthy!!
**said it didn’t post but it looks as if it did, will post again**
Definitely fresh fruits and edamame, my favorite quick snack and so healthy!! Also, Corn Hole game, $20 at Walmart!! Always makes for a fun time!!
Deviled Eggs!
Choc chip Blondie’s.