No kids allowed.
(Credit: Cooking.com)We all know summer is a great time to be a child--beaches, parks and playgrounds are filled with the sounds of children playing. No school and warm weather provides the impetus and youthful energy supplies the rest. However, sometimes it's just better to leave the kiddies at home. Summer may be designed for children, but the grown-ups could use a little time, too.
If you are thinking that a picnic in the park would be nice, then I hope you plan to bring wine. We are talking about an adult outing here, after all. The Black Deluxe Wine Carrier for Two by Picnic at Ascot provides deluxe accommodations for your wine of choice. The upscale wine carrier provides space for a bottle of wine and also includes several wine essentials. Two wine glasses are included that securely fasten into the case, while the provided waiters corkscrew and wine stopper make excellent use of additional accessories. Furthermore, a thermometer is included, which may not be very useful on its own, but if you have a cooler along for the ride, being able to judge when to remove the wine is certainly a benefit.
Measuring 7.5-inches by 4.75 inches with a height of 13.25-inches the wine carrier is an easy way to amp up your escape to the park. Complete with a handy carrying strap, grabbing a bottle to go couldn't be easier. Let the children have their fun in the sun, but let yourself enjoy some summer fun.
Easy to enjoy anywhere.
(Credit: Sur La Table)Ah, summer. Long, hot days on the beach or by the pool spent with family and friends. Or perhaps a quality afternoon in the park sounds more appealing. Imagine it: the grill going, the kids playing, a cool breeze blowing. No matter if you imagine the beach, the pool, or the park, it's a great scene that just doesn't get any better... unless, of course you had a margarita in hand. While beer and soda pop may travel extremely well in the cooler, margaritas aren't necessarily very portable. Until now.
The Margaritaville Battery-Powered Portable Frozen Concoction Maker makes it easy to enjoy the freshly made popular drink anytime, anywhere. Not your ordinary blender, this specialized appliance uses a rechargeable 18-volt battery to supply all the needed power to whip up your favorite summertime beverages--up to 70 uses in a single charge. With each batch supplying up to 36 ounces of slushy beverages, the cordless machine is sure to bring the party wherever you may travel.
Do yourself a favor and give yourself a treat for your next outing. There's no reason to stop at beer for your adult beverage enjoyment. Having a portable blender belting out shaved ice and blended drinks is a sure-fire way to heat up your summer--no matter where you choose to spend it.
It's cool in here.
(Credit: Kitchen Krafts)Ah, the sun. Warm, friendly, and inviting; when a sunny day beams down upon us, we celebrate by flocking in droves to parks and beaches. No matter if you gravitate toward green grass or sandy shores, warm days always go better with food. Consider a picnic spread: fried chicken, salads, maybe some grill action going on. And then there is dessert. A nice big piece of cake...with melted icing. No longer must this scenario unfold in parks and coastlines across the land. If you're out enjoying the sun and need to keep your consumables cold, check out the ThermaWare Cool & Carry.
With a 13.75-inch diameter base and 6.5 inches of headroom, the carrier set is perfect for keeping cakes and pies cool and refreshing. Neatly concealed underneath the serving platter is a four-section base that includes four freezable gel packs. The plate snaps shut over the top, providing an attractive display. Locking handles complete the system, and the whole set serves as an excellent transportation device.
As much as we enjoy food with our outdoor fun, sometimes the actual eating has to wait. While you are out there having fun in the sun, rest assured, your delicious creation will be there waiting for you. Assuming, of course, that you remembered to bring it among all the other accessories that a sunny day seems to uncover. It seems as if there is always one thing that gets forgotten. At least if you leave this on the kitchen counter, you know it will still be good when you get back.
Summer is getting close and it's time to start planning just how you'll take advantage of the warm weather. I always like to get in at least a few picnics away from the hustle and bustle at most parks during the summer. Even a few minutes of walking can get you away from the crowds, but you will probably need something a little easier to carry than the traditional picnic basket. The Deluxe Picnic Backpack carries just like any other backpack and comes complete with anything you need to dine out.
The Deluxe Picnic Backpack comes loaded with an insulated bottle bag, a picnic blanket, four full place settings (plates, cutlery, napkins, and plastic wine glasses), salt and pepper shakers, a bottle opener, a cheese knife, and a cutting board. Everything's nonbreakable and most of the picnic gear can go straight in the dishwasher when you get home--the blanket and napkins probably ought to go in your washer instead. Even with all of that, there's still plenty of room inside for your food: the backpack measures 17 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches, providing plenty of space. If you want to picnic in style, the Deluxe Picnic Backpack seems to have it all. It's priced at $45.
