Field day: crisp winter weather adds spice to a gourmet picnic

Sunset, Dec, 2002 by Charity Ferreira, Jil Peters

Per brownie: 497 cal., 43% (216 cal.) from fat; 9.3 g protein; 24 g fat (14 g sat); 68 g carbo (3.3 g fiber); 220 mg sodium; 148 mg chol.

HOT SPICED CIDER. In a 3- to 4-quart pan, combine 2 quarts apple juice, 1 cinnamon stick, 6 whole cloves, 1 star anise, and 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg: bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let stand about 1 hour or cover and chill up to 1 day. Just before serving or packing, pour through a tine strainer into another pan and reheat over medium-low heat until steaming. Makes 8 cups.

Per cup: 118 cal., 2% (2.7 cal.) from fat; 0.1 g protein; 0.39 fat (0 g sat.); 29 g carbo (0.2 g fiber); 7.8 mg sodium; 0 mg chol.

RELATED ARTICLE: Packing tips

It's important to pack foods at a bacteria-safe temperature: keep hot soup and cider in thermoses, and salads, sandwiches, and other drinks in a cooler with frozen gel packs. Use to-go containers to create individually boxed meals, which travel well. Prepare the sandwiches on round rolls so they fit neatly into empty soup bowls. Parchment paper wrapped around the sandwich can do double duty on your lap as a drip-catcher.

And don't forget..

* A picnic blanket

* Forks, spoons, and napkins

* Serving spoons for salads

* Salt and pepper shakers

* Paper towels or other cleanup materials

* Plastic bags for trash

* Sweaters or sweatshirts for chilly weather