Five Kitchen Tools for The Ultimate Spring Picnic in Washington, D.C.

We all know a spring picnic in Washington, D.C. is not complete without a view of the cherry blossoms. But in order for you to relax and stop to smell the ros– cherry blossoms, you’ll need to do a little prep work first. To make it easier on you, we’ve compiled a list of the top five items you need to prepare the ultimate spring picnic in Washington, D.C.

 

Kitchen Essentials for A Spring Picnic in Washington, D.C.

1. Citrus Squeezer: No picnic is complete without a real lemonade. Lemons, water, sugar and ice equals the perfect thirst-quenching treat.
2. Ice Bucket: Picnic lemonade without an ice bucket is…sad lemon water with a little sugar. Keep your lemonade refreshing with a small, insulated ice bucket or thermos full of ice cubes.
3. Food Processor: From homemade salsa to chicken salad and cole slaw, a food processor can help to prepare a number of picnic-friendly dishes. Also use it to create your own mayo for sandwiches and dips. To make homemade mayonnaise, you’ll only need five ingredients likely stocked in your kitchen already: an egg, extra light olive oil, salt, mustard powder and lemon.
4. Cloth Napkins: Even if your picnic is a childfree outing, there’s still plenty of opportunity for spills and messes. And if you’re outdoors, there might not be a trash can nearby for used napkins and paper towels. Plan ahead and keep the environment a priority with cloth napkins. Just toss them in the wash when you get home; it’s as easy as pie.

Speaking of pie, it makes a fantastic picnic dessert. Keeping it cold isn’t essential, and it only requires one container. Simple. But no pie is complete without a little dollop of whipped cream on top, and this leads us to essential kitchen tool number five.

5. Whipped Cream Dispenser: Forget dragging out the electric mixer for a batch of fresh whipped cream. With a whipped cream dispenser, all you need to do is pour in the whipping cream, add a little powdered sugar and vanilla, and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to go. Just give the can a 30 second shake before dispensing. This dispenser saves you from two unfortunate things: toting along a large tub of whipped topping, and also from eating the pre-made, overly processed alternative. Finish off your homemade meal with class and style.

Need some recipe inspiration?

Here are a few of our favorite recipes from local D.C. area food bloggers:

Peach BBQ sauce from DIY Del Ray

Pasta: Rigatoni, Spinach, Goat Cheese, Pistachio from Cupcakes for Breakfast

Blueberry Pie from The Bitten Word (original recipe from Cook’s Illustrated July/August 2008 Issue)

Now that you’re equipped with plenty of picnic ideas, you can shop like a chef, and check out the new Alto-Hartley warehouse for a 10% discount. Enjoy the cherry blossoms!