02 July 2011

Summertime and the Eating Is Easy

When you read this, I'll be in New York, enjoying both the city and the Romance Writers of America's National Conference. There's only one thing I'll miss while I'm away: the fresh fruits and vegetables from my local farmers market. With that in mind, I thought I'd share one of my favorite summer recipes. Consider it my way of adding a little sparkle to your holiday weekend.
This is extremely simple, no cooking required. But you do need really, really good produce.



Jean Marie's Summer Salad

(Ingredients per person, expand as needed)

1 pickle-sized (4-5 inches long) cucumber, peeled, cored (if desired) and sliced thin

4 to 6 fresh basil leaves, shredded

1 medium tomato, chopped

Rice wine vinegar (used a seasoned variety for extra sweetness)

Fresh ground pepper

Layer a bowl with cucumbers, then basil, then tomatoes. Drizzle with rice wine vinegar. Toss. Add fresh ground pepper to taste. Let sit five minutes and serve.




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Happy Fourth!

2 comments:

Xakara said...

I can't do the tomato due to allergies, but it sounds delicious!

~X

Jean Marie Ward said...

Thanks, X! This is actually a variation on a Thai cucumber garnish, so you can leave out the tomato or sub shredded carrots. If you want to try it that way, though, use the seasoned rice wine vinegar. Without the tomatoes, you really need the extra sweetness.