Food on the Go: Ready When You Are

originally published by Pampered Chef on June 19, 2019 in Kitchen Tips & Tools, Make It Easy 2

We look forward to lazy summers, then the weather warms up, kids get bored, and pretty soon we’re on the go again. Taking food on-the-go doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools and a little planning, you can make every outing a little more delicious.

Snacks on the Go

For road trips, pop enough for the whole family. Divide the fresh-popped popcorn into individual bags and let everyone mix in their favorite topping. Another take-it-on-the-go favorite is Sweet & Salty Party Mix made with popcorn, pretzels, peanuts, rice cereal, and caramel sauce. It’s easy to make and fun to eat! This microwave popcorn maker lets you pop 12 cups of popcorn at a time, and collapses for compact storage.

Playground Power Bars

Kids seem to get hungry within minutes of hitting the playground. When you don’t want to cut playtime short, bring a snack with staying power like chewy granola bars. With just a few wholesome ingredients and no baking required you can make your own in no time. For extra flavor and texture, add chopped nuts, chocolate, dried fruit, crushed pretzels, or coconut for a custom treat. The perfect grab-and-go snack!

Healthy Lunch Ideas for the Beach

Skip the soggy sandwiches and have a refreshing, healthy salad while relaxing on the beach. For a great packed lunch idea, a mason jar filled with your favorite salad is refreshing. This one includes a place to store dressing in the lid. When you’re ready, just pour in the dressing and shake. Added bonus: the sand stays on the beach and out of your food!

Campground Cooking

One of the big joys of camping is eating traditional camp food. But why settle for lukewarm franks and beans when you can make everything on a grill. The best camping grills are portable and easy to use like this Indoor Outdoor Portable Indoor Grill. It lets you move the gathering anywhere! For an easy breakfast idea, use the grill to fry up eggs and bacon using a grill stone, then finish the evening under the stars with s’mores, the classic camping treat.

Sweet Treats for Picnics and Reunions

There’s a reason brownies and cookies are the perfect desserts take to all types of outings, especially picnics and family reunions. They’re easy to make, can be done in batches, and are always a big hit. These Naughty Brownies are quickly made with packaged brownie mix. Add a mini peanut butter cup for a little extra fun. Or, for a classic taste of summer, Strawberry Blondies are made in a brownie pan with fresh strawberries and a bit of white chocolate for subtly sweet, fabulously buttery, cookie-like goodness.

Summer Cocktails at Outdoor Events

For BYOB outdoor events like musical festivals, concerts, or movie nights in the park, take a bottle of your favorite wine in this handy tote you can throw over your shoulder until you put your blanket down. Serve summer drinks in these double-walled tumblers that hold two servings of wine (that’s what we’re talking about!), a whole can of soda or beer, or your favorite summer cocktail. Plus, they won’t sweat in your hands and they keep the bugs out. Don’t forget a wine bottle opener.

Keep-It-Cool Potluck Dishes

Making your favorite recipe for a backyard bbq or potluck is easy. Keeping it cool and fresh for hours isn’t easy—unless you have the right containers. With the exclusive Cool & Serve collection, you can keep appetizers, sides, salads, sandwiches, desserts or whatever you’re bringing cool for up to six hours. Relax and enjoy the party knowing your dish-to-pass is still fresh and cool!