In 2009, a man named Robert Solomon decided he wanted to celebrate what he called Summersgiving, a cookout intended to celebrate gratitude for his favorite things about summer. In 2019, Summersgiving entered the National Day Calendar, and is officially celebrated the Saturday after the summer solstice; however, any day is a good day to show gratitude and spend time with friends. Here are 7 tips to help you celebrate Summersgiving this year.
1. Turkey
For many people, Thanksgiving just isn’t complete
without a roasted turkey, but who wants to heat up the house? If you have the
patience, you can cook turkey on the grill. It takes about 4 hours. If you
don’t have that kind of time, try grilling turkey breasts, turkey burgers,
turkey sausages, or turkey meatball skewers. Many families have sacred food
traditions at Thanksgiving, but this summertime celebration offers you room to
experiment with those traditional ingredients.
2. Sweet Potatoes
While roasted and candied sweet potatoes are delicious, those recipes are a bit heavy for summer. Try serving a roasted sweet potato salad and experiment with the dressings such as a honey-lime vinaigrette. Don’t be afraid to experiment with bold flavors. Sweet potatoes pair well with almost anything.
3. Corn
While many people enjoy corn casserole or
cornbread at Thanksgiving, Summersgiving is the perfect time to let corn shine
on its own. Corn on the cob cooked on the grill is ambrosia. Featuring corn in
a salad with other summer vegetables is a healthy alternative to heavy
mayo-laden potato salads. Corn’s natural sweetness pairs well with savory
cheeses, roasted vegetables, and Aronia berries.
4. Cranberry Sauce
Though cranberry sauce is a staple of
the winter holiday meals for many, cranberries can add pizazz to a variety of
recipes from desserts to salads to beverages. They are one of the most
nutritious berries, so adding them to your recipes will make them more
healthful. Cranberry-white chocolate cookies, cranberry bread, and cranberry
spritzers and lemonades are sure to please your guests. For an even healthier
twist, you can mix Aronia berries with your cranberries or substitute Aronia
berries for cranberries in almost any recipe. Try our recipe for Tripleberry Cranberry Relish which includes Aroniaberries.
5. Dinner Rolls
The smell of freshly warmed dinner rolls
at Thanksgiving usually signals it’s about time to eat. One way to try to
replicate this at a cookout is to reserve a space on the grill for lightly
toasting buns for your turkey burgers or turkey sausages. For a new take, try
serving a Panzanella bread salad, which incorporates crusty chunks of bread
with tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, red onion, and olive oil to create a taste and
texture sensation.
6. Stuffing
What is more emblematic of a Thanksgiving
meal than stuffing? In the summer, you can experiment with summer stuffing
casseroles to expose your guests to new twists on the old classic. Try a
squash-stuffing casserole or combine traditional stuffing with fruits. This
recipe for blueberry apple stuffing shows off the flavors of summer. Substitute Aroniaberries for the blueberries or any berries in your summer recipes. https://www.jonesdairyfarm.com/recipes/by-product/breakfast-sausage/blueberry-apple-summer-stuffing
7. Pumpkin Pie
While there’s nothing wrong with serving
pumpkin pie in summer, nothing wrong at all, you can kick it up a notch by
using pumpkin in nontraditional ways. Check out these recipes for pumpkin
desserts that will have all your guests asking for seconds. https://www.brit.co/fall-pumpkin-pie-alternative-recipes/
Expressing gratitude every day is healthy for us and taking
the opportunity to share your practice with friends will fill your heart and
theirs. Because of the abundance of summer harvests, summertime is the easiest
time to fill your plates with fresh fruits and vegetables that will help you
stay healthy and build nutritious eating habits. Including Superberries Aronia
berries in your dishes is one way to show your care and gratitude for your
friends and family.