Hey Toronto – what’s going on for the August civic holiday? Hosting a dinner party? Heading to a picnic? Chilling out at home? No matter the event, here’s a roundup of some palate-pleasing recipes to try this summer.
One Pot Pasta


Take on a One Pot Pasta recipe, this vegetarian friendly dish is delicious and works well either warm or chilled. It’s super easy, simply throw all the ingredients in a Dutch oven, bring to a boil and let simmer. No draining required – the ingredients do the rest since the broth makes for a great sauce. This is a great dish to use Ontario-grown tomatoes and summer-fresh ingredients. Customize to taste, for a spicy kick try adding chili flakes.
Fully Loaded Potato Salad 

This version of potato salad has all the comfort of a fully loaded baked potato. Crisp the bacon by microwaving the topping for 20 seconds and then sprinkle onto the salad.  This is a great recipe to wow friends at a picnic – it really does taste like a loaded baked potato. Be sure to keep a cooler or icepacks on hand so the dishes don’t spoil.Â
Cucumber Herb Salad


Field cucumbers are the ideal (and cost effective) ingredient for this light and fresh salad. Mixing the cukes with coriander and mint to make a lovely tasting summer salad. For those that aren’t fans of coriander, substitute basil. For added flavour and texture, this salad also goes well with tomatoes.
Easy Homemade Peach Iced Tea Recipe

Here’s the perfect soft drink for a special summer gathering, a casual BBQ or a quiet night at home.  The tea is both refreshing and pleasing to the eyes. Serve in a large glass pitcher and find a cute straw or drink umbrella for the individual portions. The recipe calls for peach nectar, fresh peaches (remember, pick Ontario) and citrus to add a bit of zip to the flavour.
Try the recipes, get out for a picnic and explore some of Toronto’s parks and lakefront spaces. Of course there are the obvious choices such as High Park, Trinity Bellwoods and the Toronto Islands. But there are also great locations such as Sugar Beach, the Scarborough Bluffs and Morningside Park.
Take on the tastes of summer in Toronto from some of the most dynamic areas of the city. Hazelview Properties offers quality apartments in Toronto’s desirable neighbourhoods including: Liberty Village, the Upper Beaches, and the bustling neighbourhood of Yonge and Eglinton.