Monday, May 30, 2011

Lake House Salad with Italian Balsamic Vinaigrette


Coppertone.   Burning coals.   Oreo cookies.

Smells like Memorial Day Weekend.


Lathered in lotions to kick start our summer tans, decked out in neon bathing suits, reading the latest issue of Glamour.    If I'm honest, throw in some big hair and way too long fingernails.   True children of the 80s.

First weekend of summer.


At the lake in New Hampshire, hanging out at the kitchen counter.  Feet freshly rinsed clean from sand.   Wrapped in towels to keep from soaking the furniture.

With the Indy 500 whizzing by in the background, we dangle our feet from stools and take breaks from the sun.    Hot dogs with mustard straight from the grill.    Salads doused in Italian dressing.   Oreos for dessert.   Oreos for a snack.   Oreos... just because we could.


Sweatshirts in the evening.   Cool lake air.   Baseball with our neighbors.  Rummy on the porch.   Movies on the couch.    Sleeping like little babies.

(These days, it's a little less about the oreos and a little more about the salads and the sunscreen.)   

What is it about holidays that bring back memories from our childhood?   What smells do you equate with summer? 


Lake House Salad
serves 6 - 8


Ingredients
Head of lettuce, rinsed, rough chopped
2 cups baby spinach
1 large tomato, chopped
1 cup snow peas, chopped
6 - 8 mushrooms, sliced
1/4 large red onion, diced
1/2 cucumber, chopped

Preparation
Add everything to a large bowl and mix.   Toss with vinaigrette when ready to serve.

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Italian Balsamic Vinaigrette


Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 teaspoons honey
salt and pepper to taste

Preparation
Add all ingredients to small bowl and whisk until combined.   Salt and pepper to taste.   Serve with Summer Salad or any other salad that you prefer!

7 comments:

  1. oh yum. & love the lighthouse photo :)

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  2. great pics! all of your memories are making me homesick for Muskoka. Summer to me means the smell of freshly mowed grass, popsicles, jumping off the dock for a dip, hotdogs, and reading on the deck while lathered in sunscreen. ahhh.... good times :)

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  3. Yum!! That salad looks good.
    Summer smells...I think we all have them. I grew up going to the cabin by the lake with my grandparents every summer. My grandma always put noxema cream on me after sun exposure (sunscreen before too) but that noxema smell always makes me think of being at the lake. :-)

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  4. This looks delicious, I can't wait to make it! The writing makes me so happy for summer. You really have a wonderful and distinct voice in you're writing. It is exactly what all the those panelists at the conference told us to strive for, and you're already there. Love reading your posts! Hope to see you tomorrow (will write you on FB with specifics).

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  5. "Your writing" not "you're" - argh. :)

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  6. Your photos and blog are amazing!
    The salad looks absolutely delicious!

    So glad I found you through the Etsy Blog Team!
    I am your newest blog follower. :)
    Looking forward to seeing your upcoming posts!

    I welcome you to check out my art blog, too!

    Best,
    Mary C. Nasser
    http://www.marycnasser.com/blog.html

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  7. Thanks for all of your comments... I'm up in NH today and it feels like I never left!

    Jes - So great to see you the other day! Hope the rest of your trip was successful! Will touch base soon!

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Thanks so much for your comments! I love hearing from you and read each and every one!