Summer Salad and A Cool Cocktail

Summer begins my unending obsession with cool salads and even cooler cocktails.  These fit the bill on all accounts.  The sweet and savory combination of the salad is so refreshing and exactly what I want in this season of melon and luscious ripe tomatoes.  

~Summer Salad~ 

Heirloom Tomatoes, Watermelon, Grilled Peaches, and Pesto Vinaigrette

Serves 4

2 cups watermelon cut into chunks

2 large Heirloom Tomatoes, sliced into wedges

4 large peaches, skin on, pitted and cut into eighths

2 large handfuls of Arugula (or other bitter or spicy fresh greens)

6-10 leaves of fresh basil, julienned

1 small shallot, minced

Pesto Vinaigrette*

Combine watermelon and tomatoes into a large salad bowl.  Salt and pepper to taste and set aside.  Place peaches, flesh side down, on a hot grill.  Grill for 2 minutes, or until grill marks appear and peaches begin to soften and smell highly fragrant.  Remove from grill, cool on countertop or in fridge.  Mix with watermelon and tomatoes.

Toss arugula and fresh basil with 1/4 cup pesto vinaigrette.  Divide greens among four salad plates.  Top with a large spoonful of fruit mixture.  Drizzle with an additional small amount of pesto vinaigrette and garnish with some shallots before serving.

*Pesto Vinaigrette

1/4 cup pesto

1/4 cup champagne vinegar

1/3 cup good olive oil

1/4-1/3 cup cold water

Salt and Pepper to taste

With an emulsion blender, combine the pesto and vinegar in a container.  With the blender running, slowly add the olive oil in a thin stream until emulsified.  Keep the blender running and add water a tablespoon at a time until the dressing has a pourable and thin consistency.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Dressing will keep for 3-5 days in the fridge with a film of plastic wrap directly on the dressing to prevent air from discoloring the basil.

Paloma Cocktail

2 ounces grapefruit juice

1.5 ounces good silver tequila

1/2 ounce Cointreau (optional)

1/2 ounce fresh lime juice

1/2-1 ounce Tonic Water 

Ice

Place Ice, and first four ingredients in cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for 20 seconds.  Pour contents over ice, top with tonic water and stir.  Garnish with fresh mint and lime wedge.  Be prepared to make many, many more.

I'd love to hear your favorite summer cocktails!  Drop me a line and share a recipe!  

Cheers!