Did you know July is National Picnic Month? At Little Muddy Boots, we love to be outside which also means we love a picnic. Picnic month is exceptionally easy to celebrate! You just have to get outside into the world and enjoy all the wonderful sights and smells it has to offer. Get your family and friends together at a favourite nearby park and pack a bag with your favourite foods.
The Little Muddy Boots Team’s Favourite Picnic Foods & Activities
We asked the Little Muddy Boots group leaders from our gardens all across the South East what they like to have and do in their family picnics.
Hannah our founder who is often found pottering around our lovely garden at Jealott’s Hill Community Landshare in Bracknell shared the following with us:
We love simplicity where you only pack breads, cheeses, pickles and homemade chutneys. The picnic is always more about the spot and the company.
The Windsor Team had a different view and said that you can’t beat still warm scones and jam and cream! A flask of earl grey tea and a decent picnic blanket.
Whereas the Henley team like a more tapas approach and they love nibbles! Cheese, biscuits, olives, garlic and plenty of hummus/ dips. A share platter for friends that kids can enjoy too is always a good starting point for a fantastic picnic.
Meg from our Woodley and Wokingham branch loves packing a bag and going for a walk with their picnic. Simple jam sandwiches, carrot and cucumber sticks and a good slice of cake. Then just stop when the view is good and enjoy. Sitting on a log in the new forest watching ponies is a favourite.
Sally, our new franchise owner in Milton Keynes (due to open soon) says she loves home-grown picnic food. ‘My favourite picnic food would have to be juicy homegrown strawberries or tomatoes. They are so flavoursome and once you’ve started, you can’t stop! Add some sunshine and a cold drink and you have the perfect recipe! If we were in the woods, a favourite activity on a picnic would be Hide and Seek. It’s always exciting finding a new or great place to hide! Or playing Boules is always popular in our household; it can get quite competitive with knocking each other’s balls out of the way!’
A South African Picnic
Gerda who runs our Cheltenham Garden comes from South Africa, so we were very interested to see what her take on a picnic was and how it compares to the UK.
Because of the weather in South Africa (it is 90% of the time sunny – even during winter) a picnic means “let’s braai”! But even here in the UK or where ever we find ourselves, we make a plan to “braai”!
It is an abbreviation of braaivleis meaning ‘grilled meat’. So, the word is originally from the language and culture of Afrikaner people in Southern Africa. Having a braai is a social custom not only in South Africa but also in Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.
Charcoal, briquettes, or wood are used, and we love to cook steak, sausage, big mushrooms, toasties on the fire.
For a picnic it can be just a simple “boerewors” which is beef sausage (translated as farmer sausage) on the coals with a hotdog roll, fried onions (also on the flames in a pan on the side) ketchup, chilli sauce and or mustard.
Nine out of ten times a picnic turns into a full-on braai. Steak, sausages, ribs with salads and other delicious side dishes. We LOVE our meat and food! South Africans love their get-togethers and we braai in all weathers. Pop open the umbrella and carry on!
Picnics are Great for the Budget Conscious
Picnics are a great summer holiday activity, especially when you’re on a budget. No matter what your budget, everyone can make a picnic and everyone has their very own ideas on what makes the best picnic. Get your kids to help plan and prepare a picnic, grab a blanket and go off to explore in the outdoors, if you are armed with snacks and drinks you can’t fail to have a fabulous time. Enjoy!
One Response
Love all the picnic ideas, but the Tapas picnic and South African braai tickles my tastebuds!