Melon Prosciutto Salad with Mint basil Vinaigrette

Summertime is a great time to try out some new salad recipes.  No one wants to heat up the kitchen when it is hot outside.  This is a different kind of salad but it is a nice change from a traditional salad.

It is very easy to throw together. It looks pretty on the plate too.  The recipe calls for using watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew but I only used cantaloupe.  If you have the others on hand by all means use them too. 

 We are going to start by mixing the dressing so it has time to sit and the flavors have time to marry.

 Start with about 1/2 cup of fresh basil

 1/2 cup fresh mint

 1 garlic clove.  Blend all in a food processor.

 zest of one lemon

 juice of one lemon

 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil.  (I doubled the recipe)

1 Tablespoon honey.  Blend well in the processor.  Then store in a container until you are ready to use.  This salad you can have all the parts made ahead of time then put together when ready to serve.

 Now to make my melon balls.  Clean out your melon.

 Then using a melon baller start making melons.

 I made mine ahead of time and stored until ready to use.

 Wash your baby arugula leaves and then add strips of prosciutto and pearl sized mozzarella balls to the greens along with the melon balls.

When you dish it up you can add the dressing before hand or dress it when you dip it up. It makes a pretty dish.

Melon Prosciutto Salad with Mint Basil Vinaigrette Recipe

For the Salad
melons of your choice
1 container pearl sized mozzarella balls
8-10 slices prosciutto torn into pieces
4 cups baby arugula

For the Dressing
1/2 cup fresh mint
1/2 cup fresh basil
1 garlic clove
salt and pepper
zest of one lemon
juice of one lemon
1 Tablespoon honey
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Honey Lemon Vinaigrette on Peach Cucumber Salad

Summer is the season for salads and this one is light and refreshing. It's the perfect salad when the peaches are in season.  Yes, this salad has peaches in it.  It is a nice change of pace. 

There are a few other surprises in this salad too. 

Make your vinaigrette first so the flavors have time to mix.

Start with 1/2 teaspoon finely minced lemon zest

3 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice. This should be one lemon if it is a nice size.

I put all the ingredients in the cup that came with my immersion blended.

Add the zest

2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

little pepper

little salt

1 teaspoon honey

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or other fresh herb.  I used parsley because I like it best.

Add it to the bowl

This is what one recipe of the vinaigrette looks like.  So yes I made a couple more recipes.

Now for the salad

It calls for cooked bacon.  I decided to cut it into pieces before I cooked it in the oven.  I wasn't sure how well it would work.

Cut up a cucumber.  I used an English cucumber.

The bacon came out great.  I didn't have to chop it, and the pieces are a nice size too.

Add the cucumbers to the lettuce. I like using the nice pretty dark green lettuces.

Now peel and slice a peach.

Toss everything together.  Add the dressing just before serving.

Honey Lemon Vinaigrette on Peach Cucumber Salad Recipe

Vinaigrette
3 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon finely minced lemon zest
2 T olive oil
salt and pepper
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon chopped herb

Salad
pretty lettuce leaves
diced cucumber
peach slices
crisp bacon

Lemon Lime Sparkling Punch

This punch is so easy to make and taste so good.  It is easy to mix up right before your event and it will last all day. It is a refreshing drink for a hot summer day.  You can make it fancy with a sprig of mint and either a lemon or lime slice. 

You could add an umbrella to this drink if you have one. 

 These are the three ingredients you need to make this delicious punch.

 For one recipe of this punch you mix 1/2 bottle of simply lemonade, 1/2 bottle of simple limeade, and 3/4 of a 2 L Sprite.  Have all your ingredients chilled before mixing.

 I made a double batch of the punch for my quilting ladies get-together.

Dress it up and enjoy.


Lemon Lime Sparkling Punch Recipe

30 oz Simply Lemonade chilled
30 oz Simply Limeade
1.5 L of Sprite Chilled
Lemon and Lime slices
mint leaves

Deconstructed Caesar Salad

I saw this recipe the other day and thought it would be a nice and easy side dish.  One of the things I hate about making salad is all the chopping.  This recipe takes the chopping out of the equation. 

This looks pretty on the plate. 

I forgot the picture of all the ingredients.  I must be out of practice.  Start with cooking your bacon.  I like to cook it in the oven.  It will stay nice and straight that way.

Take the romaine lettuce. It is safe to eat again.

Cut in half.

Wash and let drain.

When you are ready to make your salad squeeze the excess liquid out of the half.

Place the halves on the plate.

Drizzle with caesar dressing either homemade or store bought.  This is store bought.

Then sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Then place the strip of bacon on top.  Now that is an easy salad.

Valerie Bertinelli's Quick Strawberry Jam

A couple of weeks ago on Valerie's cooking show she made this strawberry jam that looked so easy and so good.  I knew then I had to make some for our Royal Wedding Watch Party.  I know some of you are not into the Royals, and not the baseball team either, but it was a fun opportunity to make a tea party.  I had fun making my scones and cream, little finger sandwiches and this jam.  And with it being strawberry season it was the perfect time to make some.  This jam can be stored in the fridge for about 10 days but, I don't think it will last that long. 

This was my table spread for the wedding. The scones with the Devonshire cream and strawberry jam were so good!

 You need to start with some nice fresh strawberries.  These berries came from Maggie Valley and they have had some of the best berries this year.  The smell so good too.

 You will want to wash and hull about a quart of berries.  Place in the food processor to chop.

 You don't want them turned to mush but chopped.

 Add them to a saucepan.

 Add 1/2 cup sugar

 1 tablespoon lemon juice

 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar.  This may seem strange but the vinegar brings out the natural sweetness of the berries.

 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt.  Sweet things always needs just a hint of salt.

 Place on the cooktop at medium high heat and bring to a boil.  You will need to stir frequently.  Cook for about 8-9 minutes or until it thickens.  Times will vary.  You just want it to thicken.

Place in a heat resistant container and let cool at room temp.  Then store in the fridge. 

Then enjoy with some fresh scones or biscuits. I have a little left over I might try it with some peanut butter in a sandwich.

Quick Strawberry Jam fit for a Queen

1 qt strawberries hulled
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt