Thursdays Are For Cooking….

Bell peppers

….unless it’s a hot, humid day in the summer, and that’s when you want something simple, cold and tasty.

So, here is a simple fruit salad recipe, and none of the ingredients are cast in stone. You can use what you like and avoid what you don’t like. It’s just a starter, that’s all. It’s something my paternal Grandma used to make when we went to visit her.

Apples – peel and cut into quarters, then chop a bit

Grapes – wash and add to salad bowl; any flavor grapes will do, but to add a little color, use green grapes, red grapes and if available, black grapes

Celery – washed, cut stalks into slices about ¼ inch thick

Cucumber – peel it, cut into four quarters and thence into slices about ¼ inch thick

Zucchini – wash, cut off the ends and cut up the same as cucumber

Bell peppers – use the color peppers because they are the ripe version of green peppers and are quite sweet by the time they turn to these wonderful colors

Melon – watermelon is the wrong texture for this: use honeydew (green rind and flesh) or cantaloup instead, sparingly; wash, cut melon flesh out of the rind, cut into smaller pieces

Mix all these pieces of fruit and veggies together, cover with clear wrap, and refrigerate for several hours. Overnight is good, but pour off the juice before serving the next day. Also, keeping the bowl in a tray full of cracked ice will keep the fruit fresh.

Put out the various breads on plates, sliced meats like ham and roast beef on their own plates, and condiments on a tray. Yes, potato ships and corn chips and taco chips are fine for this, too.

Keep the lettuce and tomato slices separate so that the tomatoes won’t bleed onto your lettuce.

Make sure there is plenty of ice for tea and sodas and for keeping yourselves cool and happy.

This does well on a hot, humid summer day, with sliced had and sliced leftover roast beef. It is easy to fix, only needs to be kept chilled, and there is easy clean-up afterwards.

And have a great, if humid, afternoon.

Category: Cooking