There is nothing better than homegrown veggies in the summer. I have always grown up with a garden in my backyard and now that I'm an "adult", I keep a small container garden in my backyard. Mind you, it looks nothing like my parents garden because I didn't adopt their green thumb for sure. My motto is if I can at least get one veggie off a plant I will call it a success.
There are all types of recipes out there that use the often overabundance of tomatoes and cucumbers in the summer. My all-time favorite and super simple recipe is a marinated cucumber, onion, and tomato salad. It's cool, refreshing mixture is perfect for those hot summer nights when you just don't feel like standing in a hot kitchen. If your anything like me, I tend to stick to cooler recipes that require minimal heat and effort. There are several different ways to make this salad, but I was always say the simpler the ingredients the better, which is why I use Italian dressing for the marinade.
Marinated Cucumber, Onion, and Tomato Salad
1/4 cup of Italian Dressing of your choice (I prefer Olive Garden's dressing)
1 cucumber, sliced
2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges
1 small red or sweet Vidalia onion, cut into thin strips
Salt and pepper, to taste
In a medium bowl, combine all the vegetables together. Add dressing and toss to coat.
This salad can be made ahead of time and taste better the longer it gets to sit. I usually mix it all up when I get home and let it sit for at least 2-3 hours to let all the flavors marinate together, so by the time dinner rolls around it's ready to devour!
*If you like you can add mozzarella cheese pearls for a creamy component.
-Ashleigh Edwards
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