In case you weren’t aware, here on the Island (and in Western Canada in general) we have been living under a “heat dome” – a period of extreme heat. Extreme for just about anywhere…and especially deadly for this temperate climate, where almost nobody is prepared to deal with temperatures like these. I was relatively lucky…it only got to 37C (but felt like 42C) where I live, at the peak of the heat event. Still – without air conditioning and only a tower fan – I struggled to find relief. You can read more about it here.
As you can imagine, not much cooking was done…or if I did venture into the kitchen, it was at 6 am (when it was a relatively “cool” 26C) to prepare some food to get me through the day. Salads were featured, and here is one of my favourites – I don’t have a name for it other than “watermelon salad”. There is something about the combination of the peppery, nutty arugula with the sweet watermelon and the salty feta, accented by the acidic glaze…I could eat this salad all day.
I don’t really have a recipe for it either, but here goes:
- Put cubed seedless watermelon in a salad bowl
- Add arugula, as much as you want
- Throw in some crumbled feta cheese (I used goat feta, in this picture)
- Drizzle with balsamic glaze
- Enjoy!
Just before the heat dome arrived I decided I would have a signature cocktail for this season, at Chez Badass. No, I did not drink it during the extreme heat. Imbibing alcohol during extreme heat – likewise mixing alcohol with extreme cold – is a terrible idea. But for the days of the summer when temperatures are more moderate, I would like to offer you this:
It’s like drinking unicorn tears…over ice!
Does anyone actually need a recipe for a gin and tonic? In case you do:
- Pour 1 ounce of pink gin over ice into your glass
- Top off with tonic water
- Add pathetic lime slice (highly optional)
- Please sip responsibly, and never in extreme temperature conditions!
The weather has since cooled off, thankfully. And cocktail hour is once again an option at my house. Also, cooking with heat. And the wearing of clothing that hasn’t been drenched in cold water and wrung out, first.
And, as always: please feel free to let my co-host Donna or myself know what’s on your plate at your house, in the Comments of either Donna’s or my post (or both, if you are so inclined!). Donna has done some amazing research on 4 ways to put the same dish on your plate this month! Remember: if you decide to blog or Facebook or Instagram about it, to use the tag #whatsonyourplateblogchallenge so we can find you out on ye olde interwebbs!
Rock on,
The WB
Oh that gin and tonic looks delightful! We are freezing down here so I’ll send you some of our winter weather to help cool you down. Your weather and severe temperatures even made our news.
Wow! Yes, it was quite severe. Please send the mainland some cool weather, and some rain too if you have it. Thankfully the island is doing better. Days can be hot but nights are blessedly cool again. Thanks, Debbie 💕
G&T and watermelon salad sound just right for summer.
👍
I thought you might approve 😉. Thanks, Rivergirl 💕
Watermelon salad is a perfect food for a hot summer day. Great choice! … although I’ll take my drink with vodka please … pink or otherwise 😉
Oh, is pink vodka a thing?!?!? *Grabs purse and runs out the door* 🤣 Thanks pal 💕
If you find pink Grey Goose, let me know!!
You got it! 😁
Of course, I had to go the Mr. Googles. Not Grey Goose but: New Amsterdam Pink Whitney Vodka.
What?!?!!? Do you know how many liquor stores are within a 5 mile radius of me? And that I will probably go to all of them in search of this very thing?!?! Thanks for nothing, Janis 😤😉🤣
Huh. You know I’m going to have to find it and try it. Purely for research purposes.
Watermelon, arugula, and feta cheese is a wonderful combination for summer. Take care of yourself in that crazy heat …. Almost forgot – the drink looks refreshing! Well done, Deb!
Thank you, Frank! 💕
I’d eat that salad if someone else made it for me. Looks great. And I love the humor of pink gin in a bottle with a pink elephant. I’ll bet people buy it over other brands for that reason alone. I’ve never had a gin and tonic.
Well, the bottle certainly sold me…also it was the only bottle of pink gin available at the little liquor store near me 🤣. I used to hate gin…thought it tasted and smelled like drinking cologne. Now I love me a G&T. Yeah…I don’t know who I am anymore 😜. Thanks, Jean 💕
Watermelon has become the go to side for just about every meal this summer. Always refreshing and delish. Stay cool. Here’s my entry: https://antoinettetrugliomartin.com/2021/07/07/summer-basil-into-essential-pesto/
Yes! Oh, a pesto recipe!!! Double yes!!! 😍 Thank you, Antoinette 💕
If I may substitute vodka for the gin, then this meal is perfect summer fare. Looks cool and delicious.
You certainly may! Vodka and tonic makes for such a lovely, refreshing cocktail as well. Thanks, Ally 💕
We’ve had some hot spells here Deb, nothing like you’re getting. It’s cooler today. Frequent rain so the tomatoes are very happy. It’s spaghetti and meat sauce for us tonight. Guess we’ll have an ice cream cone for dessert.
Leslie xoxo
Yum, yum! Send us some rain please!!! Thanks, Leslie 💕
It’s on its way….
