Winter picnic

Dry and crisp?
just the weather for an al fresco meal!

Perhaps because they are less expected, winter picnics are often even more fun than those lazy summer ones. However, they do tend to require a little more planning so be sure to check my picnic list before you set out.

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I would forget the pretty wicker hampers and go for insulated, weatherproof, back-packs to carry the food and drinks. You’ll also need at least one wide-necked flask for a piping hot soup or drink.

Especially if you’ll be eating near the car, rather than in the middle of a hike or trail, think about taking along a small barbecue or gas ring (plenty available now with winter picnics in mind) so that you can warm up some pre-cooked chilli, stew or hotpot. I don’t suggest using your barbecue in the same way as you would in the summer. You will want to be able to heat and eat the food quickly, not hang about in the cold waiting for it to cook!

Roll-up bags of barbecue tools are easy to carry and provide everything you need for outdoor grilling and cooking.

Maybe you should add a burn spray or cream to that picnic list too – just in case!

You’ll want everyone to be more active on a winter picnic so that you keep warm. You certainly won’t be lying in the grass reading a book! If you’re lucky enough to have snow, then take the kids out in waterproof gear with their sledges, make a snowman or have a snowball fight.

Apparently half an hour of snowball fighting burns off around 200 kcal and two and a quarter hours spent building a snowman would take up around 640 kcal.

So tuck in!

A flask of steaming homemade soup and some really fresh crusty bread won’t take up too much space in a back-pack but will be wholesome and filling.

This could be followed by scotch eggs or a traditional or festive pasty. Make these easily after Christmas with cooked turkey meat, ham and chestnut stuffing. Add a teaspoon or two of cranberry sauce and a pinch of chilli powder too.

You can wrap them in tinfoil and newspaper straight from the pan or oven and they should keep warm for a few hours. The same is true for spicy sausage turnover, which is another favourite winter picnic choice.

Wrap up a few chocolate biscuits for afters. You won’t have a problem with them melting at this time of year.

Flapjacks always go down well too, or you may have some shortbread or fruitcake in the cupboard around Christmas time.

For a Christmassy winter picnic, I would make some Stilton soup and serve with succulent slices of turkey and cranberry sauce in big white floury baps (put some of the stuffing in there too if you have it). Or try baked gammon ham in rolls with mustard mayo and salad.

Fed up with Christmas turkey and ham? We have lots of other ideas for sandwiches and rolls you could try instead.

If not too far from home, in a second flask I’d pour spicy mulled wine for the grown-ups or a non-alcoholic, hot fruit punch if you’re driving. Or even hot chilli chocolate.

That will keep the winter chill out of your bones. How about a cinnamon biscuit to go with it or a mince pie sprinkled with cinnamon sugar?