Do you have an abundance of summer berries just waiting to be eaten? Use them in various ways to keep things exciting and preserve your harvest. Here are a few suggestions to inspire you:

1. Pie

You can, of course, make a pie with just one fruit, like blackberries. But why not combine them? For example, strawberries, cherries, and blueberries go wonderfully together. The mix of flavors and colors makes for a beautiful and delicious dessert.

2. Pizza

Place some fresh berries on a pizza crust, a slice of watermelon, and top with honey or whipped cream and chocolate shavings. This unique take on pizza is refreshing and sweet, perfect for a light summer treat.

3. Crumble

Stock up on rhubarb and combine it with a different fruit each time, such as strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries, to create a host of mouth-watering desserts. The tangy rhubarb pairs perfectly with sweet berries, topped with a crunchy, buttery crumble.

4. Mimosa

Swap the traditional orange juice for fruit juice from your berry harvest. Cherries, strawberries, and grapes lend themselves particularly well to sparkling wine. This berry mimosa is a colorful and refreshing twist on a classic brunch drink.

5. British-Style Pudding

Redcurrants, blueberries, cherries, and other essential ingredients are perfect for making British-style puddings that will delight your taste buds. Serve with a scoop of ice cream for a truly indulgent treat. The pudding’s soft texture, sweet flavor, and cold ice cream will surely be a hit.

You can find various easy-to-prepare recipes online to bring these ideas and many more to life. Enjoy your delicious berry creations!

Have you barely made it out the door and are already sweating profusely? If so, you don’t want to stand over the barbecue to cook supper. So, what can you eat when it’s too hot to fire up the grill? Here are a few inspiring no-cook meals to keep you cool and satisfied.

Tartars

A true gastronomic classic, tartars are the perfect treat when the mercury rises. You can stick to traditional options like salmon, tuna, or beef or try something different like bison. To prepare delicious tartar, keep the ingredients cool and thoroughly clean your tools and work surfaces to prevent cross-contamination. If you choose beef, buying a muscle cut instead of minced meat is best for safety and quality.

Gazpachos

These Spanish-style cold soups blend acidity and freshness, offering a bouquet of flavors perfect for a hot day. Jazz things up with seasonal ingredients like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and green onions. Gazpacho is super easy to make—put all the ingredients in a blender and turn it on! You’ll have a refreshing and nutritious meal that will cool you down in minutes.

Zucchini Noodles

Refreshing and easy to prepare, these vegetable “spaghetti” noodles will delight your guests. You only need a spiral cutter to turn zucchini into fun, spaghetti-like strands, often called “zoodles.” The ways to prepare these zoodles are only limited by your imagination. Try tossing them with a basil or sun-dried tomato pesto, adding pine nuts, a simple vinegar dressing, or sprinkling with a little Parmesan and pepper.

Pour Yourself a Cold Drink

While you prepare these no-cook meals, pour yourself a glass of your favorite cold drink. Remember to stay hydrated, especially during a heatwave. Drinking plenty of water is crucial—don’t wait until you’re thirsty. And a quick reminder: drinking alcoholic beverages can increase the risk of dehydration, so it’s best to exercise moderation.

Enjoy these easy, no-cook recipes to beat the heat and stay cool while having a delicious dinner!

Are you looking for a delicious and eye-catching dessert that’s easy to make? Look no further!

Ingredients (Servings: 6 to 8)

• 1 box of store-bought puff pastry (10 inches x 10 inches)
• 1 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread (Nutella style)
• 1 pound fresh strawberries, thinly sliced lengthwise
• A few mint leaves
• A small piece of chocolate

Directions

1. Bake the Puff Pastry: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the puff pastry on a parchment-lined baking sheet per the package instructions, usually around 20 minutes. Let it cool completely before proceeding to the next step.
2. Add the Spread: Once the pastry has cooled, gently smear the chocolate hazelnut spread over the entire surface of the pastry.
3. Arrange the Strawberries: Neatly arrange the strawberry slices on top of the spread, covering the pastry evenly.
4. Garnish: Garnish with a few mint leaves for a pop of color and freshness. Finally, grate a small piece of chocolate over the entire dessert for an extra touch of sweetness.

Enjoy your spectacularly simple and delicious strawberry puff pastry!

The mercury’s rising, you’ve set your out-of-office reply for your vacation from work, and your favorite sunscreen is on sale tomorrow: holidays are just around the corner! If you enjoy gourmet tourism, you don’t have to get on a plane to discover new flavors. This summer, discover the pleasures of ice cream! Here are three reasons to visit your local ice cream shops.

1. High-Quality Local Products

The frozen treats in convenience store freezers certainly have their charms, but nothing beats homemade ice cream. Most local shops are committed to offering high-quality products made with natural ingredients. Keep your eyes open for seasonal flavors. Artisanal ice cream shops know how to put local berries to good use, creating unique and delicious treats you won’t find anywhere else.

