What does summer taste like for your family? Here are five fun ways to embrace the tastes and adventures of summer from home or on the road.
Does anyone else feel like they blinked and suddenly it was SUMMER? The weather is warm, the days are long and summer nights cooking and eating outside are back, yay! Creating outdoor adventures is so much fun this time of year. Here are five summer journey inspirations with a simple website resource to help you plan them from home or on the road.
Visit a You-Pick Farm for seasonal produce:
Have fun picking (and tasting!) the best produce of the summer while supporting local farmers. We went strawberry picking in Wisconsin last week and it was amazing, we are having so much fun eating and baking with them! Find a farm near you and get picking.
Feeling the heat? Rent a kayak or boat to explore local lakes and rivers:
Getting on the water is the perfect way to spend a summer day! Stop along the way to take in the sights…or maybe even a brewery along a city river?! Use this website to help locate a local rental.
Host an Italian night and find a Bocce Ball court near you:
We love doing outdoor pizza nights and bruschetta bars in the summer months. Italy’s second favorite sport, Bocce Ball, is a fun game that anyone can play (and you can even play with a cocktail in hand!). We have a Bocce Ball set at home but its even more fun to play on a real court. Use this link to find a Bocce court near you.
Summer evening fun at an Outdoor or Drive In Theater:
Remember Drive-In movies? The old school, summer friendly way of seeing movies is having a come back! Fun fact: The first drive-in movie theater (originally called “park-in theaters”) opened in 1933 in New Jersey. Admission was a quarter a car and an additional quarter for each person! Click here to find a local spot to jump in the car and see a flick.
Take a hike:
A scenic trail in the great outdoors can be found almost anywhere. And, it’s the perfect excuse to make a home made “trail mix” for snacking on! We love this resource that includes Canadian trails and this one that is focused on the U.S.
I’ll leave you with one of our favorite summer strawberry recipes adapted from Bon Appetite. Even if you can’t make it to the farm for your berries give this a try with berries from your local grocery store, it’s amazing. Cheers to a tasty summer!
Roasted Strawberry and Tahini Buttermilk Smoothie
Adapted from Bon Appetite
Ingredients:
1 lb. strawberries, hulled, halved
3 tsp. raw sugar (or sugar substitute like Swerve)
Pinch of Kosher salt
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup buttermilk (or milk substitute if you’re dairy free)
3 tablespoons tahini
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Crushed, toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°. Toss strawberries with sugar and a pinch of salt on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Let sit, tossing occasionally, until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Roast, tossing halfway through, until strawberries are soft and release their juices, 20–25 minutes. Let cool.
* I will sometimes double this recipe, do this step ahead and refrigerate or freeze berries/syrup in glass mason jars so you can make this smoothie quickly!
2. Transfer three-quarters of strawberries to a blender. Add banana, buttermilk (seriously the buttermilk makes this SO delish), tahini, vanilla and 1 cup ice; blend until smooth. Using a metal spoon, smash remaining strawberries to a jammy consistency.
3. Divide smoothies and strawberries among glasses and top with sesame seeds, if using.