Tomato Salad, with a Twist

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Tomato Salad, with a Twist

It is, oh, so hot here right now. Minnesota, land of extremes. Given it is ‘freeze the snot in your nose’ cold in the winter, and winter lasts for what seems like FOREVER, you’d think I’d have nothing to complain about when summer finally rolls around. But, being the bi-polar state it is, if it’s not -20 and so dry your skin turns to shoe leather, it is blistering hot, humid and buggy. We get a smattering of lovely days, but it’s not till fall that the bugs die off (vicious, biting, carry your baby off, nasty bugs) and it becomes a ‘pleasant’ place to be. By then, the days are short and the nights longer.

I can’t bear to think ahead to that LONG, COLD winter, so instead I’ll muddle through this heat, taking advantage of the locally grown produce, and make a refreshing salad. This one is a twist on a traditional Caprese Salad. Enjoy!

Heirloom Tomato Salad with a Twist

Heirloom Tomatoes
Goat Cheese
Fresh Mint & Basil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
1 clove garlic minced or put through a press
Salt & Pepper

Whisk the oil & vinegar together, add the garlic, season to taste.
Chiffonade (slice in to thin ribbons) the mint and basil, and add to the dressing.

Pour over thick sliced tomatoes, sprinkle with goat cheese.

Enjoy as a light lunch or as a side with grilled meat for dinner. Heck, this is so good, I’d eat it for breakfast…and I have!

Bit ‘o shade!

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Bit 'o shade!

We are having a ‘swan song’ of summer here in the upper mid-west, with a heat wave moving through to give us a taste of what summer should have been, before releasing it’s grip to fall.

After finishing an exercise session with my trainer, I came home to a puppy bursting with energy. Miss Mia’s and my normal walk up through the green space to the local middle school fields is too far for the puppy, so I loaded both in the car and drove them up. Unloading in the parking lot, we started down the football fields, headed towards an open space at the other end. About half-way down, little man decided he’d had enough, and this picture captures it perfectly.

“It’s hot mama!”.

You could just see it in his eyes, as he attempted to find the only shade available, my shadow. We had another 50 yards to go to get to the small field Miss Mia likes to romp in, so little man got a ride the rest of the way.

Oh, to live the life of a puppy, so simple, and so spoiled.

Grilled Eggplant & Goat Cheese Salad

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Grilled Eggplant & Goat Cheese Salad

Can I say: you HAVE TO MAKE THIS?!
If you like eggplant or even if you think you don’t like eggplant: MAKE. THIS. NOW!

Farmers market is bursting with fresh, tender eggplants, especially japanese eggplant, which are sweet, silky and mild.
So DEE-lish!

This recipe was a genius inspiration by Giada De Laurentiis.

Slice japanese eggplants on the bias, lightly drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
Grill on a medium-hot grill until tender, approximately 8-10 minutes, turning half way through.
Let cool to room temperature then sprinkle fresh goat cheese and toasted pine nuts over the top.
Drizzle with a dressing made with equal parts Balsamic Vinegar and Extra Virgin Olive oil, whisked with freshly chopped Mint and Basil.

This is so good, be sure to make more than you think you’ll eat, cause you’ll eat more than you think you will!
Make this. You WILL thank me, trust me, it’s really THAT good!

(Serve alone for lunch or with a freshly grilled salmon or shrimp. Heck, I’d have this for breakfast!)