This simple summer cucumber and tomato salad is a snap to make and with gardens exploding all across the country, you may find three of the main ingredients already right outside your back door.
The great thing about this summer classic is that you can personalize it to your family’s liking. Just add more or less of the ingredients you love or don’t love. Easy peasy! Much like the rest of the country, grilling out is a staple during the summer months around the hollow.
SUMMERTIME MEMORIES
Summer time is for celebrating and connecting with friends and family in the great outdoors. It’s for making memories as we explore and discover God’s creation up close and personal.
Some of my fondest childhood memories are of our family packing up the station wagon and heading towards the country to camp for a week at the lake. Nothing like fishing and hiking with my dad, the cousins, my brothers and my sister. Who needs concrete pools when you have access to a beautiful lake surrounded by trees and hills?
After a fun day of outdoor adventures, it was always a treat to come back to camp to enjoy the delicious, made from scratch meals that my mother and grandmother so lovingly prepared. It was their love language and now it is mine! (smile)
We always had fresh watermelon and fried fish with a side of tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. Yum yum! It was so good! Then we would roast marshmallows by the bonfire and try to scare each other with scary stories after the sun went down. Good times!
In our farmhouse, the side dishes we prepare are just as important as the main dish. I love colorful food and presentation always gets a lot of ooos and ahhhs at our dinner table. (smile) Our older children enjoy baking and cooking new recipes as much as I do, these days.
Our kitchen never lets us down when it comes to cranking out fresh and delicious creations all year long.
FRESH IS BEST
The fresher the ingredients, the tastier this side salad will be, in my opinion.
Our tomatoes are right on time! And this year, I hope to have a large enough yield to be able to can some of the harvest for the winter.
I love having a well stocked pantry for whatever comes our way.
If you’re new to canning, you can read about my beginner canning tips here. Or if budget-friendly ways to update your pantry is something you’re looking for, you may enjoy reading about our DiY pantry makeover here.
Love the garden “hod” my husband made me! It makes harvesting and rinsing our veggies so much easier. Future post on how he made it, coming soon.
**This post may contain affiliate links. Please see full affiliate disclosure here
SUPPLIES AND TOOLS YOU WILL NEED
- sharp knife
- vegetable peeler (we have one similar to this here)
- silicone spatula
- measuring spoons
- mixing bowl
HOW TO MAKE SIMPLE SUMMER CUCUMBER AND TOMATO SALAD
Recipe Box: Simple Summer Cucumber and Tomato Salad
This simple summer salad is a snap to make and with gardens exploding all across the country, you may find three of the main ingredients already right outside your back door.
Ingredients
- 2 firm large vine tomatoes
- 1 English cucumber
- 1/4 chopped red onion
- 1/2 cup of Kalamata olives
- 3-4 T of Kalamata brine
- 2-3 TBS Apple cider vinegar
- 1T Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- Coarse sea salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
- 1/4 to 1/2 c Feta cheese (crumble)
- Handful of freshly chopped parsley or 1T of dried parsley
Instructions
1. Wash veggies well, but do not soak.
2. Chop tomatoes and cucumber into quarters or bite sized pieces.
3. Chop onions finely, but not minced.
4. Place chopped veggies in mixing bowl.
5. Add Kalamata olives.
6. Add Kalamata brine.
7. Add apple cider vinegar.
8. Sprinkle herbs and spices.
9. Gently mix with spatula.
10. Sprinkle feta on top.
11. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley or dried parsley.
Notes
Place salad in refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to marinade, before serving.
PIN IT FOR LATER:
This summer classic will definitely be served this Independence Day weekend at our farmhouse table. We have much to be thankful for living in this beautiful land of the free, because of the brave.
Have a blessed and safe Fourth of July!
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