In our weekly Q&A installment, we asked The Greatist Team about their favorite summer treats. Here’s what they had to say:
“Summer life tends to move at a pace so slow it’s nearly at a standstill, and that means I have time to do the things I never have time for during the craziness of the rest of the year. So my favorite treat? I love to sit in the hammock for a few hours, read a book, and drink some lemonade. It’s simple and almost corny/summer cliche, but it’s something I would NEVER have time to do during the year: relax!” — Jenni Whalen
“My favorite summer time treat has got to be camping. Some of my best childhood memories include family camping trips and fishing with my dad. We started camping last year with our kids, and it may be even more fun as an adult. There’s nothing better than hanging out with good friends while the kids have fun sans technology and get their nature on. And why does bacon taste so much better cooked over a camp fire?” — Kristine Lockwood
“I’d have to say the first summer treat that came to mind was frozen watermelon. Yup, there it is. It makes a wonderful treat on a hot, sweltering day. I chop watermelon into small cubes a bit smaller than 1″ square. Then toss a bunch on a plate and put it in the freezer. Then enjoy them at any degree of frozen-ness (is that a word?). Great with a bit of frost on the outside or when completely frozen solid.” — Troy Pesola
“Frozen Grapes! Take them off the vine, rinse and dry, and stick in the freezer for a few hours. Great on their own or as “ice cubes” in any summery drink (especially Tea and Sangria!).” — Kate Morin
“Del’s Frozen Lemonade. This beverage is a summer staple in my home-state of Rhode Island. Unlike most frozen lemon drinks, Del’s is made from real lemon juice and contains bits of lemon pulp. Best of all, it’s served from a tiny truck. Nothing is simpler or sweeter than this summer drink.” — Leah Rocketto
“Frozen hot chocolate. Yes, it does exist and it is delicious!” — Amy Kraft
“This might not be the typical summer ‘treat,’ but when it’s sizzling out, I love taking a drive to my favorite mall and spending a few hours there with friends. It’s an easy way to stay cool and do some awesome shopping. Once I’m there, I treat myself to an Auntie Anne’s pretzel and a big iced coffee before strolling around some more.” — Cathy Zhu
“On hot summer afternoons, I always crave a vanilla ice cream cone. With sprinkles, if I’m feeling especially colorful. A cup is okay, but I’m sure I look much more civilized licking melting ice cream from my elbow.” — Shana Lebowitz
“Not to dwell on the strictly healthy thing, but I make a mean summer smoothie. Just throw in some frozen fruit (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, bananas, pineapple, etc…), some Greek yogurt, a little orange juice, some protein powder, and— for the special ingredient— almond butter. It’s a great way to be creative and stay cool.” — Alex Robbins
“My favorite summer treat is a total splurge and can be found in a food truck. The Coolhaus Ice Cream Sandwich truck has homemade ice cream which they place between two freshlly baked cookies. It’s even wrapped in edible rice paper! My favorite is the Dirty Mint Chip with actual mint leaves, and two double chocolate chip cookies. I park myself on a bench and take a few minutes to enjoy the homemade deliciousness about once a month.” — Katie Koerner
“My favorite summer treat is melon! Honeydew, watermelon, cantaloupe. Yummy!” — Erica Sanderson
