Unique Seasonal Flavors to Try at Our Independent Living Communities

Early Summer Flavors to Savor all Season Long!

It’s no secret that fruit and vegetables taste the best when they are in season, and we at Sunshine Retirement Living love to serve all of our communities fresh, healthy meals all created by our amazing culinary team, loaded with seasonal produce.

This year, we’re drawing inspiration from some unexpected flavors and pairings that we think you will absolutely love. From blueberry and mint to lavender, we are getting creative over here. With so many seasonal flavors to try, we hope those in our independent living communities and their loved ones take a tip or two from our book and try out some of these flavors when cooking or baking for yourselves! Check out our favorites below!

Blueberry and Mint

A classic summer flavor, blueberry is deliciously sweet and slightly floral offering a true taste of summer in every bite. Pairing blueberries with a bit of mint creates an entirely new flavor profile. The earthiness of the blueberry is brought out by pairing it with the sharpness of the mint. A delightfully sweet and cooling combination, we love muddling blueberries and mint together and splashing cold sparkling water over it for a delightful mocktail. Or create a blueberry simple syrup and pour it over some mint ice cream. For a very different take, consider adding a little blueberry jam and mint leaves to a sour dough and cheddar grilled cheese sandwich

Tamarind

For those who are a little more adventurous with their taste buds, we highly recommend tamarind. A funny little fruit, this pod shaped fruit has a mix of flavors that brings it a sweet and sour profile. They do become sweeter as they ripen, but they start out with a zestiness akin to lemon or lime. As they sweeten, they take on a bit of a fig and apricot flavor. Tamarind does have a ton of health benefits like being a good source of magnesium and antioxidants. It also can help reduce inflammation. However, in large quantities it can have a laxative effect, and it also may lower blood sugar levels, so please be advised!

Lavender

We know this choice might be a bit controversial, but bear with us! Lavender is quite floral and can be a bit overpowering when used liberally. However, when used sparingly, it can give nearly anything a beautiful earthiness. We love pairing it with rich, warm vanilla, or sweet blueberries and lemonade. But our favorite combination is lavender and orange in a delectable, buttery shortbread cookie. With the citrus of the orange and the sugary, butter of the shortbread, lavender doesn’t overpower in the slightest. We love this recipe from Sustained Kitchen and think you will too!

Corn

If you’re not using fresh summer sweet corn every chance you can, you are truly missing out on a summer staple. Corn on the cob or a side dish of corn kernels are only two ways to enjoy this iconic flavor. Get creative by adding corn to your pasta salad, or create a delicious creamed corn bed for juicy summer lobster. We love grilled chicken and sweet corn risotto. However, for a more adventurous take on the golden pride of Iowa, try corn in dessert! Corn pudding, sweet corn ice cream, even sweet corn cheesecake are all show stopping dessert options to whip out during your next summer barbecue!

This summer, consider shucking traditional flavors and going with something that will really get your taste buds dancing. We hope this list gives you plenty to try!

If you are interested in learning more about our amazing Sunshine Retirement Living Independent Living communities, please give our friendly team a call today!