After a week of gorging and drinking myself 5 pounds heavier in England and a significant decrease in the daily temperature in Cincinnati, I've prepared myself to embrace the late summer loveliness and get "back on track." Yesterday after a 2 mile trail walk with Findlay, I started thinking about how much I miss cooking. Searching for recipes, scanning my pantry ingredients, writing my shopping list and making an adventure for the meal. I love to grocery shop - granted, I go alone, I take my time, I explore new foods and can make all the decisions based on my palate - a small luxury of a young unmarried woman without roommates.
I decided to bring some fresh produce back into this house. After traveling, having MR in town and late nights at the office, I haven't done this in over a month! One of my favorite places to find recipes is Epicurious.com - plus they have a great iPhone app to access when you don't have time to jot down a grocery list. I looked over recipes I'd added to my list to make and found this wonderful summer salad - watermelon, feta & arugula salad with balsamic glaze.
Watermelon is so cheap this time of year! I paid less than $1.50 for half a melon. And I usually modify most recipes I make - so for a little protein and additional sustenance, I grabbed the grilled and diced Tyson chicken packets - I know my mom would scold me for wasting money on these, since boneless skinless breasts are much more cost effective but I couldn't beat the convenience this week, with plans on my calendar every evening. A package of arugula, a package of feta and I was set - I keep whole black pepper to grind, sea salt and balsamic on hand in my pantry.
So simple - chopped everything, threw it in a big red bowl and stirred - absolutely delicious! Crunchy, tangy, sweet, salty, bright... a lovely combination of fresh flavors, beautiful colors and great textures. And as with most foods made with balsamic, I think it will be even better tomorrow after a night marinating in the fridge. And the best part - it includes servings of fruit, veggies, protein & dairy. This has easily become a fast favorite - it would be perfect for a party or BBQ.
View the original recipe here.
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