As prime summer heat sets in, it’s important to remember that late summer is the time for great Canadian produce. In late July and August, summer fields are lush with quickly ripening fruits and veggies, including melons, berries, tomatoes, corn, and apples—yum! To help take advantage of the long, hot summer days, we have cultivated some recipes that you have to try before the season’s over.
Entertaining
A summer bucket list for food lovers
Blackberry-Lemon Shandy
All it really takes it one summer at the cottage to find out how versatile beer can be. Beer cocktails are all the rage and this recipe uses a combination of your favourite brew, seasonal berries, and a fresh sprig of mint.
Recipe:
camillestyles.com
Beet Chips
Craving a salty snack but trying eat a little to lighter or healthier? Kale chips have been a buzz item for a while now, but these root-vegetable chips have the same crunch as a potato chip and taste great as a finger food or in your favourite summer salad.
Recipe: www.marthastewart.com
Sriracha Corn
August typically means those lush fields of stalks are turning into golden husks of delicious corn. Our favourite corn trend is stolen from the streets of Asia, where vendors with barbecues on street corners dole out grilled corn with a variety of flavoured butters.
Recipe:camillestyles.com
Chocolate-Dipped Frozen Bananas
This is a semi-healthy and ultra-refreshing frozen treat. If there isn't a Bluth-run banana stand at your local beach, definitely give these a try.
Recipe:
joythebaker.com
Jalapeño-Beer Cheeseburger with Beer-Candied Bacon
Yes, you read that right. This recipe is no joke. Burgers don't have to be boring, and it would be pretty tragic to go the entire summer without trying this bacon-heavy burger.
Recipe:thebeeroness.com
Lobster BLT
This BLT with an East Coast twist is a great alternative to your typical lobster dinner (or a great way to use leftovers from another summer seafood feast).
Recipe: www.howsweeteats.com
Southwestern Grilled Sweet Potato Salad
On hot summer days, there is nothing better than turning to the grill as often as possible. This delicious, seasonal salad incorporates all your favourites—sweet potato, avocado, corn and tomato.
Recipe:www.twopeasandtheirpod.com
Cantaloupe, Prosciutto and Mozza Skewers
We're a couple of weeks into melon season, and these fruit, meat, and cheese skewers have the perfect combination of sweet, salty, mild, and tangy.
Recipe: www.thecomfortofcooking.com
Strawberry and Angel Food Cake Ice Cream
Strawberry season is typically all summer in Canada, where different strains of berries overlap and ripen from June to August. Why not take advantage of it the best way you can? We think this ice cream is it!
Recipe: www.abeautifulmess.com
Grilled Caprese Skewers
Tomatoes and basil are a delicious flavour combination that also happen to have the same seasonal shelf-life. These tasty salad skewers are great either fresh or grilled with a balsamic drizzle.
Recipe: www.foodiecrush.com
Shrimp, Avocado and Tomato Salad
It is officially tomato season! Those babies are ripening at a steady pace of yellow to red in two to five days, which means it is time to embrace all of your favourite tomato recipes. A combination of Greek yogurt, shrimp and avocado makes this a summer essential.
Recipe: ifoodreal.com
Vanilla-Almond Iced Coffee
Cool down your morning with this sweet vanilla blended iced coffee.
Recipe: www.hungrygirlporvida.com
One-Pot Clambake
East Coasters know that any summer is not complete without a homestyle clam-bake. Why not add a pot full of seasonal corn and fresh seafood to top it off?
Recipe: www.marthastewart.com
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bailey's Milkshake
Do we even need to explain? Bailey's, check. Chocolate chip cookie, check. Milkshake, check.
Recipe: www.howsweeteats.com
Grilled Watermelon Salad
It's a little hard to believe at first, but barbecuing fruit is easy and delicious. Throw your watermelon on the grill until lines start to develop, a couple of seconds each side.
Recipe: www.cookingforkeeps.com
Spicy Mustard Chicken Skewers
In the summer, everything should be cooked on a skewer, right? This recipe's spicy mustard sauce amps up your typical barbecue chicken.
Recipe:kitchenmeetsgirl.com
Pina Colada Popsicles
A combination of the most tropical summer beverage and everyone's favourite frozen treat—does it get any better? These boozy DIY popsicles take about 30 minutes to prepare and are ready to eat in a day.
Recipe:www.shutterbean.com
Honey, Lime and Tequila Shrimp Taocs
Seafood tacos are the ultimate summer staple, and an added honey-lime-tequila kick doesn't hurt either.
Recipe: www.tartineandapronstrings.com
Naturally Sweetened Raspberry-Watermelon Lemonade
Late summer is the best for all your berry-infused beverages. If fresh berries weren't already enough, this delicious treat is sugar-free.
Recipe: gourmandeinthekitchen.com
