The Midwest, including areas in South Minneapolis like Saint Paul, Minnetonka, and Hennepin County itself, produces a considerable amount of food for the nation and has some traditional dishes to accompany the seasonal fare. In this region, the climate influences the growing season during the summer because it is very hot, yet subject to early frosts that can damage crops.
Minneapolis and those involved in the local Senior Helpers® in South Minneapolis, love sharing recipes and food ideas with our senior clients in order to maximize the best produce in stock while summer winds down. While summer is fleeting, great food choices exist as fall begins.
5. Watermelon Drinks, Salads, and Purées
While the official last day of summer is in late September, many in the Midwest feel it is sooner than that due to the early gusts of chilly air. Despite what the weather feels like, watermelon is in season in August and September in Minnesota. The most popular dishes and ways to serve watermelon include pairing it with traditional ingredients in a salad, using it in cocktails, or making a purée to drink it.
For seniors who enjoy summer picnics and Labor Day gatherings, it may also be fun to dice a watermelon and use cookie cutters to serve it in unique or cute shapes. Check out Gala in the Kitchen's blog here to see creative and fancy ways for seniors to present watermelon dishes. While many seniors know how to carve a watermelon, using new shapes will make the food seem just as fun.
4. Zesty Zucchini Dishes
During the late summer, zucchini is naturally in season in Minnesota, and this versatile vegetable can function as an appetizer or as an entrée when it is featured in salads or as a pasta substitute. While it's possible to eat zucchini without preparation, this leafy green is more commonly enjoyed grilled, diced, on skewers, and in casseroles. Use zucchini in late summer and get the freshest yield by making meals with it this time of year. Here is a guide to zucchini recipes on the Love & Lemons blog.
3. August-to-October Onions
Onions are in season from August to October and while these can have a long shelf life compared to other vegetables, there's nothing like chopping up fresh onions and putting them into a stew, using crunchy onions on a sandwich, or throwing them into a salad. One awesome way to use up extra onions or take advantage of fresh onions is to make French Onion Soup using this recipe guide from Simply Recipes. During the late summer and early fall in Southern Minneapolis, this soup will take off the edge of the crisp air.
2. Sink into a Juicy Cantaloupe
Many healthy and tasty fruit options are in season in Minnesota during the late summer, including watermelon and cantaloupes. Late summer is the perfect time to make a fruit salad out of both ingredients or savor the cantaloupe alone. For senior clients who want a familiar late summer dish, suggest a fruit salad and take advantage of both these crops to experience fruit salad at its peak.
1. Enjoy Swiss Chard Sides
Swiss Chard is one of the most underrated yet delicious members of the beet family and an addictive side dish for any meal. While Swiss Chard has "Swiss" in its name, it did not originate in Switzerland and is an Italian dish. One of the best ways to prepare this dish is to add a little garlic and whip up a sautéed dish like this one featured on Downshiftology blog. Seniors who love cooking and might have overlooked this dish should look into Swiss Chard while it's in season and try a new recipe.
Do you have any recipe ideas to share with us and our senior clients? Contact us online and share them with us.