If April Showers Bring May Flowers….Then What Do May Flowers Bring?

And no…the answer is not pilgrims!
 I'm just not sure what May brings us yet except for the promise of sunshine!  And watermelon!

And warm weather…and in the infamous words of John Archibald…"be careful what you wish for!"
(Oh, we won't even begin to get into that!)
 However…what I will get into is that it's May 1st and it's time for wonderfully warm days and longer evenings on the patio…cooking out…and spending more time together. Because of that I finally made my favorite salad that only comes around in this glorious warm weather season!
 I was reminded of this salad last night when we took my dear friend Robin out for her birthday and we shared a similar salad at Foodbar! 

Picture it….watermelon, goat cheese, balsamic pearls, and EVOO…it was definitely "all that and a bag of chips" as my kids always said!

We had such a great time celebrating Robin! And this restaurant…it's quickly become the hot spot..I think we knew someone at each and every table! And it was fun!

 Loved the fact that no matter how long it has been between the times we spend together Robin and I can always just pick right back up like we never left off! 

And sometimes…that is just what the doctor ordered! It did my heart a world of good!

Hope you will try my version of this yummy salad! I found this recipe in Southern Living magazine several years ago and just tweaked it a little bit! I promise…it's divine!

Enjoy!

Watermelon Salad With Leafy Greens and Goat Cheese

(and a pepper jelly vinaigrette dressing)

Salad Ingredients:

Salad Greens of your choice

cubed watermelon

toasted or candied pecans

goat cheese crumbled or blue cheese crumbled

Dressing

1/4 Cup red pepper jelly

1/4 Cup rice wine vinegar

1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 Tablespoon grated onion

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 Cup canola oil

whisk all ingredients together except for the oil. Blend oil in slowly. Put in a jar and shake well and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Toss all salad ingredients together with the dressing. 

'Summertime….And The Livin Is Easy'

We all know the words to the famous song from 'Porgy and Bess' and sung from the "infamous" Ella Fitzgerald. We've probably thought them in our heads countless times! So, when the heat soars in Alabama and when my kids are all gathered at our house to swim on any given Saturday…we bring out that glorious fruit called watermelon to celebrate summer…and easy living! 

I'm not quite sure when I realized just how much my family loves watermelon but I do believe it was one of the first times that I ever watched Layton devour it! 

I will never forget it! And from that was born our love for "Watermelon Salad!" 

You really MUST try it! 

Watermelon, Gorgonzola Salad with Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette Dressing

1 head red leaf lettuce or 1 box Baby Spring Mix lettuce

3/4 C chopped pecans

1 Cup gorgonzola cheese, crumbled

4 Cups seeded and cubed watermelon

Dressing

1/4 Cup red pepper jelly

1/4 Cup rice wine vinegar

1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 Tablespoon grated onion

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 C canola oil

Toss the salad ingredients together in a bowl or place on individual serving plates. Whisk the first 6 dressing ingredients together and slowly whisk in oil until well blended. 

Top the salad with the dressing. 

If this doesn't make you love watermelon ( and bananas! ) then I don't know what will!

Also, the first thing that I turn to when my House Beautiful Magazine comes each month is that glorious 2 page section on the recipe they feature! This month's issue has the most gorgeous looking salad in it and I can't wait to try it! I will do my best to report back on it! There is nothing better than Heirloom tomatoes, peaches and burrata mozzarella! 

Let me know if you try it first!