Refreshing Summer Recipe Ideas From Over 55 Communities in California

Beat The Heat With These Delicious Eats

It’s getting hot in here! With California’s warming temperatures, we’re sharing some delicious, refreshing summer recipes that incorporate some of the state’s most-known ingredients like avocado and seafood.

Our talented Chefs are always experimenting with delicious recipes and incredible fresh produce. So our residents get to enjoy recipes like these every day! If you’re cooking at home, take a look at the recipes below–you may find something you’ll want to indulge in.

Shrimp Tacos

We are firm believers that tacos are for any day of the week, not just Tuesdays! Shrimp tacos are easy to make and a crowd-pleaser.

Steps:

• Prep the ingredients
  • Grill or blacken your shrimp with desired spices
  • Prepare toppings, such as smashed avocado, crumbled Cojita cheese, lime wedges, shredded cabbage and corn
  • Warm tortillas
• Make a sauce
  • Make garlic cilantro lime sauce by processing of ½ cup sour cream, juice from 2 limes, 2 cloves of garlic, ½ teaspoon of salt, ½ cup of fresh cilantro, ¼ cup water, ½ cup chopped green onions and ¼ cup of oil together.
• Assemble
  • Layer avocado on the tortilla, then corn, then cabbage, then shrimp.
• Enjoy!
  • Serve these yummy tacos with Cotija cheese, lime wedges and your delicious sauce on top.

Cowboy Caviar

If you’re a dip connoisseur, then you must try Cowboy Caviar! This dip is full of refreshing, nutritious ingredients, perfect for a summer snack or potluck. Plus, it’s undeniably simple to make!

Steps:

• Prep the ingredients
  • Dice 2 ripe avocados, ⅓ cup red onion, 1 bell pepper, 1 jalapeno pepper and 3 roma tomatoes
  • Rinse and drain 15oz of black beans and 15oz of black-eyed peas
  • Thaw 1.5 cups of frozen corn
  • Chop ⅓ cup of cilantro
• Make the dressing
  • Whisk together these ingredients: ⅓ cup of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of sugar, ½ teaspoon of pepper, and ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
• Combine
  • Toss and stir all of the ingredients into a bowl really well. Once combined, pour the dressing in and toss again.
• Enjoy!
  • Serve with tortilla chips, on top of a taco, or however you would like!

Rosemary Lemonade

There’s nothing quite as refreshing as an ice-cold, homemade lemonade on a hot summer day! This rosemary lemonade is no exception and is perfect for anyone who loves sophisticated flavors.

Steps:

• Prep the ingredients
  • Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan, then add rosemary sprigs and reduce to a simmer. Cover for about 10 minutes
  • Remove the rosemary, then stir in and honey until it is dissolved, then refrigerate in a pitcher until cool
  • Squeeze 1 ¼ cups worth of juice from fresh lemons
• Combine and enjoy!
  • Stir the lemon juice and 2 cups of water into the pitcher
  • Serve over ice cubes

Avocado Toast

Did you know that California is home to about 90 percent of the nation’s avocado production? It’s no wonder avocado is incorporated into many of our dishes! Avocado toast is another simple yet delicious summer recipe you can enjoy. Plus, there are many variations!

Steps:

• Prep the ingredients
  • Toast two slices of your choice of bread– sourdough is a yummy choice!
  • Halve and slice a ripe avocado
  • Prep any other toppings of your choice, such as an egg or tomatoes
• Combine
  • Mash the avocado onto the slice of bread using a fork
  • Add your toppings
• Serve and enjoy!
  • Top off your avocado toast with some flavor such as everything bagel seasoning, red pepper flakes or sriracha–there are endless options for making it your own!

There are so many fun and refreshing recipes to try this summer! At our over 55 communities in California, we are always making new recipes with fresh, local ingredients to help our residents beat the heat–come check it out for yourself!

To learn more about residency or schedule a tour of Retirement Living communities in California, contact our friendly team today.