The ultimate guide to delicious summer foods

Warm weather, good company, the smell of a sizzling barbecue and the sight of new veggies sprouting in the garden are all signs summer has arrived. Here are some delicious ideas to keep you eating well through the entire season.

Bring on BBQ season: Once the lawn furniture and the barbecue are out on the patio, you might never come back inside.

• The fresh fruits and vegetables of the season go so well on the grill, you can truly cook all of your meals out there.
• With delicious recipes like zesty glazed ribs, perfect barbecued chicken and even great vegetarian BBQ ideas like corn on the cob, everyone can enjoy!

Graduation: Throwing the hats up in the air calls for throwing a big bash.

• Gather all of your graduates together and have a celebration. Regardless of their age, a delicious cake is a great way to congratulate a job well done!
• Add a pitcher of refreshing raspberry lemonade and a few finger foods, like Vegetable Stuffed Mushrooms or Brie and Cranberry Puff Pastry Bites for kids and adults to enjoy.

Father’s Day (or Dad's birthday): Fire up the grill and prepare a perfectly cooked steak served with roasted potatoes and an ice-cold beer to celebrate the special dad in your life.

What’s in season: Cherries, peas, radish, rhubarb, strawberries

Have a party: Invite all of your friends and family over for a backyard barbecue party to celebrate Canada Day.

• Ask everyone to dress in white and red and make some food that will match, like a Tomato-Basil Salad with Goat Cheese.

Beach Picnic: Pack up the picnic basket and hit the beach.

• If there’s no beach nearby, just plan your picnic somewhere you can simply lay back and enjoy the day.
• You can easily prep some delicious, simple meals that will be enjoyed by everyone, such as Greek Chicken Pitas or Feta-Barley Salad with Citrus Dressing.

Keep cool: The mid-summer heat will most likely mean you’ll want to avoid turning on the oven.

• Opt for refreshing drinks like Cranberry Iced Tea and Iced Coffee Slush, or no-cook meals like Pink Grapefruit and Pomegranate Salad or Carrot, Apple and Beet Salad.

What’s in season: Blueberries, raspberries, plums, peaches, corn, carrots, kale, peppers, summer squash, tomatoes

Take a camping trip: You’ll want to do a bit of preparation before heading into the forest, but there are endless types of delicious camping meals you can prepare from a Southwest Breakfast Wrap or Swiss Turkey Burgers.

Enjoy a long weekend: The lazy days of summer and long weekends should only mean one thing: relaxation.

• Collect some of your favourite fruits and vegetables from your garden and try making some Tomato Chutney or Green Beans with Smoked Almonds.
• By August blackberries are in season so if you didn’t grow your own, consider going berry-picking.

Hit the road: Getting out of town and spending a few days in a car doesn’t have to mean fast food and junk.

• Prepare some and healthy but delicious snacks for the journey, such as an easy-to-make  homemade granola bars and homemade hummus or kid-friendly dried apple chips.

What’s in season? Beans, beets, blackberries,

The ingredients available will vary across the country throughout the summer, making it the perfect season to check out your local farmer's market and get creative with your culinary skills.

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