Summer Picnic - Entertaining Outback

GSI's Sierra Table Set in rustic blue porcelained enamelware

I love summer picnics in the park! If you are not up to doing a full on luncheon, tea and biscuits with a little fruit and cheese are easy to do. I've packed my wicker picnic hamper with a 12 piece table set that is very durable yet lovely for outdoor living.

GSI Sierra Table Set
I can remember seeing enamelware in my Grandmother's kitchen when I was a little girl. It lasted forever and was quite easy to clean. GSI Outdoors has a beautiful enameled table set for four with a coffee cup, soup bowl and dinner plate. You are definitely not roughing it with a set like this but I can still imagine sitting around a campfire being served by "Cookie" from the chuck wagon! 4 bowls, 4 plates, 4 cups, no waiting. It's time to ditch those plastic and paper plates.

GSI Sierra Porcelained Enameled Table Set and Teapot

Porcelained Enameled Teapot
This little teapot is perfect for camping, road trips and picnics as it also comes in the pretty blue just like the tableware set. I like the red because it stands out a bit but still has the speckled texture of the service set. Wooden handle stays in place and can be used on a camp cook stove (see below), a grill or over live coals.

Trangia Stove with fuel tank for outdoor cooking. Tea & Drip Coffee Pots

As you can see, the GSI Outdoors Tea Pot fits perfectly on my Trangia Stove. This is a Primus gas burner so it's very similar to cooking on your gas range at home. It has an even, blue flame and is adjustable via the regulator. The Trangia set has a small tea pot which I really like and is perfect for backpacking because it's very compact. Still I would prefer the larger red teapot for a picnic because I've often run out of hot water with the smaller kettle.

Outback Tea and Coffee!

Stainless 3 Cup Perc
This is an ultra compact but quite rugged stainless steel percolator. It reminds me of one that my mom had and used for years. Campfires, grills and cook stoves can get seriously hot and you may not have your favorite oven mitt along. The heat resistant silicone handle on this perc is therefore really important. The top is hinged so no worries about losing the lid and the PercView knob at the top is made from BPA free resin. Coffee is a welcome finish to any outdoor meal or if you are camping, to start your day. Now, here's a little coffee pot small enough to pack along. Put it on some live coals, the camp stove or grill.

Entertaining Outback
I take my wicker picnic hamper with me for picnics and especially when we've stayed at our cabin in woods. All of the service-ware fits neatly inside and I pack my cook stove and fuel so we need not start a fire the first night unless we want to. If you have the cooking and serving right pieces, it's easy to do. To see more picnic and camping gear for your best summer ever, visit GSIOutdoors.com online. 

Enjoying a picnic at the cabin!

Table Set, Coffee & Teapot c/o GSI Outdoors

Planning Your Cabin Vacation: Glamping 101

Staying in a cabin has its advantages over tent camping

Summer officially ends September 22nd with the first day of autumn.  If you haven't gotten away this season, consider a fall cabin stay.  You have scenic vistas in the Poconos, upstate New York and the New England states to choose from.  Some, such as the one we stayed in, offer air conditioning and heat so you can extend your outback vacation very comfortably.

Packing for a Cabin Stay
One of the many perks of staying in a cabin is that you do not have to purchase a cot. Ours had beds with a thin mattress so I brought my own sheets, pillows, (I like the Silk & Cotton Travel Sheets from Sea to Summit) and a goose down mattress topper.  This improved my sleep experience and added a taste of home to my stay.  You could also bring your sleeping bag.  Whatever you choose, it's a major step up being off the hard, wet ground.  If it rains, you're covered.  See more photos of how our home designer decorated and furnished our home in the woods with rustic styling from GaveThat.com: Cozy Cabin.

A goose down mattress cover adds warmth and comfort to your bed.

Personal Care
Think like your packing for a regular camping trip but some retreats offer onsite bathrooms and hot showers as well as laundry facilities.  This means you can pack the same things that you would for a hotel stay: Toothbrush, shower gear, grooming aids, towels, etc. I used my vintage Samsonite Train Case as it has a large mirror and holds all of my toiletries.  I also pack a little tote bag to take to the shower room.

My train case doubles as a vanity, compete with a large mirror.

Clothing Choices
Now depending on the location and time of year, you'll need to pack for the weather.  The mountains tend to be cooler having a higher elevation as do valleys where the hills and tree line block the sun's rays for a larger portion of the day.  Daytime was quite warm, in the low 80's so we had to deal with mosquitoes as well as ticks while hiking.  I found wearing the Bugs Away Line of shirts, pants and my Breez'r Hat from ExOfficio allowed me to be totally bite free without having to use any insect repellent.

I also brought along my Storm Logic Jacket for those cool morning walks and chilly 50 degree evenings.  It rolls up into a neat little travel pillow that I placed on my bed to sleep with.  I packed and used my thin Smartwool Merino Wool Beanie which can be worn to bed at night if your cabin is not heated.  Think "night cap".

Camp Cooking & Meals

Trangia with Primus Gas Burner and Light My Fire Meal Kit in action.

Some cabins have an indoor kitchen or cooking pits nearby.  We were able to purchase firewood and start a lovely fire for marshmallow and wienie roasting at night.  In the morning, I found it easier to use my Trangia Camp Stove. Making a large "brunch" takes care of our hunger needs until about 4 pm when I start dinner.

Dinner cooking on an open fire. Beans & wienies!

Plan ahead.  Maple flavored sausages to go with pancakes and have enough flavor to allow you to skip the syrup. Cook the sausages first and you may not need to add any extra oil to cook your eggs, especially if you use a non-stick cook-set. The milk we packed is vacuum sealed and keeps without refrigeration until opened.  Snacks that keep without refrigeration include: dried fruit, applesauce cups, juice boxes, Yo-hoo, nuts, wholegrain crackers, fresh fruit and vegetables. We used a PlayMate cooler for items that had to be kept cold and purchased ice on a daily basis. We had a small fridge before and it was easier than hauling ice and draining a cooler.

Pure Water
One of the challenges every traveler faces is whether or not to drink the local water.  You'd be surprised at what passes for potability but suffice it to say, it's not going to taste like what you drink at home.  Many parks and resorts use well water, so the quality will vary from place to place.  We bypassed that by simply bringing a Purificup portable water filtration system and had all the pure water we wanted for drinking and cooking.  It really worked fantastically and made both our water-bottles and meals taste so much better.

Kicking Back
Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in all of the camp chores that you forget why you're there...to relax!  That's why I make a large breakfast but keep snacks available until dinner-time.  We hiked every day, went canoeing and kayaking and after dinner, built a large fire, played the guitar and sang songs.  Try to divide up camp chores so one person doesn't get stuck being "Cookie" the whole time.  My daughter kept up with filtering the water and helped with the meal clean up.  We also shared the cabin's cleaning and laundry.  All the same, make sure to bring some magazines, an iPod with music or an instrument for that down time you will come to relish.

Bring a instrument like a guitar for those campfire songs!

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