Five Summer Recipes That’ll Impress Your Next Dinner Guest
Ontario is a special place to be in the summer. Fresh food markets open, the weather finally cooperates, and festivals and concerts take place. For home cooks, it’s a great time to be in the kitchen with locally grown, fresh produce.
While your summer barbeques might look a little different this year, you can still take advantage of the summer harvest by cooking delicious recipes to share with your social circle.
Strawberry Pie
Few summer foods beat Ontario-grown strawberries. They’re in season by June and out of season by August, leaving a very short window of time to enjoy them. The best place to find them is at a local food market such as Gibraltar Market in the Argyle area of East London. Come visit Gibraltar Market every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m., to 5 p.m.
If you’re feeling adventurous you can make the crust. Flour has been an ingredient that has disappeared off the shelves of most retailers as people try their hand at baking bread. Bulk barn is a great place to purchase baking supplies at a reasonable price.
Arugula, Watermelon and Feta Salad
Few things are more refreshing than a slice of watermelon on a hot day. While the ingredient combination in this recipe may throw you off don’t let it stop you from trying the recipe. It’s the perfect side for any meal and is sweet, salty and savoury all at once.
Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie boards do not require any cooking, but they are a staple of any summer cocktail hour. Most people will already have the staples in their home, but any impressive board is made up of the following four categories:
Dairy
Cheese, cheese and more cheese! Most boards are accompanied by a selection of hard and soft cheeses. We suggest purchasing two from this list:
Brie
Sharp Cheddar
Smoked Gouda
Havarti
Fruits & Vegetables
Adding fruits and vegetables to your board will add a nice alternative to some of the saltier items like salami and cheese. We recommend the following items:
Cucumber
It doesn’t have an overwhelming flavour and is an alternative to crackers for those that may be gluten-free
Grapes
Red Peppers
Olives
Red Pepper Jelly
Protein
Arguably, the protein on the board is the star of the show, which is why we recommend you turn to Mike’s Meat Market and Dutch Imports for your next charcuterie board. Located in the Argyle area of East London, the market offers freshly sliced Dutch meats that will have your mouth watering before you even make a purchase! In combination with our recommended fresh salami and Dutch sausage, almonds are a great addition to any board that offers protein for those who do not eat animal products.
Carbohydrates
Finally, the board is not complete unless you have something to pile these ingredients on top of. A simple baguette or box of crackers is a great addition to the board that can be found at your local grocery store.
Grilled Chicken Burgers
Are you craving a burger, but know you need to eat your vegetables? No problem, this recipe is made up of 40 per cent vegetables and you won’t even notice. The recipe is a bit more time-consuming than your average burger recipe because you are required to sauté the vegetables before combining with the ground chicken, but it’s seriously worth it.
Spinach and Orzo Salad
The words summer and salad just go together. This recipe is easy-to-make and guarantees leftovers for lunch the next day. It requires very few ingredients, which are easily purchased at most grocery stores.
If you’re planning a socially distant party in the near future or just want to treat yourself to any of these recipes you can find all of the ingredients in local shops in the Argyle area of East London:
Gibraltar market
Bulk Barn
Mike’s Meat Market & Dutch Imports
Walmart
Europa Foods
No Frills
Even though summer is shaping up to be a bit different this year it’s important residents spend time outside enjoying themselves. Whether you enjoy these recipes from your air-conditioned home, on a blanket in a park, or on your outdoor patio be sure to share it with us and mention @argylebia on social media.