Do you tend to eat less in the summer?
I definitely do...although "less" is sometimes still too much!
I'm happy to say that I've been really, really good the last couple of weeks,
and lost two pounds.
I was even pretty disciplined over this holiday weekend...
keeping my portions small, and having no more than a bite of dessert.
Just three more "ell-bees" to go!
The trick will be keeping it off over the next several weeks,
with lots of food challenges ahead.
We've got dinners with friends, birthday parties, and a wedding.
Temptations everywhere!
Temptations everywhere!
But...I'm feeling motivated, because additional weight
is not the souvenir I want to come home with from vacation.
Last night for dinner, we used up leftovers from the weekend's barbeque...
steak, potatoes, cole slaw, tossed salad.
Because I'd be forgoing the potatoes and the creamy cole slaw,
I wanted to make another side dish that I'd actually enjoy eating.
And you know me...it had to be e.a.s.y.
The time was ripe -- and so was my cantaloupe --
to make a salad that my cousin had brought on Mother's Day...
a cantaloupe and tomato salad with mint.
a cantaloupe and tomato salad with mint.
Although her salad was delicious,
I wanted to change mine up a bit by adding a different dressing.
I wanted to change mine up a bit by adding a different dressing.
I found this recipe at Relish.com, and modified it a bit to suit my own taste.
It is SO good, and SO refreshing.
I hereby declare that it will be my go-to side dish of Summer 2015!
I hereby declare that it will be my go-to side dish of Summer 2015!
If you make this, there is one thing you must promise me.
You MUST use a sweet, ripe cantaloupe.
Repeat after me:
Sweet. Cantaloupe. Only.
If you cut open a cantaloupe and it's not sweet, don't make the salad.
Seriously.
You'll be disappointed.
The dressing recipe is enough for two batches of this salad.
Feel free to cut it in half, or reserve half for another use.
I made the full recipe,
and now I have home-made dressing for the rest of the week.
I suggest that you make it a couple of hours before serving,
and let it sit out at room temperature,
so that the cantaloupe picks up some of the mint flavor,
and the salad has time to marinate.
But, it's fine if you make it right before you serve it, too.
and the salad has time to marinate.
But, it's fine if you make it right before you serve it, too.
Cantaloupe-Tomato Salad With Mint, and White Balsamic Vinaigrette
3 cups cantaloupe, cut into small chunks (about 3/4 of a medium cantaloupe)
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
1/2 cup fresh mint, chopped
For vinaigrette (Makes enough for 2 batches of salad):
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Combine cantaloupe, tomatoes and mint.
Whisk oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
Add *half* of the dressing to salad; toss well.
Reserve remaining dressing for a second batch, or another use.
I was happy that I ended the holiday weekend with another healthy meal
under my soon-to-be one-notch-smaller belt.
under my soon-to-be one-notch-smaller belt.
Uh, but then, I blew it.
I couldn't resist a s'more.
I just had one...and used dark chocolate, so it could have been worse.
I just had one...and used dark chocolate, so it could have been worse.
 |
| Junior Goo Shoes and his s'more. |
 |
| Toasting marshmallows on a gas grill campfire just isn't the same. |
I'll be back on the diet wagon again, tomorrow,
and I'm promising myself I won't stray n'more.
Good thing I have s'more Cantaloupe-Tomato Salad in the fridge.
Linking With:
Best of The Weekend
Gorgeous salad! I am so bad at choosing cantaloupes that I will probably mess it up but I'll try it anyways! I am with you! We went out to eat all weekend and I tried so hard to be good. Last night I had grilled salmon with grilled veggies, no bread, unsweetended iced tea. And then my husband built a fire and we had s'mores. I had to have one! I had a few marshmallows toasted by themselves too....they are fat free you know!
ReplyDeleteI love tomatoes and I love cantaloupe but have never put them together, I will now. And I have two pots of mint growing, one lemon and one mojito. I think I'm set. And your dressing is my favorite kind, just never tried it on cantaloupe before. My husband's going to love this too, Amy. Have fun on vacation!
ReplyDeleteYou amaze me with your recipes. This looks so good. I can't eat tomatoes because of some inflammatory issues but oh-this calls my name. What a fun combination. I bet it tastes delicious. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty salad, but I'll be honest, I doubt I would make that. I love sweet cantaloupe but not cherry tomatoes. I don't think I would like the combination of the two either. I'm one of those people that doesn't like mayo on fruit or salt on fruit. I like sweet fruit with other sweet things. I know, I'm weird. But at least I'm honest! Now..........on the other hand...........I love smores! I could eat those any time. Whoever came up with that combo is pretty creative!
ReplyDeleteIt looks both yummy and pretty, perfect for summer... whenever tis happens here... It's all foggy this morning!
ReplyDeleteI never would have thought of this combo, but your pictures are gorgeous, and it looks wonderful. Of course, the s'mores do too! :)
ReplyDeleteOh my that looks good Amy! I am going to put cantaloupe on my grocery list right now. I've got the mint growing in my herb garden and have some cherry tomatoes on hand - yay!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats on the 2 lbs. - good for you!!!
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ReplyDeleteThis is a fruit combination I have not thought to try - and I bet it would taste as good as it looks. SO pretty! Congratulations on your weight loss - and thank you for posting this! I especially like your suggestion of only making it if the cantaloupe is right. Good advice! Visiting from the Idea Box Linkup.
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