Summer is synonymous with family get-togethers (both planned and unplanned) and while these may include heading over to someone’s house (or having everyone over at yours) many include finding a great park or campsite and enjoying a full day or a few days together.

While grilling will never get old, an even easier option for serving up meals for everyone in the famiglia is to prep easy summer-inspired sandwiches that can be enjoyed between games, swimming or even while you’re in the car.

Try these 5 ways to make your sandwiches even more memorable this summer.

1. Fresh Produce

One of the best things about Canadian summers is having fresh produce at local farmers marketing to choose from. Find you favourite weekend pop up and get inspired.

If you can’t make it to the farmers, your local grocery store will feature Ontario Grown and all the seasonal produce. If you are unsure what produce is in season, ask a grocery store clerk for assistance or google what is currently in season. Most summertime recipes are sure to feature what is in season, making it easier on you.

As we all know, summertime tomatoes are so sweet and delicious that they almost taste like candy! Try our Italian-Style Bread Salad recipe as a quick and easy midday option or as a side salad to accompany your dinner. The recipe highlights tomatoes, basil, and olives to keep your family and friends coming back for seconds and thirds. It’s also great to get salad haters to love salads again. Who doesn’t love bread in their salad? We have more to offer on our recipe page if you are looking for summertime recipe inspiration.

2. Get creative

With summer comes the longer days and it feels like you have more of an opportunity to enjoy your evenings after a busy work day. Cooking is a great way to unwind, relax and make the most of your evening. We want to help inspire you to get cooking this summer without it feeling like a chore. We can help you get creative in the kitchen with new recipes that will inspire you to invite people over, Top tips For Perfectly Grilled Meals and last but not least, 5 Ways to Go Big with BBQ Season this Summer.

Summertime entertaining is back and better than ever! Get outside to enjoy your friends and family. Entertaining can be fun, but it can sometimes be stressful with the planning and preparation that comes with it but here are some easy tips to keep things simple.

Fresh is best and the key to delicious Italian-style sandwiches and meals. The best way to accomplish this is by putting everything on the grill; this way, you can interact with your company while cooking. Serve everything as a buffet/family style, or build your sandwich bar with all the fixings. These tips will help take the pressure off you; everyone can serve themselves (picky eaters will always find something they enjoy). Using your grill or barbeque to do most of your summer meals can help minimize the cleanup, as most of the cooking is done outside.

3. Don’t be afraid to try new things

Why not do a build your sandwich bar event? Not only is it fun and a creative way to entertain, but it also gives people the opportunity to try new things or choose what they want. Provide your guests with everything needed to make a great sandwich starting with the essential piece, the bread. Use D’Italiano^® Classic Sliced bread or our Brioche-style buns are the perfect base. Add in all the sandwich fixing starting with the condiments (mayo, tapenade -olive spread, pesto, homemade aioli, hummus and mustard).

What kind of meats do you like on your sandwich?

Turkey, chicken, roast beef, salami, prosciutto, ham, salmon etc. Do you like toppings on your sandwich? Adding lettuce, tomato, cucumber, pickles, onion, capers, banana peppers, hot peppers, or slaw is a great added crunch? Is cheese a must for you? If so, the options are plenty. Have a cheese board full of your favourite kinds and provide people with an opportunity to warm up their sandwich on the grill if they choose.

With all the fresh herbs in season, don’t be afraid to go above and beyond and make a few new sauces. Fresh basil is perfect for making pesto. Use a few spurs of fresh rosemary to mix into some mayo, or make quick sundried tomato aioli. An olive tapenade is a tasty added layer of flavour that can take a grilled veggie sandwich to another level.

4. Mix and Match

There are so many options for summer sandwiches; don’t be afraid to mix sweet and savoury, especially when it comes to sandwiches. Grill peaches, prosciutto, mozzarella with a balsamic glaze and some shaved fresh corn. Or barbeque bell peppers, zucchini, and red onion. Top with goat cheese for a delicious lacto-vegetarian option. If you have a sweet tooth like so many of us, it’s impossible to say no to dessert. Surprise your guests with this D’Italiano^® recipe for Ricotta, Fig & Honey Brioche-Style toast. It is light tasting, fresh, and makes all your taste buds jump for joy.

5. Make the most of your leftovers

Leftovers aren’t always the most exciting but don’t be afraid to make the most of them. If you have leftover buns or bread from entertaining, here are a few ways to use them. Preheat your oven to 400F and place your stale bread or buns on a baking sheet, brushing with olive oil, salt, Italian herbs, garlic or whatever you like.

Bake for 5 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Allow the bread to cool and then chop into 1-inch pieces and store in an airtight container. Croutons are a great addition to any lunch or dinner time salads. Use remaining bread and buns to make sandwiches for work or put them in your kids’ lunch boxes.

Use leftover grilled vegetables and pesto to make a delicious veggie sandwich, or use leftover grilled chicken breast. Don’t let leftovers bore you. Use our tips and tricks to make summer sandwiches memorable, or visit our Instagram page for more recipe inspiration.