Labor Day Picnic Recipe: Potato Salad

This Picnic Potato Salad from tasteofhome.com is an excellent addition to any end of summer or Labor Day Picnic. It’s a traditional potato salad with a touch of mint for a fresh twist. Serve it on the side of grilled dogs or brats with all the fixins and it’s sure to be a hit. Since it’s made without mayo, this potato salad travels well making it perfect for picnicking. Serves 12 and takes about 25 minutes of prep/cooking time.

Ingredients

• 10 medium red potatoes, cubed
• 2/3 cup canola oil
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 4 teaspoons honey
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/4 teaspoon dried mint
• Dash cayenne pepper

Directions

• Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender.
• Drain and place in a large bowl. Combine the remaining ingredients; pour over potatoes and toss to coat. Cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Yield: 12 servings.

Tailgating Gear Review: Caliente Grill and Cooler

Wow…whoever came up with this idea is genius! It’s a grill and a cooler. It’s portable and easy to pack making it excellent for picnicking and tailgating.

The BBQ (charcoal) grill has a 10” grate providing a 78.5 sq. in. grilling surface making it just the right size for a couple of steaks or burgers for 6. The cooler holds six 12-oz. cans and comes with a strap and carrying handle plus extra storage in an external pocket.

We found it easy to pack up and set up was a breeze. It fits easily into a trunk or back seat and carrying it over short distances is no problem. The entire set weighs around 12 lbs so carrying it up the side of a mountain would be a little iffy depending on how hard core you are. For tailgating, it’s pretty much perfection. Since it’s so easy to pack, unpack and bring along it really is a must have. Plus, all your tailgating friends will want to know where you got that cool grill. You’ll be the envy of the tailgating season.

Great Gift Idea: Oniva Seat Sport!

August is the precursor to back to school, Labor Day and the official kickoff to tailgating season. With all that in mind we got busy scouring our sources to locate a gift that is not only functional but fun.

The popular Oniva Seat Sport is great for grownups and kids love them too making this gift appropriate for all ages! At $39.95, the Oniva Sport Seat is a twist on the regular Oniva Seat but still contains all the same features that made the Oniva Seat one of the most popular products of the summer. It’s adjustable and sturdy and can be used indoors and out and is made with a durable steel frame. This seat will get tons of use for years to come.

The best part and what really sets the Oniva Seat Sport apart is you can personalize your gift - you can choose a baseball themed seat for a baseball lover, a basketball themed seat for the basketball lover, a camouflaged seat for the hunter and on and on. In our opinion, this makes it super cool and super fun.

The Oniva Sport Seat ships quick and through the end of summer qualifies for the FREE SHIPPING summer special. It’s a great way to purchase gifts for now or for later (hint, hint…Christmas). The Free Shipping promotion is applied to all purchases during the checkout process.

Ok, there you have it. Now, what are you waiting for???? Let’s get shopping!

For more info on the Oniva Seat Sport, click here: http://www.picnictrend.com/beach-accessories-9/oniva-seat-sport-2763.html

Labor Day Outdoor Activity Planning

August is here and this month is the perfect time to get in last minute vacations, camping trips, picnicking and of course the traditional Labor Day weekend is lingering right around the corner. This is THE time to get ready for Labor Day family gatherings, outdoor barbecues and parties. Here’s a quick plan to get help you get ready for the outdoor festivities.

Things You’ll Need:

Picnic Basket or Cooler

Food

Drinks

Cutlery (forks, knives, spoons)

Condiments (salt, pepper, mayo, relish, mustard, ketchup, etc)

Paper towels

Hand Sanitizer

Grill (portable grills are great)

Picnic Blanket

Think about the number of people to invite and where your event will be held. Sometimes, a back yard is just as good as a park but it’s a good rule to scout potential places out in advance and call ahead to be sure the facilities are available. Many parks and beach picnic areas fill up quick, especially around the Labor Day holiday.

Decide what kind of gathering you’ll have. Is it a potluck picnic or will you be providing the food? Having people bring a dish helps offset cost and fosters the feeling of community. It also simply feels more casual. But it’s nice to invite people to come relax without asking them to prepare in advance. Either way, don’t wait until the last minute to decide on a menu. Do this upfront at the beginning and let each person you invite know what’s expected.

Make a plan B in the event bad weather strikes. Many parks and beaches offer covered picnic areas. Just check the 10-day forecast and have an alternate plan that is easily accessible for the people you are inviting.

Games and competitions are fun and keep everyone involved. Corn hole is a great outdoor game. Partner people up who wouldn’t normally be together and make a double elimination tourney out of it. Kids and adults love this game and it’s super portable and easy to set up and break down. Horse shoes are also easy to play and you can make it interesting by placing bets or making up new rules like the loser gets squirted with squirt guns and place squirt guns in the hands of the people who are watching the game. Be creative and have fun.

With a little bit of planning, some thought and preparation, your Labor Day barbecue or outdoor picnic party will be loads of fun for everyone. Who knows…it might end up being so popular, it becomes an annual event!