July is National Picnic Month and summer picnics are a great way to enjoy the outdoors, each other's company, and maybe even a good book or game. West Virginia is such a beautiful place with many lovely state parks and nice areas in every town, finding a location for your picnic outing should be no problem. With entertainment, company, and location checked off the list, what about food? Picnic foods can range from barbecue style to finger foods. Whatever your preference or desire, the library is chock full of cookbooks to check out for your next planned picnic. 

 

Taste of Home: What Can I Bring? 360+ Dishes for Parties, Picnics & Potlucks includes more than 360 make-and-take dishes, food packing and traveling tips, suggestions for the ideal foods to bring to specific get-togethers, and other tricks for answering the popular question, "What can I bring?" Some of the mouthwatering recipes include Creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip, Mom's Italian Beef Sandwiches, Strawberry Spinach Salad with Candied Walnuts, Fudgy Brownies with Peanut Butter Pudding Frosting, and many others to make sure you always know what to bring to the picnic! 

 

The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket by Marnie Hanel shares everything you need to plan an effortless outdoor get-together like no-fail recipes, helpful checklists, and expert advice. With variations on everyone's favorite deviled eggs, 99 uses for a Mason jar (cocktail shaker, firefly catcher, cookie jar), rules for scoring lawn games, and refreshing drinks, this book will take the stress out of your next party and leave only the fun.

 

The Picnic Cookbook: Sharing the Love of Good Food with Friends and Family by Annie Bell is a clear and concise guide packed with practical advice on everything from essential equipment to cooking on location and eating outside in cold weather. With 100 delicious recipes such as Quinoa Tabbouleh, Baked Chicken with Za'atar and Pint Nuts, Fondue Mushroom Burgers, and Tiramisu in a Jar, this book demonstrates how you can create a scrumptious outdoor eating experience without spending hours of preparation in the kitchen.

 

Foolproof Picnic: 60 Delicious Recipes to Enjoy Outdoors by Marina Filippelli offers perfect summer recipes you'll want to make time and time again. With everything from delicious sandwiches, savory snacks and dips, to portable pies, tarts and frittatas, summer salads, and a selection of drinks, this book is the ultimate guide to taking your picnic to the next level.