2018. The year Iowa’s spring lasted for two weeks and then had a hot summer. Because it was snowing all through April, summer snuck up on me this year. My kids are out of school for the summer, so let’s let the fun begin, shall we?
Sometimes I go through recipe idea droughts, where I don’t have any good ideas I want to post. ( like when I was newly pregnant in 2016, I had such bad food aversions, I still can’t look at some of the things I posted during that time) But right now, my garden is in full bloom, and I have so many fun recipes I want to make using summer flavors that I might be posting more often than usual.
When it is hot, I love making salads for dinner. This is the time of year when I like to eat lighter, but also, there are so many beautiful summer fruits and vegetables that I enjoy so much.
Take everything on this summer salad for example. Fresh garden lettuce, fresh garden basil, juicy red strawberries, soft fresh mozzarella cheese and a pure sweet balsamic vinegar. This salad could be a meal, but you don’t feel like your just eating salad when you have it.
I bought this to a friends house last weekend, this friend made the world’s best pork chops, and along with this salad, we ate a feast.
I have been into making my own balsamic vinegarette lately. It is naturally sweet and it is all I need on my salad. No need to overdress this salad in dressing. This is light, yet totally satisfying.
Strawberry Caprese Salad
Ingredients
- 6 cups lettuce
- 1 pound chopped strawberries
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella
- 10 basil leaves
balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 dash pepper
Instructions
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Wash lettuce and let dry. Wash strawberries and chop. Wash fresh basil and chop.
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On a platter or in a salad bowl, arrange lettuce with the basil and strawberries on top.
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cut mozzarella cheese into cubes and arrange on top of the salad
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make the balsamic vinegar and evenly drizzle on top of the salad
Planting lettuce has been my favorite thing this summer so far, and I can’t wait for more summer goodies!