Good Dish For Picnics

You can choose from a number of dishes to take on your picnic.

Picnics are a great way to usher in spring or say "au revoir" to summer, regardless of your locale. Picnic fare ranges from bread and cheese to fried chicken and potato salad. Prepare and transport your picnic food in a safe manner to prevent foodborne illness.

Fresh Corn Salad

A fresh corn salad is a good addition to any picnic.

Corn salad is easy to make and preserve at the picnic site. Cut kernels from fresh corn cobs and brown the kernels in hot oil with chopped chili, garlic and a little salt and pepper. After the kernels are browned, remove them from the heat, add lime juice to taste and toss with chopped cilantro.

Crostini

Top crostini with different cheeses or tapenade.

Crostini translates as "little toasts" in Italian; it differs from bruschetta because the slices of bread typically are thinner. Crostini is ideal for picnics because you can top the little pieces of bread with practically anything, including roasted red bell peppers, cheeses, tapenade, sun-dried tomatoes or even just crushed red pepper flakes. Like the corn salad, it also is good for vegetarian picnickers.

Fried Chicken

Fried chicken is a picnic staple in the southern United States.

Whether you buy it or make it yourself, fried chicken is a favorite picnic dish, particularly in the southern United States. It's easily transported and doesn't require utensils. When preparing the chicken, wash your hands frequently. Keep chicken cold and serve it within 2 hours or leave it in a cooler, reports the United States Department of Agriculture.

Tags: United States, cheeses tapenade, fresh corn, fried chicken, southern United, southern United States