Heirloom Tomato Salad with Red Onions and Basil

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Red Onions and Basil

For me summer starts with tomato salad - green, yellow and red heirloom tomatoes, all different kinds of shapes and sizes, still warm from the sun, combined with red onion, basil and a bit of feta cheese tossed with just a bit of my Basic-8 dressing. Hmmm . . .

Basic-8 Dressing

• 2 tbs good olive oil
• 1 tbs balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 tsp honey
• 1/8 tsp real salt - you may need a little extra salt for tomato salad, but add that when the salad is all put together
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 pinch granulated garlic
• 1 pinch dried basil

Salad Ingredients

• 3-4 smaller heirloom tomatoes, green, yellow, red (if they are really big maybe just use 1/2 of a tomato), room temperature or warmed from the sun
• 1/2 small red onion, sliced
• 5-6 larger fresh basil leafs, chopped
• 1-2 tbs feta cheese (optional)

Cut the tomatoes into bite size wedges, or cubes if you like. Cut the red onion the same way: slice or cube, but try to match the shape to the tomatoes (I think it looks nicer). Add the chopped basil leafs, toss with the dressing and sprinkle with the Feta cheese.

Make sure to serve the salad at room temperature which really brings out the beautiful flavor of sun ripened tomatoes.

Make it a Meal
Since I don't want to take away from the great flavor of the tomatoes I like to serve pan-fried organic chicken breast or fish (tilapia) seasoned with just salt and pepper - that's it.

Enjoy!

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Red Onions and Basil

The Simplest Carrot Salad

Carrots and nothing else are in this delicious salad.

Sometimes I happen to have nothing but a bunch of carrots in my fridge - doesn't happen often, but when it does it is a good idea to have a recipe that uses nothing but carrots - and it is GOOD!

Eat Breakfast like a Queen

Oxygen Magazine 5/2010 p. 83

Finally - someone recognizes that what I eat for breakfast is not just animal feed, but a breakfast fit for a queen. I was just about jumping up and own when I saw the article 'Eat Breakfast like a Queen' on page 83 of Oxygen's May 2010 issue.

During my breakfast I was asked 'What are you eating?!' I could hear the disgust in his voice. I'd agree that to someone that is used to stop at the local 7-11 for breakfast my daily concoctions may be a little strange, but are the ever healthy and delicious.

'I can't believe I'm eating Fennel' Salad

Fennel Salad with Celery, Red Onion, Pepitas and Oranges.

I know many people that don't like to taste of fennel, myself included. But, what to do when your CSA box contains fennel every week for 6 weeks? You come up with salad that makes fennel the most delicious thing you have ever tasted . . .

Three Potato Salad with Persian Cucumber and Red Onion

Three Potato Salad with Persian Cucumber and Red Onion

I call this the three potato salad, because I used three different kinds of potatoes: 5 fingerling and 3 medium potatoes (2 different kinds) I got the last couple of weeks in my CSA box, but feel free to use whatever potatoes you may have. I did not want the potatoes to spoil in the fridge, so what better way to make use of them than make a potato salad.