Showing posts with label watermelon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label watermelon. Show all posts

Friday, July 24, 2015

Follow Friday #30: What I am Obsessing over this Week!

Happy Fri-YAY! How has your week been?
I am so happy it is Friday, because I am so ready for the weekend!
This week, I've been working together with the hubby on a project that I haven't mentioned
before!
I have most likely mentioned before that he owns
 his own cabinetry and custom woodworking business.
Over the years, I've watched his business grow, and I am proud and impressed at all he's accomplished. This French Country Vintage dresser it will be coming in my future (near or far)!

What we've been working on, is a lovely gift he made me when he first started his business,
and I've been admiring it in the garage, so I brought it in,
and it's been sitting in our bedroom,
 while I dream of ways to make it pretty!
I'll be sharing more about this soon!
 For Follow Fridays from now on, I will be featuring 4 different blogs, one cooking/baking, one gardening, one décor/style, and one crafting.



Obsessing with Mirrors via Chateau Chic
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My new obsession as well....mirror love!



Honey Grilled Watermelon Caprese salad via How Sweet It Is
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No Ice Cream this week, instead I wanted to share a new love of mine, tomato caprese salads. To celebrate the bounties of fresh vegetables, especially heirloom tomatoes. For years, I haven't been a huge fan of tomatoes, actually it's only been the last year or so, I've taken a liking to them, once I drizzled them with balsamic, and add some fresh basil, mozzarella cheese!
 Is it lunch yet? I'm starving!



Higgledy Garden

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After, I stumbled onto this blog, I went out and purchased a few bi-annual seed packets. I'm not lying. I've always wanted to start a lovely cutting garden, and this is all the inspiration I needed!




DIY Rustic Outdoor Chandelier via Crafts Unleashed

This is going to be my next garden DIY project! I would love to have a chandelier to outdoors, to  light the night up while I entertain friends and family!

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  Hope you all have a beautiful weekend!
Until next time!
xo,
  
 
 

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Thursday, May 28, 2015

Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint



Happy Day before Friday! How is your week going? Summer is heating up around here, and both my husband and I are starting to crave salads. One thing, I've been wanting to do for a while now, is to cook and prepare a weeks worth of meals on a Sunday, but haven't been able to get organized enough. lately to accomplish this. Something I am working towards. In the mean time, Lindsay has made two requests for me this week, one buy a watermelon, and two make stuffed peppers. So, I'm skipping on posting something sweet this week! I love the sweet, spicy, salty combination of this salad. In one bite you get a refreshingly sweet, and juicy bite of watermelon, with the creamy and salty feta cheese, and the heat from the Sriracha to balance this salad all out!

As it happens, I already have most of the ingredients on hand for a watermelon salad, except for the watermelon and the mint. The inspiration for this salad comes from one of my most beloved chefs Jacques Pépin. When I was younger, I would  watch his cooking show on PBS, late at night, after work, between reruns of MASH or Diagnosis Murder. It's the simple way he takes fresh ingredients and turns them into something extra ordinary, that amazes me. Two of my favorite recipes from him, include Strawberry Buttermilk Shortcake and his recipe for Roast Chicken.

With this recipe I tweaked a few things, one I just cut my watermelon up; he melon balled his, and he used Tabasco, I used Sriracha, or I would use Cholula hot sauce. You could also choose not to use hot sauce all together, if you don't like the spiciness. Another one of my strange food habits is, putting hot sauce of salsa, just about on everything, even my pizza. I know, I know, I'm odd. Please don't judge me! For me, the hot sauce enhances the flavor of the food, and seems to compliment the flavor of the mint. Believe you me, a little hot sauce goes a long way! Oh, and another ingredient, I didn't use were the Kalamata olives, for me the Feta cheese is salty enough, instead I actually wanted a little more sweetness, so I added some Mint simple syrup.


On a hot Summer day, this is a perfect salad to serve at picnics and barbeques! If you don't like Feta cheese you could substitute it for goat cheese, and for the Sriracha you could even substitute it for fresh chilis; serranos or jalepenos!Oh and before I forget the Mint, it really does cool the heat off from the Siraracha, and refreshes your mouth for another bite of this seriously mouth watering salad!


Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint
1 small seedless watermelon, about 3 pounds, peeled, and either cubed or balled
2 Tbls. Mint simple syrup
2 Tbls. Sriracha hot sauce
4 Tbls. Apple cider vinegar
2 Tbls. freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 Tbls. olive oil
1/2 cup mint leaves
Salt and Pepper to taste
6 oz. feta cheese crumbled
Mint leaves for garnish
1.In food processor, combine mint syrup, Sriracha, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil and mint leaves.
2. In bowls, add watermelon, top with cheese, and drizzle Mint/Sriracha vinaigrette.
3. Garnish with Mint leaves, season with salt and pepper!

For the mint simple syrup, take 1 cup of mint leaves chopped, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Return to low, and simmer 3 minutes, until sugar is dissolved. Strain. Seal in a bottle, and refrigerate. Store for two weeks!
Hope you have a lovely and relaxing weekend!
Until next time!
xo Christine

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