With summer on the horizon, thoughts of warm weather and fun outdoor activities are sure to come to mind.
Another element of summer that can’t be overstated is the multitude of different food choices that are synonymous with sunshine and long hot days. And let’s face it, we deserve such weather in Chicagoland!
Last time we shared some of our favorite spring dishes, and today we present some summer foods that you’ll want to include for your get-togethers during this coveted season.
Grilled Meats and Vegetables
Grilling and summertime go hand in hand, and you can grill a wide range of different meat and vegetables to get those perfect grill marks and signature grilled taste.
The grill was made for steaks, chicken, burgers, lamb, or shrimp. You can also grill vegetables like bell peppers, red onion, zucchini, corn on the cob, asparagus, mushrooms, and even carrots.
Fried Chicken
Fried chicken has been part of summer picnics forever, and it’s still a great food to bring when the temperature heats up.
Whether you pick it up along the way, make it yourself, or bring leftovers in your picnic basket, fried chicken is a tasty main dish that goes with any number of salads and side dishes.
Summer Salads
Salads are refreshing, healthy, and lively, making them the perfect choice as a summer food favorite.
And there are so many different choices and possible combinations it’s almost impossible not to be able to find something for everyone. Whether you’re going raw with fresh greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and other seasonal vegetables, or you like to add protein to your salads in the form of chicken, shrimp, beans, or tofu, the possibilities are endless.
You can also make a variety of different types of potato salad, pasta salads, or salads with quinoa and other grains. And once you have the base worked out, there’s also the dressing to consider. There are fruity vinaigrettes, creamy, dairy-based dressings, garlic, ranch, spicy, cashew-based, or just plain olive oil and vinegar. One good tip is to wait until you’re ready to eat to dress the salad so your ingredients are as fresh as possible and any salad greens won’t wilt.
Fresh Fruit
Depending on where you live, you may have access to a wide range of seasonal berries, watermelon, apples, nectarines, peaches, oranges, grapes, mangoes, and more.
For some reason, fresh fruit just tastes better in the summer, and you always have the option to create a delicious fruit salad out of whatever you have available. You can also make delicious smoothies or add some yogurt, granola, and nuts for a tasty fruit-based treat.
Ice Cream
Who doesn’t love ice cream in the summer?
Whether you have your own ice cream maker or you want to head out to your local ice cream shop, this is one food that just screams summertime. Everyone has their favorite flavor, but it’s hard to argue with the refreshing and comforting effect of a good scoop of ice cream.
It doesn’t matter if it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack at virtually any time of the day, there are summer food favorites that help create special memories of this special time of year.
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