summer recipes

Enjoy Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit with a Strawberry Kiwi Spinach Salad Recipe

July 4, 2016 by Kathryn 3 Comments

There are some foods that instantly remind me of summer and kiwifruit is one of my favourites. Its tangy yet sweet flavour is a great compliment to so many dishes and also makes a tasty and healthy snack all on its own! Recently I had the chance to create a recipe with a type of kiwifruit I hadn’t heard of before: Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit. With distinctive bright yellow flesh speckled with black seeds, it has a sweeter flavour than the more commonly known Zespri Green Kiwifruit. I couldn’t wait to use it to create something delicious.

Since summer food is so full of colour, I love creating recipes that make the most of those colours. And of course, everyone knows that strawberry and kiwi always make an appealing flavour combination! I decided to use the traditional pairing in a new way: Strawberry Kiwi Spinach Salad with Balsamic Kiwi Vinaigrette. This light and refreshing salad is bursting with flavour and has become my new favourite summer side dish. [Read more…]

The End of Summer is Extra Sweet with No-Churn S’mores Ice Cream

August 26, 2015 by Kathryn 16 Comments

The first day of school is less than a week away here in Saskatchewan, but I’m holding onto summer as hard as I can! And with highs of around plus 30 degrees all week, that’s not hard to do right now. To make the most of the last few days of our vacation, I really wanted to whip up a treat that just screamed summer. And after being inspired by Kraft Canada’s S’mores recipes, I knew just what flavour of treat I wanted!

Of course, S’mores are generally a treat served hot and gooey straight from a campfire. And since we’re still enjoying luxuriously warm weather, I was in the mood for something cold instead. That’s how this absurdly easy no-churn S’mores Ice Cream was born!

[Read more…]

Dig into a Luscious Rhubarb Tart and Other Summer Fruit Recipes

July 22, 2014 by Kathryn 44 Comments

One of my favourite things about summer food is the fresh fruits and vegetables and our family goes through a lot of them.

Whether we’re feasting on sweet B.C. cherries, crunching carrots from the garden or snacking on some locally picked Saskatoon berries, the bounty of summer isn’t just delicious, it’s healthy too!

And when I’m in the mood to cook, there is no produce that appeals to me more than the fruits and vegetables I get from my own back yard. Right now, rhubarb is at its prime for whipping up tasty treats!

My personal favourite recipe using rhubarb has always been Rhubarb Crisp. It’s simple, delicious and freezes well so that in the cold winter months, I can still enjoy the taste of summer.

But this year we have so much rhubarb that I decided to branch out and try some different summer recipes. And Kraft Canada was ready to help! I knew as soon as I saw the Rhubarb Tart that it would be a must-make for me. [Read more…]

Cool Off This Summer with this Easy Minute Maid Peach Sparkler Recipe #CelebrateSummer

June 22, 2013 by Kathryn 12 Comments

There’s nothing better than sipping a cold, refreshing beverage on a hot summer’s day and once again, Minute Maid has teamed up with the Canadian Living Test Kitchen to create an amazing assortment of cool concoctions to quench your thirst!

I always love trying the newest recipes from Minute Maid and so when I was given the chance to whip up one of these tasty drinks and see what I thought, I couldn’t resist. I was tempted to make the delicious-looking adult version of the Summertime Sangria, but my boys love fruity summer drinks as much as I do, so I eventually decided to make the Peachy Sparkler.

Minue Maid Peachy Sparkler Recipe [Read more…]

This Quick Mexican Toss Pasta Salad Recipe Makes Entertaining Easy

May 24, 2013 by Kathryn 9 Comments

One of the things I love about summer is how much easier it is to entertain. We live in a fairly small house so hosting gatherings in the colder months can be tricky simply because we don’t have a lot of room for people to circulate. But our yard is huge, green and perfect for relaxing outside with family and friends. Even the party food is often as easy as lighting up the barbeque or pulling out a hearty cold salad made earlier in the day!

Recently I was browsing the Life Made Delicious website for new fresh ideas for summer entertaining and the Zesty Corn and Pasta Salad recipe reminded me of one of my own favourite summer pasta salad recipes: Mexican Toss Pasta Salad. This easy salad is hearty enough to act as a main dish on a warm summer day, but it’s also a fabulous party side dish or potluck contribution!

mexican toss pasta salad recipe [Read more…]

Perfect for Summer! White Chocolate-Lime Puddings Recipe from Desserts in Jars

July 24, 2012 by Kathryn 4 Comments

If you’ve glanced through a few Pinterest boards recently, you’ve probably noticed that one of the hottest new trends is serving food in canning jars. From salads to main courses to desserts, there’s something about serving food in a jar that’s just irresistibly quaint. So when I recently got the chance to review Desserts in Jars by Shaina Olmanson, I was pretty excited to have my first experience using jars in my cooking.

This book contains recipes for fifty sweet treats all served in pretty canning jars. After a lot of deliberation, I decided to make the White Chocolate Lime Puddings. It seemed like a great choice for summer with its burst of citrus and creamy texture. The fact it was relatively quick and simple was an additional bonus! [Read more…]