Grab your tablecloth of traditional red and white gingham or lime-hued palm trees on a fuchsia and orange sunset background because it is time to pack a basket full of cold salads, meat and cheese and get out into the wide open spaces to enjoy an old summer favorite-the picnic. Whether with your best pal or a passel of kids, the idea of a meal outside draws us like mosquitoes to a pair of juicy ankles. It is romantic, casual, and can lead to a nap in the sun while giggling children play freeze tag around you.

However, with all of the time-consuming summer projects that requires blocks of time to be set aside (ballgames, gardening, every outdoor lesson under the sun, and work), it can be difficult to prepare food for a planned picnic event, much less an impromptu getaway. What you need is a place to pop in, grab freshly made cold dishes and sandwiches of braunschweiger and havarti, then jump into the car, put the top down, and find a nice big water maple under which to sit. Fortunately, there are many such places in Lexington that provide freshly made salads, sandwiches, and desserts ready-made for a beautiful picnic.

It would be unfair to list one vendor specifically, as someone pointed out to me that many people in Lexington have their oars in these prepared food waters, but what I can do is suggest some avenues for you to explore. Walt Barbour's Fresh Market & Deli is just out Henry Clay Boulevard (at Liberty). In Chevy Chase alone, there is Phil's Cookshop on Romany, Scarborough Fare, Le Matin, and Seasons Deli. Driving south, there is The Mouse Trap on Tates Creek Road, Good Foods Co-Op on Southland, and Annette's Catering on Clays Mill Road. Each of these has almost everything needed to complete your picnic basket, including the basket in some cases. They are a combination of charcuteries, eateries, groceries, and stores of interesting kitchen supplies. This is just a sampling; country stores on your country drive are also great resources for picnic items that are quick and easy.

The most creative and fun part of this meal is deciding what food to include that will surprise and delight the guest(s) at your picnic. The basket is a gift. Each item should be special, compact but plentiful, and delicious, whether it is peanut butter and jelly on white or fried chicken or liver pate with French d'Affinois cheese.

Any special touches that you would add to your table for a dinner party can be incorporated into the basket.

Not to sound too much like the queen of entertaining, but add some fresh herbs, flowers, nice plates, and linen napkins. It can all be thrown back in the basket to be cleaned later and your guests appreciate the extra effort.

To pack a perfect picnic basket is not difficult, just a small amount of planning is required. Garlic and poultry can be dangerous in this heat, so be aware to pack them next to something cold, and if they sit out in the heat too long, pitch them. I have a friend who swears that the best way to make fried chicken is to let it marinate in buttermilk on the counter all day, and I am sure that she is right, but I have a fairly healthy fear of misplaced bacteria and must encourage you to think ahead when it comes to outdoor summer temperatures. I like using a well-chilled bottle of champagne, Spanish cava, or German Riesling to keep things nice and cold.

At our house, picnics are a big deal. When we bought this house, the very first day that it was ours, we laid out an old, family quilt and had an opulent picnic with herb roasted chicken, fresh tomatoes and mozzarella, grilled asparagus, olives, and crusty bread (all bought at the much missed Cosmo's) on our new yard and heaved sighs of relief, pleasure, and the burden of a thirty-year mortgage. We sat cross-legged, giddy with excitement and toasted to our new lives together. We happily ate in the sun and listened to the wind rustle through the trees.

There are many opportunities ahead to enjoy an evening meal on a blanket (Ecton Park music, the Fourth of July, Woodland Park Jubilee, Bastille Day, Shakespeare in the Park, Picnic with the Pops, Ballet Under the Stars...), in a canoe on the Elkhorn, or sailing at Cave Run Lake... So, lather the family in sun block and bug repellent, find your favorite foods, a good book, walk outside, and enjoy our Commonwealth.

Please email your culinary heads-ups to Karen at kworkman@aceweekly.com.