It’s summertime and the livin’ is easy. The cookin’ should be easy too.

Congrats!  You are no longer responsible for feeding the hungry masses. Those gourmet menus of chicken fingers and mac and cheese are blissfully behind you – at least until the grandkids visit. For empty nesters, preparing a meal can be a fun, creative experience with delicious, healthy results. Especially in the summer.

Whether you are cooking for one, two, or a group of buddies who live down the hall, take advantage of luscious seasonal produce to whip up these simple recipes in your state-of-the-art Overture apartment kitchen.

Maybe these easy cooking recipes for seniors will inspire.

Cucumber Avocado Salad

With minimal effort and a spare 10 minutes, you can delight guests with this refreshing summer side dish. Simply toss cucumber, avocado, dill, lemon and feta cheese together in a bowl and voila! The side dish everybody is dishing about.

You will need:

  • Cucumbers – mini or full sized. Slice the cucumbers into large chunks on the bias. No need to peel unless you want to.
  • 2 Avocados – Wait to pit and dice the avocados into bite sized pieces until just before serving to preserve that fresh, vibrant green.
  • Feta Cheese – This soft and crumbly cheese adds both tang and creaminess to the salad. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can buy a block of brined feta and crumble it yourself. Or save time with the pre-crumbled variety.  If you and /or your guests prefer to keep it vegan, just eliminate the cheese.
  • Fresh Dill – Fresh dill is recommended but if you don’t have any on hand, feel free to substitute with about 1 tablespoon of dried dill.
  • Tomatoes – Yes, it’s called a cucumber, avocado salad. But it can easily become a cucumber avocado, tomato salad with a few grape or cherry tomatoes. Your salad, your choice!
  • Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice is the trifecta! It adds brightness to the salad’s color, keeps the avocado from oxidizing and turning brown, and adds a wonderful tangy taste.
  • Extra-Virgin Olive Oil – Add just enough to lightly toss.

Add a pinch of salt and get ready to hear rave reviews. This salad is best served and eaten when it’s made but should keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Summer Chicken and Pasta Salad

Whether you are entertaining in your upscale Overture apartment or meeting friends on the pristine grounds for an outdoor picnic, this summer pasta salad can be the star of the show. All it takes is a little chopping, mincing and dicing.

You will need:

  • Your choice of pasta – Short pasta shapes like fusilli, rotini or penne work well for this recipe. Cook your pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water. Drain, toss with olive oil and set aside to cool.
  • Cherry tomatoes – These little treats add sweetness and juicy texture. This is the chopping part.
  • Cucumbers – Persian or English cucumbers are perfect to add crunch. Both have very thin skins so no need to peel. Also chopping.
  • Chickpeas – They add plant-based protein
  • Arugula – Toss in a little arugula for extra green.
  • Feta Cheese – You can add the cheese of your choice, but feta adds a little tang to the mix.
  • Pine nuts – Like cucumbers, they add crunch.
  • Fresh Herbs – No need to skimp on the herbs. Parsley, basil, and mint are a tasty trio. Here’s where you mince.
  • Chicken Tenders – While you are gathering your other ingredients, your chicken tenders can be baking in the oven. Cook at 450 for 16-18 minutes. And yes, you guessed it…dice and add to the salad. It’s a meal in a bowl.

Finish this creation with a simple pasta salad dressing.

Mix:

  • Olive oil
  • Lemon Juice
  • Dijon mustard
  • Garlic
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Salt
  • A pinch of herbes de Provence

If you are not feeling the homemade dressing, try tossing with Italian or Greek dressing instead. Either way, this one is a winner. 

One Pan Salmon

Like its name suggests, this easy salmon dish is literally a one pan meal.  The three main ingredients are salmon, baby potatoes and asparagus.

You will also need:

  • Maple syrup – as a drizzle coating.
  • Olive Oil
  • Mustard
  • Garlic
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Paprika

Now here’s the best part. This meal is perfect for your Overture apartment kitchen. It requires 1 baking sheet, parchment paper, a spatula and a spoon. That’s it. And the whole process should take you about 45 minutes.

  • To begin, preheat your oven to 425 F.
  • Line a baking sheet – your one pan – with parchment paper.
  • To make your life easier, microwave your baby potatoes for 2 minutes to pre-soften.
  • Arrange asparagus and potatoes on a baking sheet. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper on top. Toss.
  • Bake asparagus and potatoes in the oven for 20 minutes.
  • While veggies are baking, salmon preparation begins. Whisk together 1 tablespoon of olive oil, grainy mustard, maple syrup, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon of pepper and paprika.
  • Once the asparagus and potatoes have cooked for 20 minutes, place salmon, skin side down, on the baking sheet and brush the fish with half the sauce you’ve just made. Spoon the remaining sauce over the potatoes and asparagus, tossing to blend.
  • Bake the salmon for 12-14 minutes or until fully cooked. Timing may depend on the salmon size and thickness.

Talk about easy meals for seniors to cook. In 45 minutes, you have a feast -  and only one pan to clean. 

Celebrate the Summer with Your Overture Friends

To recap: Warm balmy days, easy healthy recipes, a state-of-the-art kitchen in an Overture apartment designed for your safety and comfort. Mix in a warm and friendly community of like-minded peers. Sounds like a recipe for ultimate retirement living. Book a tour at the Overture senior living community of your choice today. Your friends can’t wait to share a meal with you.

As you set off on your culinary - and retirement - adventure, remember the wise words of Julia Child: “Learn how to cook, try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and, above all, have fun.”