Watermelon Salad

Memorial Day is in just a few short days! The official start of summer: BBQ's, lazy days at the beach,  fun in the sun, out door festivals and music concerts, and delicious summer fruits like peaches, plums and watermelon!

Nothing puts in summer mood more than a slice of watermelon. Red, sweet, and so juicy-watermelon is refreshing and so good for you. It's packed with some of the most important antioxidants in nature: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and lycopene.  Slice it up often and enjoy.

Now that you know how good it is for you:  here is a delicious and different recipe for watermelon salad.  It's perfect to serve or bring to your Memorial Day BBQ.

This recipe was on the California Olive Ranch website.  I adjusted it slightly (converting metric measurements to more familiar US measurements) and for us Vegans  in the group, I have included a recipe for Vegan feta to replace the cheese called for in this dish. (see below).

Ingredients:

• 1 small red onion
• 2-4 limes, depending on juiciness
• 3lbs sweet, ripe watermelon
• 1 cup feta cheese or Mock Feta Cheese Recipe
• Bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley
• Bunch fresh mint, chopped
• 3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup pitted black olives
• Black pepper

Serves: 8

1. Peel and halve the red onion and cut into very fine half-moons and put in a small bowl to steep with the lime juice, to bring out the transparent pinkness in the onions and diminish their rasp. Two limes' worth should do it, but you can find the fruits disappointingly dried up and barren when you cut them in half, in which case add more.
2. Remove the rind and pips from the watermelon, and cut into approximately 1.5 inch triangular chunks, if that makes sense (math is not my strong point). Cut the feta into similar sized pieces and put them both into a large, wide shallow bowl. Tear off sprigs of parsley so that it is used like a salad leaf, rather than a garnish, and add to the bowl along with the chopped mint.
3. Pour the onions, along with their pink juices over the salad in the bowl, add the oil and olives, then using your hands toss the salad very gently so that the feta and melon don't lose their shape. Add a good grinding of black pepper and taste to see whether the dressing needs more lime.

Refreshing. Delicious. Healthy. Cynfully Good.......