Pumpkin Patch Picnic

Upon arrival at the pumpkin patch, choose a location for your picnic. Look for a large table that is isolated, but easy to access with your cooler and supplies. Pack the salad, drinks, and ice in a large, wheeled cooler. Put the cheese and other nonperishable food in a picnic basket.

Pour the soup into thermoses and place inside the basket. Cover the table with an orange tablecloth and set a bouquet of sunset-colored Gerber daises in the center. Serve the food on brown paper products and the cocktails in clear plastic tumblers. Bring plastic utensils, but remember to recycle when you are finished eating.

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Like the menu and dessert, when selecting a cocktail for a picnic, choose one that can be made in a large batch in advance. This rosemary ruby cocktail is refreshing and delicious. It combines a rosemary simple syrup with vodka and grapefruit juice. To make a nonalcoholic version, substitute sparkling water for the vodka. Fill a cooler with seasonal ale, water, and single-serving juices. Don't forget to pack extra ice for the cocktails. Get this tantalizing cocktail recipe when you read more

When planning a picnic always select an easy-to-eat, portable dessert. Cakes and pies are a show-stopping finish to a meal, but save those for the dinner party.

Pumpkin seed brittle is an appropriately sweet treat for a picnic at a pumpkin patch. The brittle can be made well in advance and it doesn't matter if it breaks while in transit.

This recipe is also fun to make at a pumpkin carving party: It uses up the pumpkin seeds and guests can take some home as a favor.

To check out the technique behind pumpkin seed brittle, read more

Every October I look forward to picking out pumpkins. There's a great ranch near my parents house that has a pumpkin patch along with a picnic area and hay rides, so I'm grabbing a group of friends and hosting a picnic at the pumpkin patch! Since we'll be heading out this weekend, I invited everyone by phone.

The menu will be a hearty Fall-themed lunch. I'll start by setting up an assortment of cheeses and fruit. The elements to an autumn greens salad will be packed in separate containers. The greens, apples, and radishes in one, the cheddar frico in another, and the vinaigrette in third.

The salad can be assembled at the picnic table. Thermoses filled with a fragrant ginger, butternut squash soup are perfect for enjoying at the pumpkin patch. For these scrumptious recipes, read more