Cool As A Cucumber

We have had he wackiest summer weather. We’ve had a ton of rain and cooler temperatures, which I love, and we have also been having very hot, hot, hot days too. We have been all over the place.

On one of our super hot days, when cooking over a hot stove was not an option, I made a cool and refreshing cucumber and melon salad. This salad idea came to me via one of our very own yet again, this time coming from The Reluctant Poet at https://thereluctantpoetweb.wordpress.com/. Thank you for the cool, refreshing idea. Of course I made it my own though. As you all know, that’s just what I do. 🙂

Here is my version of this delicious summer salad. If you want the original recipe, you will have to go to The Reluctant Poet at https://thereluctantpoetweb.wordpress.com/ and find out. 🙂

Cucumber Melon Salad

3 cups cubed cantaloupe

2 cups cubed cucumber, seeded and peeled

4 cups fresh baby spinach, stems removed and chopped

1 cup grapes, cut in half

2 TBSP lime juice

2 TBSP lemon juice

1/4 cup olive oil

3 TBSP honey

2 TBSP mint or lemon verbena

1 cup feta cheese, crumbled, optional

1/4 cup chopped nuts

Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, lime juice, lemon verbena or mint and honey together and mix well. Lemon verbena is growing wild all over my backyard, so this will always be my first choice. But mint is a great option too. Or you could use both.

Toss the chopped spinach, fruit, cucumbers, nuts, and feta cheese together, then add as much of the dressing as needed to coat everything without making it to heavy. You can make everything ahead of time without putting the dressing on and keep it in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it. Add the dressing right before serving it so your salad doesn’t get soggy.

This salad is so cool and refreshing and only takes a couple of minutes to make. It will definitely cool you down on those hot, hot, hot dog days of summer.

I served it alongside some grilled brats and potato salad, keeping cooking at a bare minimum on a day where the mercury was definitely on the rise.

Have a great day and make everyday great. Stay cool, stay safe and stay well. ‘Til next time.