Ah, Summer...And Loads of Watermelon...

So summer. Yeah. It is hotter than heck, the humidity might drown you, your body never really cools down, there is always sweat dripping from somewhere, and you constantly itch from the bleeping mosquitoes...And I am loving it (except for the bleeping mosquitoes). As uncomfortable as it can feel, I find myself reveling in the feeling of heat after having snow in May. I actually have plants growing (and growing well) on my deck, my arms and legs are quite bronzed from the sun (although the tan line from my running shorts and tanks is pretty humorous...I could walk down the street naked and look like I am just wearing white shorts and a tank...but that will never happen...you're welcome...), and I am coming to appreciate the cool after the 6 month winter we had (thankful for an air conditioned bedroom to sleep in).

I even got up North to where my childhood summers were spent. I sat on the deck overlooking the lake, cooked in the kitchen where I used to mix Tang as a kid, sat on the dock that I used to jump off of and swim until I was forced inside for bed, I drove the pontoon to the other side of the lake and jumped in the water with my sister like we had loved to do between sessions of laying out in the sun and reading our summer mystery novels (Trixie Belden books were always my favorite). This time was different though. Kyle got to see "my up north" for the first time and I got to see it one last time before our family's property was sold. All but one of my cousins were able to make it and it was just like we were little, except we were the adults, the parents were grandparents, and the grandparents were great grandparents. It was a fun shift of times to be a part of. Bittersweet and beautiful.
There was a big family reunion (close to 100 people at my great-aunt and uncle's house on a different lake) and it was marvelous. So much family and so much love.

Best (and most hilariously entertaining) Family Ever.

Aside from trips to the lake, this summer has been full of summery food. Birthday cookouts, mixers with friends and new people, and grilling simply for the sake of not heating up an appliance in the already hot kitchen. One thing that I have been making for a lot of these cookouts is a watermelon salad. Now, don't get me wrong. I like watermelon, but I don't need it. I'm not one of those people who claim that watermelon is a necessary part of summer. Sure, I'll have a bite if it is there and I'll enjoy it, but that's all I really need. I don't go looking for it.

And then I found a watermelon in my fridge. It was left here after a grill out we had. "Sorry, watermelon", I thought. "You found yourself in the wrong fridge. I like you and all, but I'm just not that into you..."

And then, given my guilty nature, I felt bad. I looked for an appealing recipe for watermelon salad, found one, made it, and spruced it up. And enjoyed it. And have even PURCHASED a couple of watermelons since then to make it again. So I want to thank that watermelon for risking being a summery addition to a compost heap to reveal to me the wonders of what watermelon can become.

This was before I added the cucumber in a pretty ring around the outside of the bowl.

Watermelon Salad

8-10c Cubed Waternelon

1/2c - 3/4c Crumbled Feta

1-2TB Chopped Fresh Basil

1 Cucumber, peeled, halved, and sliced into thin half-circles

Mix it all up. Be careful with the watermelon because the more you handle it, the more it juices out and then you get a soupy mess in the bowl. It is best served right away the day it is made, but it can be kept for a day or two; drain off the juices in the bottom of the bowl before re-serving.

Notice that the amounts are quite variable. Make it to taste! You like basil? Add more. Not a feta fan? Use less. Most importantly, enjoy.

Just because I love how my variegated basil looks...