Pool Picnics: 25 Ideas to Spruce up Waterside Meals

With the opening of the community pool, summer has officially arrived! But gone are the days that local businesses like Freeman's Fish Market run the concession booth at the Maplewood and South Orange pools. With crab cakes and tilapia fingers replaced by hot dogs and hamburgers, it might be past time to pack your own lunch or dinner. Nothing against the current concession vendor, but mediocre burgers at the price it costs to buy a whole package of meat to make enough of your own for the whole family just can't win me over on a regular basis. Especially in this economy.

Behold, 25 ideas to help inspire your poolside lunches and dinners for the season:

1. Have leftover steak from your recent grillfest? Slice that baby up, throw it on some bread with whatever fixings suit you and you've got yourself a lip-smacking gourmet sandwich. Forget mustard or mayo and go for some A-1 sauce to smear over it.

2. Is your family bored of the regular ol' sandwich? Spruce it up with a flick of the wrist: Eden Gourmet—among other stores—sells hero rolls that will allow you to convert boring sandwiches into take-out worthy subs at a fraction of the price it costs to go to a deli.

3. Make a big batch of gazpacho to empty out the will-go-bad-soon-if-I-don't-use-it produce in your fridge and dole it out over several trips to the pool. Lucky for us, gazpacho gets even better as it sits a bit.

4. Parmesan crisps are tastier than chips and oh-so-easy to make. Set the oven to 300, grate fresh Parmesan cheese on a fine rasp, spoon onto a baking sheet into mounds, flatten with a spoon, season to taste and cook for about five minutes. You'll thank me for this one, I promise.

5. Go simple, go preserved. Wrap a half sour pickle with a piece of smoked salmon and accompany with cured olives and chunks of crusty bread on the side. No prep needed... No fuss, no muss!

6. Channel the old Freeman's concessions and make your own crab cakes in advance. They're still delicious served chilled or at room temperature. Bring along some buns and enjoy!

7. Worried about sandwiches becoming soggy? Toast the bread beforehand for a crisp exterior that will keep well until you're ready to dig in.

8. Get a little cheesy. Buy two or three different cheeses and bring along some crusty bread or crackers, a stick of cured meat and a bunch of grapes and you'll be the luxurious envy of your lounge chair neighbors.

9. Be a dip! Pack some hummus, baba ghanoush, onion dip, salsa con queso or the like along with some chips, bread or make-your-own pita crisps (so easy, involving a 350 degree oven, 20 minutes or so, olive oil and seasonings of your choice). Throw in some celery and carrots, and you're covered.

10. Pasta salad is a great make-ahead meal that travels well. Last week, I gave you a recipe for Creamy Tomato & Olive Pasta Salad. Add some pancetta or other meat and you have yourself a delicious, filling meal. Even better, slice up last night's leftover chicken and toss it with some pasta, tomatoes, garlic and butter and you'll enjoy a cleaned-out fridge and a tasty treat.

11. Digging more of a snack and bored with traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Bring along some saltines, peanut butter and jelly and nip the munchies in the bud with the most simple of treats.

12. Couscous and vegetable salad! Go ahead, grab whatever leftover produce you have from the Farmer's Market and mix it into some couscous. I particularly like it chilled. Add some fresh mint to make it particularly refreshing.

13. Looking for a delicious snack to tide you over to the next meal? Stuff some dates with blue cheese and prepare for your senses to be rocked. Want something a tad more hearty? Wrap that sucker in prosciutto, serve on a bed of greens and you've got yourself a meal.

14. There is no better summer snack than sushi. Light but filling enough, it'll leave you satisfied but won't cause you to sink to the bottom of the pool. Make your own, slice up some sushi-grade fish from Freeman's for some DIY sashimi or get some take out and bring it along.

15. Pita pockets are the answer to your boredom with typical sandwich fare! Throw whatever veggies, meat and/or cheese you like into a pita and you'll put a smile on your child's face (actual or inner children apply).

16. Want to feel luxurious around brunch time on the weekend? Whip up a batch of bite-sized quiche! Use a mini muffin pan or standard size depending on your preference and add whatever vegetables or meats float your boat.

17. Bread or bagels topped with cream cheese, sliced cucumber and chopped black olives, left open-faced, is an inexpensive, easy, tasty treat. And a great break from regular sandwiches.

18. Going on a special date to the pool with that certain someone? (Hey, don't look at me like that. Sometimes it's nice to mix things up—there's nothing wrong with an untraditional date locale.) Pack some oysters on the half shell and strawberries and feel free to feed each other on a blanket. Just keep it away from the kiddie pool.

19. Want to spice things up a bit? Grilled jalapeño poppers are a delicious, mouthwatering treat. Don't want to fire up the grill just for a pool meal? Make yourself poppers for a fun dinner, cook extra and take the leftovers with you to the pool. Not your typical leftover, I assure you!

20. Looking for something a bit more fluid? Chilled soup is the way to go. Try a cucumber and avocado soup or a summer borscht. You should feel free to forgo the spoon and sip it right out of your travel container.

21. For a little side dish or easy snack, halve some grape tomatoes, take out the seeds, stuff them with herb or mint goat cheese and chill. Your group won't be able to stop popping them in their mouths, I guarantee you.

22. Stuck with leftover eggs from that huge pack you picked up at Costco? Why, boil them up and make yourself some egg salad. Add some more interesting ingredients like ham or blueberries and serve open faced on a slice of French bread to make it more interesting.

23. Don't just get wraps when you go out to eat. Make your own with tortillas and the fixings of your choice. Yum!

24. Forgive me for the Kitchen a la Mode plug, but we sell the perfect all-on-one utensil for your trip to the pool. The spork is an inexpensive fork/spoon/knife combo, an easy way to pack utensils without taking up a lot of space, contributing to the garbage dump or having a lot of dishes to clean. On that note, insulated totes or bags are must, whether you get them at Kitchen a la Mode or elsewhere. Throw in an ice pack for the extra hot days.

25. Forgot your lunch on the kitchen table but don't feel like being tied to the concession stand? Don't forget to save your favorite delivery joint in your phone. I know that Bunny's delivers to the pool and I'm certain they're not the only ones.

Have any pool meal ideas or standbys of your own? Don't be stingy, please share in the comments below. And don't forget to wait 15 minutes after eating to hop back in the pool!

Ben Salmon is a former literary agent and the owner of Kitchen a la Mode: Accessories for Cooking & Entertaining in the heart of downtown South Orange. Each week, his local food column at Patch explores the food and drink scene in South Orange, Maplewood and Millburn.

Have an idea for something you'd like me to explore? E-mail me. I'd love to hear from you.