Thank God it’s Monday, again. I always look forward to every Monday. They’re my 52 Chances a year, in which I get to share Memories of My Mom with you. Therefore, have a happy Monday.
It’s midway into July, now – the whole month being National Picnic Month. On a side note, for some reason National Picnic Day is in April, instead of July. I’m not sure why. However, July is summertime and summer is the optimum picnic season.
July is also observed and celebrated as National Baked Bean Month and National Hot Dog Month – two of the most popular, classic, picnic foods. By the way, both of these choices taste good hot or cold. Incidentally, the best picnic food choices are generally for those items that require little to no utensils and travel well in a cooler.
Additionally, today is a combination celebration of the aforementioned two, as it’s also National Beans ‘N’ Franks Day. Plus, Wednesday, being the third one in July (for 2026), will be celebrating… National Hot Dog Day. Can it get more picnic perfect?
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote that billions of dollars are spent annually on grilling foods and grilled hot dogs happen to be the #1 choice for a summer picnic or backyard barbecue. Americans consume about 155 million hot dogs, on average, during this time of year.
PICNICS ARE SPECIAL OCCASIONS
Every summer that I can remember, while growing up in the “Thumb Area” of Michigan, there was usually a couple of family vacations; along with some special one-day trips or events like going to a festival or the beach or picnicking at a park. They all filled my summers with a lot of fun and happy memories.
An online survey of Americans, conducted 10 years ago, in 2016, by the National Recreation and Park Association, found that the three most commonly preferred summer activities, among all the different age groups, were walking or hiking, going to the beach, and having a picnic or backyard barbecue. That still rings true, today.
Overall, picnics offer a wonderful mixture of mental, social, and physical benefits. A picnic is a stress reliever and a healthy escape from our daily, hectic lives. It offers us mood-boosting benefits, as well as a mindful connection with nature, while noshing in a relaxed and casual manner – and, also, while socializing with friends and/or family.
This unplugged connection with others (without the distractions of screens or other electronics) naturally fosters and strengthens relationships – it’s about the gathering and giving each other some uninterrupted time and attention. On top of all that, picnics are extremely budget-friendly getaways that simply make meals more enjoyable and memorable.
The French kind of “created” picnics, when they opened their royal parks to the public (after their 1789 revolution). They were fashionable, social events to which every attendee contributed some food – otherwise known as alfresco style dining. Picnics continued to hold a special place in summer traditions throughout history and still do, today.
Picnics encourage us to slow down, refresh, converse with others, and enjoy some of Life’s simple pleasures in a beautiful, open-air environment. Fresh air and sunshine are well-known to increase our vitamin D intake, as well as lower anxiety levels and relieve tension; which, in turn, lowers blood pressure and improves our overall health.
During The Dog Days of Summer, when it is too hot to cook, I like to eat out – as in outside. Who doesn’t love a backyard barbecue or a picnic by a beach? I love char-grilled food on a beautiful, sunny, summer day. Don’t forget, July is also National Grilling Month, too.
FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…
As seen in…
Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – The Best of the Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, p. 294). [A revised reprint of Gloria Pitzer’s Better Cookery Cookbook (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; May 1983, 3rd Edition).]
DIVIDENDS
EVERY SUCCESSFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT with my writing, after high school and the one year in college, was involved with recipes and cookbooks and restaurants. But I couldn’t see that it was a kind of calling. I saw it only as an interest that temporarily kept me writing and making a worthwhile living at it.
WDEE-Radio, in Detroit, gave me a portable radio or a recipe that took first place in a contest they conducted – and in 1962, it was WBRB, in Mt. Clemens, that gave me a check for first place in their recipe contest. Soon after that, Better Homes & Gardens sent me a check for a recipe in a contest they had conducted.
WJBK-Radio gave me a maple stereo and radio set for their most unusual experience while listening to the radio, in 1964, when I wrote them about our ‘Picnicking in the Snow’.
Again, the story was food related, including recipes for having a cook-out on the beach at Metropolitan Park in the middle of winter, with the radio going to keep us in the proper mood.
