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	PicnicsPicnicking has always been a great British tradition in summertime, whatever the weather. So if it's simple sandwiches by the sea or a grand hamper and champagne, just follow these tips, recipes and menu ideas for the perfect picnic.

Keep it simple

The secret of a successful picnic is simplicity, plus careful planning and packing. It doesn't pay to be too ambitious - the biggest mistake most people make is assuming that dishes which work at home will be just as good al fresco.

Bear in mind that some things don't travel well

Bear in mind that some things don't travel well. However, if you can't live without your salad sandwiches, pack your ingredients separately in airtight containers and assemble on location.

Generally, finger food is the most successful picnic fare. For an alternative to traditional sandwiches, try your favourite fillings in pitta bread or focaccia. Pies, chicken portions, slices of vegetable or meat loaf and sliceable cakes are always good bets. You could also make some simple pasta or potato salads with spring onions and crunchy peppers.

Shortcuts

Take advantage of the huge range of ready-made products available

When you're planning a picnic, don't forget to take advantage of the huge range of ready-made products available. Supermarkets have lots of prepared foods to enjoy in a unexpected burst of sunshine to help you create a quick picnic.

Cooked meats There are plenty of cooked meats to choose from as well as meat products such as pork pies, sausage rolls and Scotch eggs. You can buy a whole ready-to-eat roast chicken or handy-sized fillets or drumsticks. Small trays of marinated cooked chicken goujons will spice up a sandwich (try lime and coriander), or you can toss plain ones in a ready-made herby mayonnaise and serve with fresh salad leaves.
Salads Bags of fresh salad are plentiful in supermarkets now. They're easy to transport, washed and ready to use. There are lots of other handy salad items that will enhance a picnic, such as cherry tomatoes, baby sweetcorn cobs and pre-cut crudit�s, plus a range of choices at the salad bars in the bigger supermarkets.
Deli goodies If you're lucky enough to have a good delicatessen, you could create an entire picnic just from its selection of pies, p�t�s, cooked meats, cheeses and antipasti. This is where to find more exotic fare too, such as tubs of roasted peppers, stuffed cherry tomatoes, chicken satay skewers, rich p�t�s or juicy olives dressed in oil and herbs.
Condiments Don't forget relishes, pickles, chutneys, sauces, dips and dressings. And don't ignore tins either - look out for tinned artichokes, palm hearts, sardines, crab, salmon or tuna and various tinned beans to mix into salads or serve on crusty bread.
Breads Ring the changes on sandwiches with different types of bread - try seed bread, herb loaves, french bread or focaccia. Think about taking small rolls, baps, or pitta bread so you don't have to worry about cutting up huge loaves. Good bread, a few nice cheeses, a good quality p�t� and a bottle of wine can make a delicious simple picnic.
Chilled treats As well as ready-made sandwiches, wraps and rolls, go for dips such as hummus or tzatziki and flavoured yogurts. Chilled soups are easier to deal with than trying to keep things hot in thermos flasks - try gazpacho, chilled cucumber and mint or classic vichysoisse.
Easy desserts For dessert, ignore delicate confections that will get crushed too easily on the way. Look for robust sweet things that will stand up to the journey - sturdy cakes or stodgy chocolate brownies. And take lots of fresh fruit or a ready-prepared fruit salad.

Picnic recipe ideas and menus

Choose from our selection of recipes and menus:

Recipes include sandwiches, salads, pies, tarts and nibbles, accompaniments, chilled soups and desserts.
Menus include suggestions for a vegetarian picnic, mezze-style picnic, family picnic and gourmet picnic.

Drinks

If you want to take wine, look at our guide to picnic wines for some pointers, or try these other picnic drink suggestions.

Summer smoothies can be made by blitzing seasonal fruits in a blender. Chill well before your trip, and store in a vacuum flask or in a container inside a cool bag or box.
Jazz up your fruit juice with soda water, freeze it until slushy, and serve up as a cool sorbet-style treat. You could even try mixing fruit juice and soda water as an interesting alternative.
Try making your own lemonade. Take three large lemons, half a cup of sugar or artificial sweetener and 1 litre (1.75 pints) water. Slice the lemons in half and squeeze into a large container. Remove any seeds. Pour into large jug, mix the juice with the sugar and chill.

Safe eating

Picnics are to be enjoyed, so don't spoil your day by risking anyone's health because of bad food preparation, storage or serving. Follow the basic guidelines below and your trip should be great.

Always wash your hands before preparing food and before eating. If you think that clean water may not be available, take disposable travel wipes with you.
Make sure that all fish, poultry and meats have been thoroughly thawed before cooking, and make sure that they are cooked properly to destroy bacteria.
Observe the two-hour rule. This is the longest time that vulnerable food can survive unrefrigerated - though really warm weather will reduce this limit to one hour.
If in doubt, throw it out. Should you have any worries about the safety of food, don't eat it.

For more information on food hygiene, preparation, and storage, see the Food Standards Agency or the Food and Drink Federation .