Watermelon and Tomato Salad with Feta

I have a garden going this year, which means I need recipes to accommodate my harvested crops.  I came across a curious salad called Watermelon and Tomato Salad with Feta, which was featured in O Magazine in 2009.  Oprah has credibility, so there was no anticipation of going wrong with this one.  I chose this dish to prepare simply because I like all the main ingredients and it looked pretty in the picture.

In my version, the dill was substituted with sweet basil, fresh from my back yard.  A good choice, but I have no comparison since I have never tried it with dill.  I reduced the recipe to 3-4 servings to feed only myself.  Once with dinner and the remaining for leftovers.

Although delicious, there are a couple of reasons I probably will not tackle this salad again:

1.  I could not find pitted Niçoise olives, which required me to pit them by hand.  This is more work than I am willing to do.

2.  The recipe advises to add the watermelon dressing prior to serving.  I found that this salad is too soggy as leftovers.  Therefore, all portions should be consumed when served.  I am a big leftover fan, so this does not work for me.

For those of you who wish to try the dish, the recipe is provided below.  I would only prepare this again only if for a group of 6-8, to be eaten immediately, for a summer event.

My finished Watermelon and Tomato Salad with Feta:

Recipe created by Michelle Bernstein. Easy to make and loaded with flavor, this spin on a Greek salad (watermelon with feta!) is a great side dish at any barbecue.

This recipe comes from the delicious Miami Beach Party Menu created by one of the most exciting Latin chefs working today.

Servings: Serves 6–8

Ingredients:

Red wine vinaigrette:

2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. onion powder

1/4 tsp. dried oregano

1/4 tsp. za'atar (optional; available at Middle Eastern markets)

1/3 cup olive oil

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper

Salad:

4 cups diced (1/2-inch) seeded watermelon (about a quarter of a medium-size melon)

2 large beefsteak tomatoes , each cut into 8 wedges

1 small English cucumber , peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick diagonal slices

1 cup crumbled feta cheese , preferably French (about 4 ounces)

1 cup pitted Niçoise olives

2 Tbsp. fresh dill

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:

Note: The vinaigrette can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days; if you make the salad the night before, don't add the watermelon or dressing until ready to serve.

To make vinaigrette: Put vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and za'atar (if using) in a small bowl. Whisk in olive oil with salt and pepper.

To assemble salad: Put watermelon, tomatoes, cucumber, feta, olives, and dill in a large bowl. Drizzle vinaigrette and toss gently, taking care to not break up the fruit and vegetables. If desired, add salt and pepper to taste. Divide among salad plates and serve.

Creator, Michelle Bernstein recipe picture:

Pork Fritta and the Walnut Valley Festival

This weekend was the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS. This was the first year that flooding of the Walnut Valley River caused an evacuation, and no camping was allowed on the fairgrounds. While that put a "damper" on things, we still had a great time. Stage 4.75 was just behind our campsite and featured some good acts, and some bad ones too. The Flood Stage was popular, and we all went early to set up our chairs for Truckstop Honeymoon. My sister pointed out that Katie of Truckstop Honeymoon doesn't shave her armpits. It was very obvious, since she didn't have sleeves on her dress. The whole time she played her bass, I watched for her arm to move up so I could see how long the hair was. I'm looking forward to next year when people are once again packed into the fairgrounds like sardines and people-watching opportunities are endless.

I took Pork Fritta with me, who is my Morgan's pig that I crocheted for her. Fritta had a great time and met lots of people. She took part in a few bluegrass jams - she was quite a hit! She had a little scare on Friday afternoon. Pulled pork was on the dinner menu at Banned Camp, and the terrifying view of the pan full of barbequed meat will scar her mind for quite some time. We steered clear of breakfast in the mornings, just in case there was any bacon. She got a ride with a couple guys on a 'Cruisin Cooler,' which is a cooler mounted on a scooter. I saw it on the Ellen Degeners show awhile back, and I'm thinking that I need one. There was a couple a few "doors" down from us that got married at the festival. I shielded Fritta's eyes though, because the bride's dress was a bra and a tie-died wrap skirt. She was very skinny and was sure to allow her tramp stamp tattoo show. The bra didn't look that bad, but I was embarrassed for her. The groom had a black eye, which is the second year in a row that he's had a shiner at the Walnut Valley Festival. Last year was better though, because he wore an eye patch.

We had so much fun at the festival (or carnival, as Sparkyz Problem calls it). I'm glad to be home, but I don't want to go back to normal life. It is so easy to get sucked into the free-spirited atmosphere of the festival. Sparkyz Problem and I wondered if all that goes on there is a life-style for festival goers or if they have real lives and responsibilities like the rest of the world.

Morgan's Bear

Today I finished my second bear. I used the same "Little Bear" pattern, and somehow it turned out totally different than the first bear. I think something got lost in translation from Japanese to English with the arm and leg patterns. I had to make up some of the stitches or the arms and legs would be smaller than the ears! That's why bear #2's left leg is chubbier than her right leg. Tony says this bear is an improvement, but the head should still be much larger. I'm sure he'll have alot more to say about it on his blog. The eyes are difficult - I don't have plastic eyes that are small enough, so I have to sew them on. The yarn wouldn't stay put, so I painted clear fingernail polish on them. I thought that would make them glimmer, too.


I I don't know the difference between crocheting and knitting. Connor's hat is evidently knitted. Can you tell the difference? Obviously, Connor's hat is a little small for his head, but we were just playing. I think he looks weird with a hat on, because his hairline is such a defining trait for him.

Benchmark bear

Do you remember in grade school, when on the very first day of class, the teacher had everyone take a test? You failed the test miserably, and at the end of the school year, you'd retake the same test and pass with flying colors? That's what my first amugurumi bear is all about. I made a rule that I could not redo any of it, and as you can see, my little bear has a few blemishes and disfigurations. I'm actually happy with how he turned out - he's cute in his own sorry way. I can continue making creatures and monitor my progress based on my benchmark bear!

He may look different, but I think he fits in nicely with the other stuffed animals. Obviously I need to work on facial expressions, and it would have helped if I had attached the eyes before I stuffed and sewed his head to his body. Yes, I am aware that his left arm is smaller than his right and his right leg is bigger than his left. Please feel free to comment on any irregularities. Oh yeah, and I stuffed his tummy with pinto beans so he has some weight to him. I'm hoping Rosco will play with him, because I don't think anyone else will. On to the next one!

Note to Sparkyz Problem: I already know all your derogatory comments, so don't waste your finger sweat typing them out.

Golf is an illness

My husband doesn't commit to many things, and usually if he does it is short-lived. It takes 7 times of doing something to form a habit. Problem is, how do you know when a habit crosses over to obsession? I think we're there. I'm not sure if there is medical treatment available for GO (golf obsession), and I am not hopeful that an intervention would be well received. This disease has taken over my television. It's not that I want to watch a different program - but I am sucked in to knowing golf information that I don't care to know. At all. Pop culture, golf culture. The golf channel forces me to endure old men with bad hair and ugly ties talk about Tiger Woods' legacy, how he uses metal spiked shoes, and how you can actually see on the ground where he has walked because of the holes his metal spikes make. One commentator even remarked of how he placed his foot in the steps, and he walked Tiger's walk. He took the same steps that Tiger did on his journey to the 17th hole . . . . blah, blah, blah. You would think Tiger is Jesus. Sick. GO should have a ten step program to recovery. The first step will be admitting the problem. I'll work on the other nine steps and report back. My husband will be my lab rat. Sick.