Vroom, vroom, party starter.
(Credit: Chef's Catalog)Like most guys, I like things that unfold into other things. If it assembles and disassembles into various parts and accessories, you got my attention. If those parts unfurl into a grill, then I'm sold. Unlatch it, unfold it, bend it this way then that, and you got yourself the means for a tailgate party anytime, anywhere.
The Picnic Time Portagrillo Portable Gas Grill features fold up legs and slide out trays that reveal to be a convenient grill. With 263 square inches of cooking real estate, the compact and easy-to-carry grill is the perfect accompaniment to tailgate parties and picnics. Using propane as the fuel further increases the convenience offered by this grill--no messy charcoal or lighter fluid to deal with. Best part (other than eating, of course), is that when it's cool, the handy Portagrillo folds and slides back up into an easy carry case.
Not too unlike the popular toy car robots sold by the same name (except I don't think you can grill with those), this grill transforms into a fun accessory for sunny days. While I certainly appreciate a grill that facilitates the ability to get my grill on, I think the concept could be taken further. Luckily for us, Picnic Time also produces a grill that carries beer.
Just add fun.
(Credit: Picnic Time)As the weather warms up, it's time to get a move on. Spring has sprung, the baseball season is about to get underway, and everywhere people are going to be spending more time outside. Those people are going to be hungry. Nothing beats spending a warm afternoon surrounded by fresh air and the sweet smell of grilled meats and vegetables. This year, plan on taking your grilling show on the road and really perk up your picnics.
The Picnic Time Vulcan Cooler With Grill can help you achieve your grilling mobility. In one convenient package, you can carry all you need to set down anywhere to have an instant picnic. Combining the two most important things--cool drinks and hot food--the Vulcan offers the ultimate in picnic portability. In addition to a propane grill, the fully removable cooler section can store your beverages and grill-ready goodies. Essential tools are also included, such as a pair of tongs, a large spatula, and a BBQ fork. An optional wheeled trolley is sold separately.
It may seem obvious that the best thing about warm weather is to get out there and actually enjoy it, but it certainly is worth keeping in mind. With a little forethought and planning, you could be rolling into the warm months ahead equipped with all you need for delicious and complete picnics. With hot food and cool drinks provided by one convenient device, it doesn't take much to stop for a moment, slow down and enjoy the weather.
I've been known to try to balance a paper plate on top of my glass at picnics. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes I need another plate. When I saw the Go Plate, which is shaped to rest on a soda can or a beer bottle without any question of tipping over, I was intrigued. The Go Plate is reusable, although the makers priced it to be disposable; reuse it several times before throwing it away. The plate is made from clear recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET). It's sturdy enough to support food, as well as be run through the dishwasher on the top rack. The Go Plate is recyclable.
The Go Plate snaps into place on most drink containers, using different ridges in the plastic plate to create a steady eating surface. Just a note: you do have to take your plate off your beverage before drinking. The makers of the Go Plate also have an interesting fund-raising program in place, where they work with nonprofit organizations to sell plates. The organization then gets a cut of the proceeds. It could make an ideal fund-raiser for an organization holding an event with a lot of walking and eating.
Everybody has a favorite.
(Credit: Sur La Table)Granted, summer (or spring) picnic season may seem like a long way away, but it will be time to break out the blanket and head to the nearest patch of grass before you know it. Since the local weather here in San Francisco this week has been on the warm side, I think it's never too early to look ahead. Those winter doldrums aren't going to last forever, and when they melt, parks and beaches will be filled with hungry people, and I plan to be one of them.
Having a nice chilled meal outdoors on a clear, sunny day can be quite refreshing, and salad is no exception. This Salad on Ice set is a simple little contraption designed to keep contents cool while serving. Just place crushed or cubed ice inside of the included stand, and then set the bowl on top. Grates in the bowl let the cold to come in contact with the salad, while a lid helps to keep it all cool (and bug-free). Salad serving utensils attach to the rim and the whole set is dishwasher safe.
With the included compartment insert (room for four separate salads or ingredients), it would be no problem to please a crowd. As everybody has their individual favorites, your outdoors picnic is sure to be a cool affair. With or without the obligatory ants.
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