It was all leading to my eventual work in the food industry – but I couldn’t see that at the time I could only see that I had to write and with any luck at all, luck would be when preparation and experience met opportunity. The opportunity was close at hand.
PICNIC TIPS
So many useful picnic tips, to help you focus on being prepared for just about anything, are available online – where to go, what to take, how to pack it, and so much more. In fact, creating a picnic “theme” can generally transform and level-up this casual, socializing meal into a more memorable event.
Whether it’s for a luau, a garden-to-table, a taco fest, or a “potluck in the park” theme, you can set the mood with food, décor, and even “costumes”. Remember to keep it simple, though. When something is described as being “no picnic”, it usually refers to being complicated or difficult.
The best time of day, in July, for a perfect picnic is usually late morning or early evening, when temperatures are void of the midday heat. Choose a spot that offers a mix of sun and shade, as well as soft grass, picnic tables, and scenic views.
HOW TO PACK FOR A PICNIC
Pictured above is my go-to list, for packing a picnic basket; however, I use a use a large, plastic, 56-qt storage tub, instead of a basket. Other creative carriers you can use instead of a designated “picnic basket” include backpacks, reusable fabric shopping bags, disposable paper grocery bags, collapsable storage bins, and the like.
Just as in any celebration, throughout the year, a very important part of picnic activities, besides socializing, getting fresh air, and making memories, is eating the food. Thus, here is a list for the 10 most popular food choices to take on a picnic (based on a consensus of my Google searches).
10 Most Popular Picnic Food Picks:
- Hot dogs
- Fried chicken
- Sandwiches/subs/wraps
- Baked beans
- Coleslaw
- Potato salad
- Deviled eggs
- Cut-up, raw vegetables & dip
- Watermelon
- Fruit pie
Things to do on a picnic outing (besides eating) include playing music, singing/dancing, walking, playing table/yard games, bird watching, people watching, sun bathing; plus, if you’re at a beach, you can add in rock hunting, skipping stones, finding sea shells, building sand castles, swimming, and fishing.
MORE FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…
As seen in…
“No Laughing Matter”, a syndicated column by Gloria Pitzer (Algonac, MI; Aug. 1971)
SCHOOL BEGINS AND SO DOES MOTHER’S VACATION
NEVER MIND WHAT the calendar says about the longest day of summer. It doesn’t really fall in June. It falls somewhere during the last week of August, as mothers everywhere breathlessly await the beginning of another school year!
When listening to a child lick a postage stamp in the next room begins to give me a headache and the cat seems to be stomping his paws and even my Mixmaster and my vacuum cleaner sound like mini bikes, I know it’s time for school to start.
This is what happens when you live with children who believe that the same door they left open all winter should be slammed all summer.
And all I have to show for 10 weeks of summer, is a tape recording of 400 hours of the kids next door, gunning their motorcycles under my kitchen windows; which I felt would make a lovely remembrance for their mother who has been out, working in a pleasant, air-conditioned office.
Someday, she may want to know what she missed while her boys were growing up. I can tell her what she missed – migraines, excessive nervous acidity and hives, that’s what!
The first 8 weeks of summer rushed past us so quickly – it was like catching quicksilver in greased gloves. Suddenly, there was our 15-year old [son], telling us he needed back-to-school clothes; but he’d like some new blue jeans that didn’t look like new blue jeans.
Honestly, I don’t know where you can buy new blue jeans with broken zippers, frayed hems, worn seats and patched knees.
He [also] said he had wished he had bought his school shoes last month, so he could have had plenty of time to scuff up the toes and run the heels over before school started; then, nobody would accuse him of wearing Sunday school clothes.
It is during the [unofficial] last week of summer that my Avon lady sends me a CARE package and my mother apologizes for not having had the children visit her more often before they had to go back to school.
I receive fliers from the drug store advertising Christmas wrappings and ribbons, and you can’t find a 99-cent Styrofoam cooler anywhere in town for the Labor Day picnic you wish you didn’t have to attend, because any picnic with 5 children is no PICNIC!
