Picnic Preparedness

Q: Whenever I get ready for a barbeque I find myself going to the store 3 or 4 times the day before because I keep forgetting stuff or missing condiments. I also get very tired of spending hours preparing for the party and find that people comment more on what I forgot than what I have. How can I better deal with these summer outings?

A: Well, for starters you need to make a list. I have a "summer necessities" list that I keep filed in with my Easter Cards list. That way when I get ready to send my Easter cards I am reminded that summer is almost here and it is time to get my list together. Items for this list are:
Plastic Utensils
Condiments packets list - like the packets you get from fast food that don't have to be refrigerated (Ketchup, Mustard, Relish, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, etc)
napkins
paper plates and bowls
plastic cups
tablecloth or plastic drop cloth
moist towelettes
aluminum foil
can opener
storage bags (sandwich size is usually sufficient)
ice pick
artificial sweetener
Keep these items all together in one location - preferably a bag in your pantry - so that you never have to worry about these items. This will cut down, significantly, on those trips to the store! You can also keep a set in your car for those last moment picnics; this way all you have to do is pack some sandwiches, chips, and drinks and you are ready to go.

The next list you are going to need to put together about a week before a planned picnic or barbeque. This list is two-fold. The first part is all the food you plan on bringing, the second is all the ingredients you need for that food. The reason for starting this list a week (or more) early is so that as inspiration comes you can add or edit this list as you need. This list should include:
drinks
meats
toppings
buns/bread/tortillas
condiments
ice
charcoal
spices and marinades
The morning BEFORE your planned party you need to go through all your cupboards and the recipes for these items and make a final shopping list of everything you need. Make sure you have enough to make two of any really confusing, difficult, or new recipes - just in case.

The easiest way to get ready for a party is to remember KISS: Keep It Simple - Silly! If you are planning on having onions and tomatoes and lettuce for your hamburgers don't spend an hour making some fancy platter for them, just slice them up and set them out. There is no reason to spend time making patterns or fancy designs when it is all just going to be taken apart. Cheese is easy, just leave it in stacks on a platter and people will peel them apart. If you have picky eaters then lay the cheese out by slice so hopefully they will only pick up one piece at a time.

Finally, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Anything sticky or extra messy put on platters lined in foil or parchment paper. Be sure to use some kind of non-stick spray on your grill. And be sure there are lots of trash cans anywhere your guests might be eating to keep trash to a minimum. The idea is to make cleanup that much easier and you won't spend your party dreading the cleanup after.