Simple & Delicious

I mentioned awhile ago that I'm obsessed with that 'Proper Southern Lady' lifestyle and it's been so hot lately that all I want to eat are fresh veggies and things chilled from the fridge. I decided to stretch my creativity outside of the sewing room and into the kitchen to create a delicious medley of fresh vegetable concoctions that are fit for a southern belle.
Of course I don't have the budget to just run out to the store and by any ingredients so I improvised with what was available.
My surrogate aunt Maggie brought me 3 fresh picked tomatoes, a cucumber and one small jalapeno pepper. Here are some of the things I made.

Lauren's Fancy Cucumber & Tomato Salad:

Ingredients:

1 large tomato
1 large cucumber
1 clove of garlic*
1 tbs Olive oil
2 tbs Apple cider vinegar
Fresh cracked pepper to taste
Kosher (or sea) salt to taste (I cannot stress the importance of kosher or sea salt!!)
1 pinch of regular table sugar

Cube the tomato, slice the cucumber and garlic very thin then combine all ingredients in a sealed container - shake it up then let sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour (this allows the flavors to do their thing). Enjoy! If you have it (which I didn't) a little bit of fresh cilantro cut on top just before serving would really enhance the flavor.

*Every recipe I looked at asked for a green or red onion plus a number of other things that I just didn't have. I decided to wing-it and throw in the clove of garlic and man was it delicious!!

Lauren's Fancy Bruchetta:

Ingredients:

1 large tomato
1 jalapeno pepper*
Fresh cracked pepper to taste
Kosher (or sea) salt to taste
Garlic powder to taste

Cube tomato and thinly slice jalapeno then combine all ingredients in a sealed container. Shake up gently then allow mixture to sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Enjoy over toasted bread, on rye crackers (the way I like it), or just right out of the bowl. Also a little thinly sliced mozzarella cheese really compliments the meal.
*You may need to de-seed the jalapeno pepper. I left my seeds in because I like it spicy! For mild remove all seeds, for medium remove about half of the seeds.


All these delicious and healthy treats taste wonderful with a tall glass of iced tea and a bowl of fresh cherries. Yes please!