It is during the [unofficial] last week of summer that I’m ready to vote “yes” in a school bond issue and school supplies that were on sale in July are being replaced on dime store counters by Halloween candy and costumes.
It is during the [unofficial] last week of summer that a neighbor stops by to see if he ever returned the lawn mower he borrowed from us and is disappointed when he learns he didn’t because he wanted to borrow it again! Actually, the longest day of summer can make one weak – especially if she’s a mother!
When anything is described as being like “a picnic”, it means it’s easy, simple, pleasant, and carefree. A simple picnic is a fun and relaxing way to gather and make memories. But if you want to have MORE than a “simple” picnic…
Have you ever heard of a mystery picnic? I discovered this fun twist on an iconic summer tradition, a few years ago, at CuriousCampers.com (Australia). According to the website, “mystery picnics” combine travel, food, and fun; while solving a series of clues that take you to various places.
You can design it to be like a scavenger hunt or a treasure hunt. A scavenger hunt offers each guest clues to find a variety of things to collect, as you go, and add to the “picnic basket”.
In a treasure, hunt there’s only one thing for which to hunt (aka: the treasure) – the first one to find it wins. Once “the treasure” is found the hunt is done for everyone. It’s a fun idea to explore the area, as you follow clues to various destinations, and then gather with the other guests (at the final destination) to share your collection or adventures.
Both hunts use riddles and clues to send participants from one place to another. Usually, participants can work in pairs or in teams or individually. A scavenger hunt is typically played in an extensive outdoor area but it can also be scaled down to play at home, like a treasure hunt – which is done in a smaller area.
The host typically creates a “trail”, so that the answer to one clue reveals the next destination. You can either write the clues or riddles on pieces of paper hidden at the chosen locations or put them in an “online” forum (like an “event” or “group” page on Facebook) that gives clues to the answers, as well.
The first riddle should be included in the initial invitation. Guests have to figure it out before they start so they know where to go first and possibly collect something for the picnic, along with a clue to the next destination. Repeat as often as necessary, before getting to the final destination – the “mystery picnic” spot.
LAST THOUGHTS…
Thanks for visiting! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my memories of my mom, her memories, and other related things. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at therecipedetective@outlook.com. You can also find me on Facebook: @TheRecipeDetective. I look forward to hearing from you!
IN CLOSING…
In honor of TODAY, being National Delaware Day; plus, July, being National Blueberry Month and National Picnic Month; not to mention Wednesday, being National Give Something Away Day; here’s Mom’s copycat recipe for “Delaware Blueberry Buckle”, as seen in her self-published newsletter, Gloria Pitzer’s Secret Recipes Newsletter (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; July-Aug. 1988, Issue 133; p. 2). Per usual, I’m asking only for proper credit if you care to re-share it.
P.S. Food-for-thought until next Monday…
The month of July observes… National Culinary Arts Month, National Horseradish Month, National Ice Cream Month, National Independent Retailer Month, National Peach Month, and more. Additionally, July 3rd through Aug. 11th is considered The Dog Days of Summer.
Today is also… National French Fry Day .
Tomorrow is… National Grand Marnier Day, National Tape Measure Day, and National Mac & Cheese Day.
Wednesday, July 15th, is… National Tapioca Pudding Day and National Gummi Worm Day.
July 16th is… National Corn Fritters Day and National Personal Chef’s Day. Plus, as the third Thursday of the third quarter (for 2026), it’s also… Get to Know Your Customers Day.
Friday, July 17th, is… National Lottery Day, National Peach Ice Cream Day, and World Emoji Day.
July 18th is… National Sour Candy Day and National Caviar Day. Plus, as the third Saturday in July (for 2026), it’s also National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day and Toss Away the “Could Haves” and “Should Haves” Day.
July 19th is… National Daiquiri Day. Plus, as the third Sunday in July (for 2026), it’s also… National Ice Cream Day. Additionally, as the start of the third week in July (for 2026), it’s also… Everybody Deserves a Massage Week, National Zoo Keeper Week, and National Parenting Gifted Children Week.
Have a great week!
…28 down and 24 to go.
