Summer Picnic Party Platter + 6 Picnic Ready Dishes and Desserts

Gather your friends, your trusty picnic blanket, a good book, music and head on down to your favorite park before summer is up and don’t forget this Summer Picnic Party Platter for everyone to enjoy!

Summer Picnic Party Platter from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen

August is halfway over and I have just one really important question to ask you.

Have you been on a picnic yet this summer?

If your answer is yes, then we are good.  If it’s a no, then you better get cranking, time is wasting away! I don’t blame you though, by mid-July summer got gross.  We were getting along so nicely all through June and most of  July and then that humidity switch was flipped and well you’ve been sweating it out with me.

Still though, it’s in my opinion that the summer is never truly complete without a picnic or two in the park, even better with a free concert in the background or fireworks in the sky.  For a few hours, it’s about relaxing in a shady spot with your feet in the grass and enjoying a meal al fresco.

There are tons of picnic options out there but my personal favorite is to set up a simple summer picnic party platter of fruits, vegetables, cheese and charcuterie.  Everything gets prepped at home and there’s a little something for everyone to nibble on.

Summer Picnic Party Platter | girlinthelittleredkitchen.com

 

I like to keep my platters simple too, mostly going with what looks good at the farmer’s market or grocery store.  The key is to pick out what isn’t too difficult or messy to eat outdoors – it’s likely you won’t have easy access to a bathroom!

Wondering how much to bring? That’s easy, for charcuterie about 2 ounces per person and a 1/4 pound of cheese per 2 people but let’s be honest, it’s cheese you’ll probably eat more than that!  Pre-slice your bread at home and anything else that might be tricky to cut while out and about.  A handful of cutting boards makes arranging everything neatly on your picnic blanket and easier to eat than out of containers.

Of course, all this food means a beverage should be served.  I recently discovered Izze Sparkling Waters and they are the perfect picnic accompaniment.  As someone who doesn’t drink soda but loves sparkling water and seltzers, I pretty much always take a bottle with me when I picnic.  It’s a little step up from water and Izze goes a notch above as a bold sparkling water with true-to-the-fruit flavors: Blackberry Pear, Mandarin Lime and Raspberry Watermelon.

What I love is that they add organic fruit flavors, it’s like summer in each sip, simply delicious and flavorfully bright!  Being USDA Organic Certified means you are getting the good stuff too, all organic natural flavors and just a hint of organic cane sugar but I promise it’s not sweet at all!

Summer Picnic Party Platter | girlinthelittleredkitchen.com

 

Summer Picnic Party Platter

This picnic platter is merely a guideline, feel free to add more, less or change out items listed below

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound hard cheese (such as manchego, gruyere, jarlsberg..)
  • 1/2 pound soft cheese (such as brie or goat)
  • 4 ounces Prosciutto di Parma
  • 8 ounces salumi, sliced
  • 1 bunch grapes
  • 4-6 small apricots
  • 1 pint raspberries
  • 1 small bunch thin carrots, cleaned and peeled
  • 1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes
  • 1 baguette, sliced

Instructions

  1. Wash and prep any fruits and vegetables at home and package them up for a picnic.
  2. Pre-cut cheese or bring cheese knives to the park with you.
  3. Arrange on cutting boards and serving trays and serve with fresh sliced bread.
  4. Enjoy!
  5. Serves about 4-5 people
Recipe Type: Appetizer, Snack
https://girlinthelittleredkitchen.com/2015/08/summer-picnic-party-platter/

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As an added bonus, I’ve selected 6 of my favorite picnic ready dishes and desserts because this Summer Picnic Party Platter is perfect for an afternoon lunch or snack, sometimes you want a little more to enjoy during your day in the park!

6 Picnic Ready Dishes & Desserts | girlinthelittleredkitchen.com

 

 

  1. Spiralized Carrot Salad with Lemon Ginger Dressing
  2. Zucchini Noodle Peach and Watermelon Salad
  3. Mediterranean Tuna (salad or sandwich)
  4. Cumin Roasted Carrot Hummus
  5. Strawberry Marshmallow S’mores
  6. Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Sandwich Cookies

Summer Picnic Party Platter | girlinthelittleredkitchen.com

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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12 thoughts on “Summer Picnic Party Platter + 6 Picnic Ready Dishes and Desserts

  1. allie @ Through Her Looking Glass

    What a great picnic platter Susan. So pretty and easy, and includes all the goodies! I had my first Izze Sparkling water this past weekend when we were up in Vermont peach picking in Springfield, and sweets picking at the bakery counter at King Arthur Four in Norwich. I had the Black Raspberry and it was delicious!

    Reply
  2. Carla

    “for charcuterie about 2 ounces per person and a 1/4 pound of cheese per 2 people” Clearly you haven’t been around me and a charcuterie/cheese board 😀 Love drinking Izze

    Reply

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