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A Patriotic Picnic

Food and Fun on the Fourth

By Kendeyl Johansen

Whether you live near the beach or the mountains or you just want to stake out a good spot in the park to view fireworks, celebrate this July 4th with a family picnic.

"Make things easy on yourself by planning your picnic beforehand," says Ilene Stanfa, president of Celebration Services of Elmhurst, Ill. She recommends first deciding upon a budget, then selecting a menu, picnic location and activities.

Get into the spirit by decorating T-shirts with red and blue fabric paint, learning how to prepare food safely for outdoor enjoyment and making easy, patriotic recipes, which the kids can help cook.

And don't forget party entertainment. "Plan games for your picnic that all ages can enjoy, and offer inexpensive prizes," says Stanfa. "Try husbands vs. wives or friends vs. friends to bring people together." Some of her suggestions for economical fun are gunny sack races (sew pieces of burlap together), three-legged races (tie the inside legs of two people together), face painting, volleyball and croquet. With a little forethought you can ensure a fun day for you and your family.

Food can spoil easily on hot summer days. Stanfa recommends planning picnics to include foods that don't require refrigeration, like fruit salads instead of pasta salads with mayonnaise. Other good picnic foods are pickles, crackers, raisins and peanut butter sandwiches.

"If the temperature is 90 degrees [Fahrenheit] or higher, do not leave perishable food out for more than an hour," says Bessie Berry, manager, USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline. She adds that food-borne illnesses increase vastly during the summer months because people are cooking and eating outside more often and they forget safe food handling practices.

Want to see more?

• Rock Around the Block: Get Out and Meet Your Neighbors!
• Now You're Cooking! Barbecue Basics for Beginners
• The Magic of Marinades: Add Ethnic Zest to Your Next Barbecue
• What's for Dinner? Let's Have a Cookout
• Talk about it!

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