Back To School Watermelon Salad

Denise Gianatasio is a Northport Village resident, freelance writer and licensed agent at Signature Premier Properties in Northport. Please feel free to contact her for any advice you may need at dishinwithdenise@yahoo.com.

    This newly tried salad is the coolest and most quenching during warm days. Now in season, watermelon among other fruits, plays a beneficial role in keeping our bodies healthy and functioning. Look for the really lush green ones with a good spherical shape—these are full of nutrients and help quench your thirst.                 
    A big bowl of watermelon chunks combined with feta cheese, fresh mint leaves and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar is a great side to any grill meal or for an easy Back to School dinner. You’ll want to use a good Modena Balsamic vinegar—traditional heavier vinegar that is aged.
    Modena is the region in Italy where these grapes are obtained from and cooked slowly on open fires in open vessels for a long time, thus reducing their volume to about 1/3 of the initial volume. Then, aged for 12 or more years, their high density has somewhat of a syrup consistency.
    Chefs around the world today are finding their use wonderful for enhancing dishes from appetizers to desserts. You can buy this vinegar in most supermarkets, Italian or gourmet specialty stores and at Costco.  A special thanks to my friend, Jen, who had a group of ladies for dinner on National Girlfriends Day in August, and served this salad along with delicious fried chicken.
    Enjoy the remaining summer days and Keep your COOL!  XO Denise 
    
WATERMELON Salad 
Ripe seedless watermelon diced into chunks (refrigerate until ready to dress)
Fresh mint leaves 
Balsamic vinegar drizzled to taste
Fresh black pepper
1-2 packages of crumpled feta cheese

Toss and taste the delicious combination of these Summertime flavors!