2. A Fun Excursion

Whether with your kids, your partner, or alone, a summer drive isn’t complete without a visit to an ice cream shop. These establishments are often close to other tourist attractions, so you can easily make a day of it. Imagine admiring stunning views while savoring a strawberry sorbet or a maple milkshake. It’s a delightful way to spend a summer afternoon, making your trip fun and refreshing.

3. A Place to Meet and Talk

Why not recharge your batteries by having face-to-face conversations when turning off your email notifications? Try striking up a conversation with the customers at the ice cream shop. If you want to update your social media feed with pictures of your adventures, ask a friendly holidaymaker to take a photo of you with your decadent ice cream sundae. Sweets are a great way to break the ice and meet new people, making your visit even more enjoyable.

This summer, treat yourself and explore your local area, one frozen delight at a time!

What’s the Difference Between Ice Cream, Gelato, and Sorbet?

Not sure what to choose? Here’s what you need to know:

• Ice Cream: Made from heavy whipping cream, it contains a lot of air and can be kept at very cold temperatures.
• Gelato: Made from milk, it’s less fatty and contains less air than ice cream. It’s also served warmer, giving it a soft yet dense texture.
• Sorbet: Made exclusively from fruit and sugar, it’s generally light and vegan!
• Frozen Yogurt: Made with yogurt, it contains a fair amount of sugar but is lower in fat than ice cream.
• Ice Milk: Quite sweet, contains three to five percent fat, and has more protein and calcium than other frozen desserts.

This refreshing salad is delicious and healthy. Why not enjoy it with friends on your patio or in the park?

Ingredients (Servings: 2)

• Salad:
  • 1/4 cup pearl barley
  • 1 pomegranate
  • 4 cups arugula or spring mix
  • 1 cup cooked chicken breast, roughly diced
  • 1 orange, peeled and cut into thin slices
  • 1 tablespoon crushed toasted almonds (for garnish)
• Dressing:
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1 small clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook the Barley: In a small saucepan, simmer the barley for 25 minutes or until tender. Drain and set aside to cool.
2. Prepare the Pomegranate: Cut open the pomegranate and remove the seeds. If needed, watch an online tutorial. Set the seeds aside.
3. Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil, rice vinegar, orange juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, orange zest, and maple syrup. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Assemble the Salad: In a large dish or salad bowl, gently toss the arugula or spring mix, chicken, orange slices, cooled barley, and pomegranate seeds.
5. Dress and Serve: Add the dressing and toss to coat. Serve in salad bowls and garnish with crushed toasted almonds.

Tip: If you don’t eat meat, replace the chicken with another plant protein you choose!

Breakfast, often dubbed the day’s most important meal, has seen its share of evolutions and revolutions. While some dishes have stood the test of time, others serve as nostalgic reminders of the past. Here’s a look at five classic breakfast dishes that have either become timeless favorites or faded memories:

1. Granula: The Original Cereal – Not to be confused with its modern-day cousin “Granola,” Granula was the brainchild of nutritionist Caleb Jackson in 1863. This early cereal was made by baking graham flour into hard cakes, then crumbling and baking them again. The result was so tough it required an overnight soak in milk to be palatable. Despite its initial inedibility, Granula paved the way for the breakfast cereals we know and love today.
2. Milk Toast: Comfort in Simplicity – This quintessential New England dish is as straightforward as it sounds: warm milk poured over cubed pieces of buttered toast, with either sweet or savory seasonings added. Milk toast represented comfort food at its simplest, evoking a sense of warmth and home.
3. Pork and Beans: A Hearty Start – In 1886, a cookbook suggested a breakfast of beans baked with salt pork and molasses, served hot or cold alongside a fried cornmeal pancake. This hearty dish was a testament to the creativity of cooks aiming to provide a filling meal at the start of the day.
4. Codfish for Breakfast – At the turn of the 20th century, codfish was a popular breakfast choice in America. It could be found fried, in balls, or salted and cured. Even guests at the prestigious Waldorf Astoria in 1914 could enjoy creamed codfish on toast, highlighting its widespread appeal.
5. Meat Hash: A Legacy of Resourcefulness – Hash has ancient roots but gained significant popularity during World War II when home cooks needed to be inventive with leftovers due to rationing. The tradition of transforming yesterday’s meals into a delicious breakfast hash has endured, proving that necessity is the mother of invention.

While some of these dishes might seem unusual or even unappetizing by today’s standards, they each hold a place in the culinary history of breakfast. From the hard-to-chew Granula to the comforting simplicity of milk toast and the inventive meat hash that has outlasted wartime rationing, these foods offer a glimpse into the tastes and traditions of the past. Whether they inspire a sense of nostalgia or curiosity, one thing is clear: the evolution of breakfast continues to mirror changes in society, technology, and taste.