You’ve enjoyed going on picnics since you were a kid. Oh, how you loved the foods your mom tucked into the tattered wooden picnic basket. The salads were so crisp, the sandwiches scrumptious and the homemade cookies to die for. Times have certainly changed since then, but the fun of picnics has not. This summer, you’re going to take your own kids for a picnic in the park. Here are some quick recipes to ensure you serve them a great lunch.

Cheese and Fruit Kabobs

1 8-oz. pkg. cheese, cubed

16 seedless red grapes

16 strawberries

4 kiwi, peeled and quartered

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1 4-oz. vanilla pudding cup

1 6-oz. strawberry yogurt cup

Alternate cheese cubes, grapes, strawberries and kiwi chunks on wooden skewers. Serve as dippers with pudding and yogurt.

Ham Pineapple Sandwiches

1 15-oz. can crushed pineapple, drained

1 c. sugar

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1 c. walnuts, chopped

1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

2 T. milk

24 slices whole-grain bread

60 thin slices deli ham

Combine pineapple and sugar, bring to a boil and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick, about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Add walnuts. In another bowl, stir cream cheese to soften, adding just enough milk to make mixture spreadable. Blend in pineapple mixture. Spread onto 12 slices of bread. Top with 5 thin slices of ham and remaining bread slices.

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Peanut Butter-Banana S’mores

Peanut butter

Marshmallow creme

1 banana, sliced

Chocolate syrup

Graham crackers

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Spread some peanut butter and marshmallow creme onto a graham cracker. Add a couple slices of bananas and a squirt of chocolate syrup. Top with another graham cracker and squeeze together.

Raisin Finger Sandwiches

1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/4 c. mayonnaise

1/2 c. pecans, chopped

10 slices raisin bread

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Beat cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Stir in pecans. Spread onto five slices of bread and top with remaining bread slices. Cut each sandwich into three strips, pack and serve.

Rocky Road Bars

1/3 c. honey

2 T. butter

4 c. miniature marshmallows

6 c. honey oat cereal

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1 c. peanuts, chopped

4 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate, chopped

Microwave honey and butter on high for 1 minute and stir until well blended. Add marshmallows and toss to coat. Microwave 1-1/2 minutes, or until marshmallows are puffed, and stir until well blended. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Press into greased foil-lined 13×9-inch pan. Cool and cut into bars.

These are just some of the many picnic food recipes your kids are sure to enjoy. You will find hundreds more in cookbooks and online, many of which you can get the kids to help you make.


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