A Summer Love Affair!

What used to be round, red, and ripe...and is now also oval, green, orange, yellow, purple, black, white  or brown? The tomato! Believe it or not there are now over 7500 varieties of tomatoes, ranging from beefsteaks to plums to cherries to grapes. The tomato, which may have found its way to our shores via the Caribbean, is without doubt one of the best things about summer. I have never met a summer tomato, sliced and sprinkled with a little salt, that I didn't love!

And oh, all the wonderful summer dishes you can make with those luscious lobes. One of my family's favorites, loved for its lightness, freshness, and color, that we make all summer long and serve with EVERYTHING, is my Tomato Watermelon Salad. It is quick and easy to make, looks beautiful, goes with everything, and tastes absolutely yummy!

Salad Ingredients:

Ripe watermelon cut into chunks

Assorted multi-colored heirloom tomatoes, cut into chunks

Fresh mint cut into ribbons

Fresh basil cut into ribbons  

Sliced black olives

Crumbled goat or feta cheese

Fresh chives

Place tomato and watermelon chunks into two separate colanders to allow some of the liquid to drain off. 

Make lemon vinaigrette dressing:

1.5 tbsp fresh lemon juice

2 tsp Dijon mustard

2 tsp red wine vinegar

1/8 tsp salt

1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Instructions:

In a large bowl whisk together lemon juice, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper. Slowly add olive oil and whisk till smooth. (Hint: I double or triple the recipe to use on other salads)

Scatter drained tomatoes and watermelon on a large oval serving platter making sure you mixed them up well.

Sprinkle with mint and basil ribbons and chopped olives (I use just enough to provide some color)

Top with a layer of crumbled goat cheese or feta.

Add a little fresh ground black pepper, snip some fresh chives on top and and drizzle with dressing.

Serve and enjoy!