Any salad that gives me an excuse to crack open a bottle of bubbly has this mommy at "hello." That, and the fact that you can get most all of these ingredients at your local farmers market pretty much rocks. This salad goes with anything you can throw on the grill so get in touch with your inner firecracker and toast to the dog days of summer as you whip this up for the family BBQ.

Fireworks Salad (Serves 10)

Ingredients
½ seedless watermelon (red or yellow)
¼ c. champagne or white vinegar
2 tbsp. sweet wine (optional)
4 heirloom tomatoes
Small bunch arugula or watercress, washed and trimmed
¼ c. thinly sliced scallions
¼ c. chopped basil (not packed)
½ c. olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 c. feta cheese, crumbled

1. Remove rind from watermelon. Dice fruit into ¼- inch pieces and place in a large bowl.

2. Add vinegar and wine (if using) and marinate for ten minutes.

3. Meanwhile, dice tomatoes into ¼-inch pieces and set aside. Chop arugula into bite-size pieces.

5. Add tomatoes, arugula, scallions, basil, olive oil, salt and pepper to watermelon and toss to combine. Adjust seasoning as necessary. Arrange salad on a plate and top with crumbled feta.

Serve and enjoy the fruits of your local farmer’s labor.


Try more seasonal recipes at Garden at the Cellar, gardenatthecellar.com