Summer is all about simple living. Fresh made meals with what is in season. I like to use what I buy at the farmers markets or at Braum’s Fresh Market (they always have fresh produce). Simple ingredients with HUGE flavors! I dare you to give these a try. Warning…they are going to require you to venture out of your flavor safety zone. The Watermelon Salad had my family freaked out a bit till they tasted it. The cucumbers are my easy solution to making a fancy appetizer that is anything but fancy.
Watermelon Salad
3 cups watermelon, cubed
1/2 red onion, sliced thin
4 tomatoes, cut into quarters
feta cheese
fresh basil leaves
Balsamic viniagrette
Place the watermelon, red onion, tomatoes and feta cheese in a large bowl. Toss with a balsamic vinaigrette and sprinkle with fresh torn basil leaves.
Watermelon Bites
2 inch watermelon cubes
goat cheese or herbed cheese (like Boursin)
fresh mint
olive oil
sea salt
tooth picks
Place a 1/4 teaspoon of goat cheese on top of each watermelon cube and then top with a mint leaf. Drizzle with olive oil and lightly sprinkle with sea salt. Serve on a platter and eat them with toothpicks.
Stuffed Cucumber Cheese Bites
1 (8 ounce) Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese, Softened to room temperature
3 English Cucumbers, peeled and cut into 2 inch thick pieces
cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
fresh basil
To prepare the cucumbers: using a melon baller, remove some of the seeds so a little well is left to fill. Place the softened vegetable and herb cream cheese in a ziploc bag and cut a small nip from the corner so you can squeeze into the little cucumber bites. Top with a sliced cherry tomato and a fresh basil leaf.
The Lake Cucumber Dip
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup finely chopped green onion
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon dill weed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups cucumber, peeled and seeded
Fritos
In a large bowl mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, green onion, dill weed, salt and pepper. Then stir in the cucumber. Serve with fritos!