Probably the single factor that keeps most of us from having enough picnics is the prospect of lugging lots of stuff to some idyllic, faraway spot—and then discovering that we’ve forgotten the salt and pepper. When you set up a picnic at home on the deck or patio, you don’t have to worry. Instead, get creative.

This is going to be your prettiest picnic ever. The key is to keep it casual — even a bit rustic — yet wonderfully stylish:

Wrap sandwiches in waxed paper or brown kraft paper, tie with rickrack, and add stick-on labels with guests’ names so the bundles can double as place cards.

Set the table with vintage lunch boxes, plaid metal picnic hampers, and vintage Thermoses standing in for vases.

Use bandanas or dish towels as napkins.

For a great celebration-worhty centerpiece, fill mason jars with marbles, then insert pinwheels.

In addition to the recipes below for scrumptious sides, try these ideas for unique sandwich stackers:

- Smoked chicken with mango chutney on seven-grain bread
- Shrimp, cucumber, and radishes with dill butter on pumpernickel
- Roasted red peppers, prosciutto, and mozzarella with balsamic vinegar on rustic Italian bread
- Tapenade, sliced tomatoes, and watercress on a croissant

Grill-sweetened bell peppers
Picnic-style deviled eggs
Thermos of cold cucumber soup with yogurt & mint
Coleslaw Asian style
Chocolate-chunk blondies in waxed paper bags

Andres Segovia guitar music on CD
Mesh-wrapped citronella candles
Buckets of zinnias and sunflowers
Plaid stadium blankets
A dozen kerosene lanterns for nightfall
Enamelware cups, bowls, and plates
Courtesy of Mary Engelbreit’s Dining Out