Produce with Amy

As August makes landfall, I hope you have had a lovely summer. Gardening is my passion and I spend most of my days outside. My vegetable garden had a slow start, but it was a great year for green beans and my roses loved the heat and rain that we had in June. I hate to see summer leave, but I love the changing of the seasons and look forward to the beauty of fall as well. Yet, for now I am going to make the most of sweet summertime. 

As I contemplated this month’s recipe I wanted to come up with something that was the epitome of summer. A meal that was simple and fresh and  that does not require cooking. Certain ingredients come to mind: luscious strawberries, ripe garden tomatoes, and rosey peaches are a few. However, nothing is as iconic as a slice of cold watermelon on a hot summer day. At our house we love to eat watermelon poolside and our chickens even get to enjoy slices of melon when the temperature soars. 

I freeze watermelon and blend for a refreshing drink and this summer I have been enjoying a savory addition to the juicy fruit. When I was a little girl I remember my dad salting watermelon. Therefore, it makes sense that salty feta cheese and olives make a wonderful accompaniment to melon. 

In addition to the savory side of the recipe, I added some honey. However, I did not use regular honey. I used hot honey that is infused with chilis. It has been trending all over social media and when I saw it at the supermarket (Meijer) I had to give it a try. The various ways that food bloggers have been using hot honey is to top hash brown patties with mashed avocado, a fried egg, and a drizzle of hot honey. I will be giving that a try this week!

You could cube up the watermelon and make a salad, or as I decided to do, cut the watermelon in slices and eat in wedges with the ingredients piled and drizzled on top. The wedges would make a charming presentation on a large platter for a gathering. However, if you decide to make it into a salad you could also add fresh kale, cucumber, and make a dressing out of the honey and vinegar. Prosciutto and pine nuts would also make a great addition to this recipe.  However, I kept mine simple and it was heavenly! 

Sweet & Savory Watermelon

*Watermelon
*Feta cheese
*Fresh basil
*Kalamata olives
*Balsamic vinegar
*Hot honey

I hope this recipe helps remind you to savor the last days of summer. While it is a grown-up version of a childhood favorite, watermelon always makes me nostalgic. It reminds me of running through the sprinkler as a kid and spending time at the lake with a cooler full of fruit and sandwiches. Have a great August and remember to take care of yourself and each other!