The Wonderful World of Watermelon

Oh, thank you Ina Garten, I LOVE you! You made me a superstar and you didn’t even know it. I knew salads could be easy, but not THIS easy, beautiful, healthy and delicious. Before we get to the salad, let start with a few fun facts about watermelon.

• July is National Watermelon month! Try this amazing salad before the watermelons go out of season!
• A Watermelon is actually a VEGETABLE – part of the gourd family. It is more closely related to a cucumber than a cantaloupe. I wish I knew this as a kid – I would have had NO problem getting my veggies down.
• Although a watermelon is deliciously sweet, it contains only half the amount of sugar of an apple. The “sweet” taste is the strongest, because the rest is pretty much…water.
• CAUTION Mama Wannas – Watermelon can inhibit semen production. You learn something new everyday…

So without further ado…on to the good stuff…   The Easiest Way to Cut a Watermelon   I haven’t mastered this technique just yet, but it’s still pretty easy, quick, and not nearly as messy as other ways I have used in the past. The pieces are also the perfect size for the salad.

The Freshest Salad of Summer – Arugula, Watermelon, Mint & Feta Summer Salad

Adapted from Food Network’s Ina Garten

 

 

For the vinaigrette:

1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)

1/4 cup minced shallots (1 large)

1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup olive oil

 

For the Salad:

6 cups baby arugula,washed and spun dry

1/8 th seedless watermelon, rind removed, and cut in 1-inch cubes

12 ounces good feta cheese, 1/2-inch diced (purchase block – not crumbles)

1 cup (4 ounces) whole fresh mint leaves, julienned

 

Whisk together the first 6 ingredients. Slowly pour in the olive oil, whisking constantly.

Place the arugula, watermelon, feta, and mint in a bowl. Pour vinaigrette to coat the greens lightly and toss well. Enjoy!

Click here for the inspiration

Tell us what your family thinks of this salad!  Until next Wednesday,

Live your WHOLE life!

Meg + Shannon