Picnic recipes that can sit out for a while!

[Strandas]

We are doing a child’s 5th birthday in a local park. There will be 15 children, 8 siblings (babies/toddlers), and 30 adults. I’d prefer to be able to make as much as I can in advance. I don’t want to bring plates or cutlery. I don’t like sandwiches as they get stale quickly. No allergies. Most eat everything, there will be a few vegetarians, and a few who don’t eat pork.

I was thinking margarita pizza, carrot/cucumber/fruit for the children. I have a few ideas for the adults (focaccia, pastry based things), but wondered if anyone had some good ideas. It would need to be able to be left out for a few hours. We have drinks for children and adults (ice buckets etc). Ideally I’m looking for things that can be eaten with one hand as a snack with a beer/wine/soft drink in the other. Individual portions, no cocktail sticks as want to reduce waste as much as possible.

We went to a similar one last month and they had samosas which went down very well, but I don’t want to be frying 60 samosas the day of the party (also don’t want to be picking up things from restaurants on the morning of the party).

Does anyone have some gems?!

What’s your local weather forecast for the day?

Hot dogs cooked at home and then transported in a flask so can be served hot. (Although re-reading and seeing the age you may need to halve them for safety) Buns, ketchup, mustard are easy

Tesco does frozen party food (including samosas) which can be oven cooked.

To be honest nothing tastes good after being left out for a few hours, so I’d focus less on that and more on how easy it is for you to make things.

Keep it simple and let the kids go a bit mad, they can run around the park to work off the sugar. Cake, cake, cake, sweets, crisps and dough balls/pizza dough bread or the like.

For the adults, quiche, ham (keeps well, it's salted), cheese, bread, butter mayo. They make their own sandwiches/rolls. Adult crisps/chips etc. and dips. I'd forget about salad, few like enough of it to be worth the faff. Maybe potato salad and coleslaw. I think all that would survive ok outdoors.

You can't be expected to do a gourmet meal in a park away from your own kitchen and fridge. 😊

Your desire not to use plates or cutlery limits your options somewhat. I can only think of sandwiches, different sorts of handheld pies and chicken drumsticks that work with that brief.

Maybe focaccia sandwiches would work and hopefully would keep well because focaccia doesn’t dry out as much.

https://smittenkitchen.com/2018/08/focaccia-sandwiches-for-a-crowd/

Or maybe cook lots of sausages and wrap in foil to keep warm. Then make hot dogs for people when you are ready to eat.

If you like the idea of samosas but don’t want to be frying, you could make an oven baked version with filo pastry. Meera Sodha has some recipes. Or explore similar pastry ideas from different countries, empanadas maybe? Or little mini pies like these but vary the fillings?

https://www.recipetineats.com/party-pies-mini-beef-pies/

There will be a birthday cake!

It’s an afternoon party, so people won’t need a full meal. I’m not a fan of hot dogs and probably best we avoid pork all together. Some good ideas, thanks a lot. We try and avoid disposable things where possible and I hate the thought of buying 50-odd plates and cutlery just to throw them away (even if they are biodegradable). Definitely won’t be doing salad!

Thanks for all the ideas!

M&S do mini pita breads, they don’t dry out like sandwiches do and can be eaten with one hand. Fill with chicken and avocado and chilli flakes, roasted peppers, mozzarella and rocket with balsamic glaze, cheddar and homemade coleslaw. Just transport in a cool bag with ice packs and place the icepack under the plate when serving.