End of Summer...

Even though Summer doesn't officially end until September 22nd when the Autumnal Equinox occurs, most people consider Labor Day weekend to be the end of summer.  Kids are either already back in school or headed there next week...beach trips are over...the garden is winding down...the pools are getting ready to close...it's time to welcome in my favorite season, autumn!

 But, before we do that, we have one last blow-out weekend that starts tomorrow!!  I can't believe that it's Labor Day weekend already--where did the time go this summer?  I always feel this way, but not for the same reasons as other people do.  Me...I'm always glad for summer to be over and to welcome in some--hopefully--cooler weather with lower humidity.  But, most of all, I'm all excited for the fun foods that go along with autumn cooking---the soups, stews, chilis, crock-pot creations, pumpkin goodies...need I say more??

 Before we start cooking all of those kinds of meals, I have one last summer recipe for you.  Maybe you can serve it at your Labor Day bar-be-cue this weekend?

 Nothing quite says "summer" the way that watermelon does and we're about to lose all those luscious, sweet watermelons from our roadside stands and fruit markets.  So, here's a recipe that will let you serve watermelon one last time this summer in a totally different way than you normally would.

 Watermelon-cucumber salad
3 cups cubed, seeded watermelon
1/2 of a large English cucumber, diced with the skin on
1 handful cilantro, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, diced
4 oz. crumbled feta cheese

 Place all the above ingredients in a large bowl and stir.  Then, in a separate container, make a dressing from:
the juice of 2 limes
about 1/3-1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

 Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and stir to coat.  Serve immediately.
Serves 4.

 I know this seems like a strange presentation for watermelon.  We expect to have it in desserts or fruit salads, but this is a lovely and fresh salad that is very bright and flavorful and totally unexpected!
Happy Labor Day---don't work too hard :)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jammin'

Image
I absolutely LOVE making homemade jam...and of course, eating it!  My stock was non-existent and I knew that it was time to get some summer jams made.  I always like to have some around for family use and I like to have a bunch made up and ready to use as gifts---jam makes one of the very best, all-time gifts!!  You can grab it at the last minute when you've forgotten you were supposed to take something, you can use it for a sick friend, you can add a little piece of fabric tied with a ribbon to the top and make a fabulous birthday present, you can take a jar to all your neighbors for Christmas...the list is endless!! But, first you have to make the jam :) I started with a batch of strawberry freezer jam--this is strictly for personal consumption!  I love the way freezer jam tastes SO fresh--like eating fresh strawberries.  It's hard to use as gifts because of the freezer factor...oh, darn, guess that means I have to eat it. To start, you need to wash a couple of 1 cup siz
Read more

Foodgasm!!

Image
Yes, I said it....foodgasm!!  There are just some foods that create such a rush of pleasure when you eat them that there's no other word to describe the incredible feeling!!  Today's recipe is just one such fabulous food :) There have been innumerable studies done on the pleasure centers in our brains.  What's so interesting is that there's basically one targeted area that is stimulated by pleasurable things....so, making love, eating great food, seeing a super-good movie, running or exercising, being out in nature....the list goes on and on....all these things send signals to the pleasure centers in our brains and our bodies respond appropriately.  Now, personally, I don't get the same rush from running as I do from eating great food or making love, but some people really love it!!   Other studies have proven that women who starve themselves or deny themselves on a regular basis of "pleasurable-type" foods, such as sugar, chocolate, fats, etc...decrea
Read more

Oatmeal Chip Cake

Image
I have lost about 40 pounds in the last 10 months, which I realize is a very strange way to begin this post, especially under the picture of a cake and whipped cream!!  But, I do have a point :)  The way that I have lost this weight has been by eliminating most of the sugar from my diet and by cutting my portions down by at least 1/2, if not more.  So, in order to stick with my new healthy lifestyle, I've been on a journey of learning how to make dishes small! My biggest challenge has been with desserts.  I LOVE desserts, but they don't love me!  And not just because of the weight issue...I suffer when I eat sugar, although in varying degrees, but I do suffer---headaches, pain, lethargy, nausea, indigestion, congestion, brain fog...I've been able to trace all of these to levels of sugar consumption.  Of course, the auto-immune issues cause all of these symptoms, but mine are greatly ameliorated if I limit my sugar intake.  So, I've had to bite the bullet and
Read more