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Pack a pukka picnic

Picnicking season is upon us. Whether it's an outdoor concert, a day on the beach or just a favourite local park, we love to eat outdoors when the weather is nice. But what can you do to make it special, and how do you avoid the predictable collection of ready-made supermarket sandwiches and crisps? With a minimum amount of time and fuss, you can fill your picnic hamper with great-tasting healthy home-made food.

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• Spicy Chicken Strips in Pitta Pockets
• Honey-roast Ham with Mustard Cream Cheese in Tortilla Wraps
• Raw Vegetable Batons with Avocado Dip
• Bag of Taco Chips (we're not complete purists)
• Strawberries Dipped in Chocolate (or just leave them plain)
• Cranberry and Grapefruit Cooler

Vegetarian Alternatives
• Spicy Chick Pea Falafels in Pitta with Raita
• Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables and Houmous in Tortilla Wraps

Get carried away
Wicker hampers are very stylish and attractive, but ideal for keeping food cool. Insulated, soft cool-bags are best for this and come in handy, easy-to-carry sizes. Keep the hamper for transporting plates, glasses, napkins and any other incidentals like bottle openers, etc. Freezer packs are good for keeping food and drink cooler for longer inside the cool-bags. Don't forget to pop them in the freezer until frozen. Also, it's a good idea to make sure your food is cold (kept in the fridge for an hour or 2) before packing. All the recipes above can be made well in advance. Remember to keep your food bag in a shaded area.

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