{gabbing greens} watermelon summer salad with jalapeno lime dressing

I have been toying with the idea of the watermelon salad for some time. I have watched enough food network and seen enough "food" magazines to know that watermelon salad is in. A friend invited us over for dinner and I said I would bring the salad - well time to step up to the plate and take a swing.

SOmetimes a mish-mash of thing turn out to be something beautiful!

So I am warming up thinking of what is going into this creation. I think summer flavors, fresh ... I am also thinking what the heck do I have in my fridge because it is 5:45 and we are suppose to be there at 6:30 ... just do it!

So sometimes when you just mix things up ... marry things that you have had before like "lime and watermelon" with "jalapeno and corn" just mix it up it turns into something great.

watermelon summer salad with jalapeno lime dressing by ann west

a mix of arugula and baby spinach

watermelon sliced thin

red onion sliced thin

roasted corn (or cut fresh from the cobb and not cooked!)

feta cheese

layer your salad and prepare the dressing.

jalapeno lime dressing by ann west

1/3 cup grape seed oil

1 - 2 limes juiced

2-3 tbls sugar

salt

1/2 jalapeno seeded and deveined (you might choose to omit the jalapeno and that is ok but I think it works really nice with the sweet watermelon and corn!)

With an emulsifier or blender blend all ingredients. Start with 1 lime and see if you need 2. Also adjust your sugar as you wish. Toss with the watermelon salad and enjoy!

{grabbing greens} savory summer salad

Sometimes I need to mix and match. Marry the flavors because well... I just like them all so I can't choose.

Thus inspired this savory summer salad. A cheesy buttermilk dressing, grilled corn, a beautiful tomato and some caramelized onions. Yep - I couldn't choose ... so they all came together for me in a rather tasty salad.

savory summer salad by ann west

bibb lettuce or romaine will do - I cut mine in wedges for fun

roasted corn - corn rubbed in olive oil cooked on the grill until done! Then sliced off the cob

one beautiful tomato - sliced thick

1 or 2 onions sliced super thin and caramelized in olive oil or butter

buttermilk dressing by ann west

1 cup buttermilk

goat cheese

1/4 c sour cream

chives

1 shallot minced

3-4 basil leaves

3-4 mint leaves

1 tbls of cilantro

salt and pepper to taste

dash or two of cayenne pepper

Mix the creamy ingredients first. Then add your herbs chopped very fine. If you are using a processor - don't over process or you will have a green goddess dressing.

enjoy!

{companions} broccoli salad

It is time to give a shout out to YORK, PA. That is where my hubby and I first started our life together. Here is the short version of how we ended up starting our life in York...

There I was ready plant my feet in Chicago, and my husband was transfered to Detroit. After a few visits I thought - hey I can do this. So I was set for the motor city... then 2 months before we are to be married he gets transfered to ... York, PA. YORK, PA where is that? And I have never lived on the East Coast and ...Worry, worry, worry!

What I thought would be a dull experience, since York was so much smaller than Detroit and Chicago, turned out to be a wonderful experience! We made great friends, who by the way loved to cook! All said and done it was the best way for us to start our marriage!

If you are ever in YORK, you must with out a doubt check out their farmers market. It puts every other one I have EVER seen to shame. It had every baked good you can imagine (the Pennsylvania Dutch are known for that) - my personal favorite was the extra rolled pie dough sprinkled generously with cinnamon sugar. YUM!

I can't remember which local joint had the broccoli salad - I just remember it being fabulous. Sweet with onion, I think theirs had a bit of bacon too. Well we know how I feel about bacon.

This isn't even a take on the one I had, but it was the inspiration for my salad and took me back to a good ole time!

broccoli salad by ann west

1-2 heads of fresh broccoli cut near the florets

1/2 red onion - diced very fine

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

chopped fresh cilantro

lime juice

sesame oil

dash or two of soy sauce

ground pepper

1-2 tbls mayo

1 tsp sugar or honey

Cut the broccoli, add the onion and seeds. Mix the remaining ingredients until you like the flavor. It should be runny. (this isn't a real mayo heavy salad). Toss and let sit. Enjoy!

{the dish} Pizza Salad

There is a great restaurant in town that serves out of this world pizza. My favorite is the pizza with an arugula salad right on top.

I tried to recreate this wonderful pie. Some success and some improvements to be made!

Arugula Pizza Salad by ann west

pizza dough (i found some great fresh dough but any thin dough will work)

garlic

olive oil

red onion

proscuitto

fresh basil

sliced tomato - let them sit and drain a bit

arugula

lemon juice

pine nuts

parmesan cheese

red pepper flakes or hot chili oil (if you wish)

Roll out your dough. Brush the dough with olive oil. Crush your garlic into a paste and spread on the dough. If you like red pepper flakes sprinkle them on. Layer your proscuitto, onion and basil. Cook your pizza 1/2 to 3/4 of the way - (your crust should be set and slightly brown). While it is cooking toss the arugula and pine nuts and parmesan with olive oil and a little lemon juice. Top you pizza with the salad and cook until the arugula is wilted and the cheese is soft. Add some pepper and salt to taste and enjoy!