The weather is finally nice out, so it’s time to get outdoors! When I was living in Paris, I became a regular picnic-er. Every week, I would take a stroll from my apartment on the right bank of Paris and walk along the Seine until I found the perfect picnic spot (preferably with a view of the Eiffel Tower)! Picnic-ing is a very Parisian past-time and locals always flock to the the parks, canals and river quays to set up a picnic with fresh baguettes, cheese, wine and other yummy snacks.
Now that I’m back living in Texas, I wanted to take this same spirit of the picnic and bring it to my own backyard, so I can have a little escape from my home every now and then when I need some fresh air, sunshine and a glass of wine!
In this How-To, I’ve outlined some simple steps to create the perfect picnic to enjoy in the comfort of your own backyard, at a local park or the beach!
STEP ONE: PREPARE YOUR TENT
Gather one or two large bed sheets, a long sturdy wire or rope, and support to secure the tent to the ground (this can be scrap wooden or metal stakes like those used in gardening).
I took the easy route and created my tent by tying a long gardening wire between two trees in my backyard. Once the wire was secured, I draped the bed sheet over the wire to create a tent-shape. If you are wanting to create a larger tent to accommodate more people, use two sheets and secure them in the middle of the wire using clothing pins.
If your tent needs extra support to stay open, carefully insert small wire or wooden stakes into the ground at each corner of the tent to secure the corners of the sheets to.
STEP TWO: MAKE IT COMFY!
Grab a large blanket and lots of comfy pillows to lounge on. If you’re having a sunset picnic, add some candles and lanterns for some extra light and ambiance.
STEP THREE: LIGHT IT UP
I hosted my picnic in the evening, so I added some outdoor string lights to provide some light and set the mood. The string lights I used had clips attached that secured right onto the wire line that supported the tent, so it was super easy to set up!
STEP FOUR: CRAFT YOUR PICNIC SPREAD
Now, for the most important part of a picnic: the FOOD! You can have just about any type of food at a picnic, but normally foods like sandwiches, salads, cheeses, deli meats, dips and fruit work best because they keep well outside and can be served at room temperature.
I was inspired by Parisian picnics, so I set up a wine and cheese board with brie, comté, crackers, mixed nuts, olives, dried apricots, strawberries, cornichon pickles and dijon and honey as spreads. You can customize this board with your favorite cheeses, charcuterie, spreads or fruits, but typically a mixture of sweet and savory elements pair best with cheese and wine.
If you’re in the mood for a more hearty picnic, you can make chicken salad, pimento cheese, pasta salad, or dips with crudités and pita bread.
STEP FIVE: ENJOY!
Now that you have the perfect tent and the perfect picnic spread, it’s time to enjoy your backyard escape! Pour up a glass of wine, light the candles and snack on your delicious picnic!
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