Elevate your Memorial Day Picnic with Five Campsite-Friendly Recipes

May 24, 2023 - With Memorial Day weekend fast approaching, Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine serves up some Lone Star twists on familiar staples that are easy for families to prepare for the campfire or picnic basket.

Recipes include grilled Poteet strawberry shortcake, alambres and even a brisket-laden Texas charcuterie board, and include suggestions for state parks that would make a perfect pairing. The gathering-friendly strawberry shortcake, for example, serves nicely at Village Creek State Park, near Beaumont, where the picnic pavilion seats 80.

“Camping meals don't have to be all trail mix or dehydrated astronaut food,” said Managing Editor Eva Frederick, who curated the recipes – courtesy of official Centennial sponsor H-E-B – for a special commemorative issue. “I picked these recipes because they’re fairly simple and have a Texas flair. A few of them require at-home prep but the actual assembly of the meal is done in the park. They're perfect for a picnic or for a meal while camping.”

The recipes are presented as part of the May issue, devoted entirely to the Texas State Parks Centennial. With 100 pages honoring 100 years of parks and sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, the issue features a helping of information about the state park system — the places and the people, the history and the future, the magic and the memories.

Subscribe to Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine for $20 per year for print and mobile app access. All 2023 subscribers will receive a complimentary copy of the centennial issue. The magazine can also be found at various bookstores.

Find additional assets for the Texas State Parks Centennial Celebration, including talking points and promotional materials, in our Partner Toolkit.