I’ve never had a watermelon salad, but I like all the ingredients in yours.
42C is HOT!! Hotter than we’ve been in the high desert this week, but we’re supposed to be hitting 100 and 102 later this week. I’ll be wanting something cool to dip into as well.
Is that Dragonfly an ice cube or your glass decoration? I love it!
The dragonfly is on the glass. I love these glasses. They are some fancy-schmancy French glasses that are hard to come by, in North America…unless you find a shop that imports French goods. They also come decorated with bee and fleur-de-lis designs. Stay cool, Deborah! Thanks 💕
I love watermelon in the heat! Since they started to offer seedless, our local grocery carries to most tasteless pink version ever. Fortunately our corn shed has opened and they carry real watermelon!
So hard to pick a good tasting chunk of watermelon…for me, anyways. I usually go for the richest colour but even then I have been fooled. Thanks, Kate 💕
I have knocked on them, smelled them, lifted for weight, nothing works.
It’s a roll of the dice, every darn time! 🤞
Hi Deb your watermelon salad and pink gin screams Summer and I know you’ve been having a heat wave over on VI. I actually have never tried Watermelon in a salad although I’ve seen recipes for it. I believe it would be very refreshing though on a hot day and your photo looks very tempting. Thanks for hosting Whats on your Plate? with Donna. This month my contribution is Date & Walnut Bread. Have a great July and stay cool!
Date and walnut bread sounds heavenly! Thanks Sue 💕
Watermelon salad and a signature cocktail is the perfect way to spell S-U-M-M-E-R! I can’t wait to give both a try!
BTW – After living here for over six years, I still have not immersed myself in the Salish Sea!
Well, after 6 years I guess it’s never going to happen…willingly 😉. I love swimming in the sea but even I have to admit our sea is a bit…er…BRISK 🥶. Thanks, Donna 💕
I LOVE watermelon & feta salad. It’s a frequent visitor to our table in the summer…
If you do get more heat, drape a wet tea towel over the front of your fan. It cools the air down a lot more 🙂 And a spray bottle of water at hand is essential. Set it to mist and spray the back of your neck – works marvelously (we are regularly in the high 30’s to low 40’s every summer).
And oops to your recipe thingy. I have a recipe and a photo… but forgot to blog about them. What date do you do this? I will plan ahead (it’s a gluten free doughnut that is to die for).
Another thing you can use watermelon for on hot days… First freeze some watermelon. Then (after letting it soften for 10 mins) blitz with berry kombucha and fresh mint leaves. It makes a cold, refreshing, yummy slushy (you won’t even miss the alcohol, although I am sure you could add gin – the pink would go with the berry kombucha and watermelon colouring). Mmm, taste buds drooling, but as it was -5.4’C (about 22’F) this morning, way to cold for this one at the moment!
These are excellent tips, AJ! 🙏💕 We are sure to get more heat. The What’s On Your Plate Blog Challenge runs the first Wednesday of every month. I do hope you join us! A gluten-free doughnut?!?! Colour me very interested 😋. Thanks! 💕
That watermelon salad looks delightful! It occurred to me that we haven’t had watermelon yet this summer so that just may have to go on my shopping list… oh and pink gin, of course! I think you’ve created the perfect summer combo!
Thank you, Janis 💕 I hope to serve you and Paul this cocktail later on this summer!
I want to drink pretty unicorn tears 😩
Got to find a non alcoholic version … this is needed in my life!!!
Well, I did some research and what makes the gin pink apparently is Angostura Bitters. Which you can buy at the grocery store. Try adding a drop to some tonic water. It might work! Thank you sis 💕
All good stuff, well, except for the heat. 37c didn’t have an impact on me until I converted it – holy crap! That’s some serious heat to handle without AC. Is the no AC thing common on the island?
I have tossed water melon with Feta and balsamic, but the addition of the arugula makes it a perfect sized lunch. Did you reduce the balsamic vinegar to make the glaze? P.S. Pink cocktails are always a good idea.
No A/C is common on the island. The climate here is quite temperate…USUALLY! Now we are back to more normal summer temps for us…low to mid 20s during the day and dropping into the teens overnight (perfect for restful sleep!). I did buy the balsamic glaze, ready-made. Thanks, Suzanne 💕
Yummy-yummy, Deb! Please excuse my lack of energy – spent the day paying half attention to weather forecasters as Elsa went through the area. Besides leaving over 4″ of rain in a remarkably short amount of time, with resulting overflows in all the usual areas (none close to me, thank goodness!), not much else happened. But the whole thing’s left me ready for a bath and the boob tube. My last weekend’s dindin can be viewed over here: https://curlsnskirls.wordpress.com/2021/07/08/the-unwelcome-visitor/
Cheerio!
Oh my, Del! Anticipating and dealing with a hurricane would sap my energy for sure! Definitely time for some R ‘n R, for you 💕 I will check out your post! Thanks for joining in on the fun 💕
Thanks for your delightful comment, Deb! Elsa was officially downgraded to a tropical storm when it reached my area, but had a heck of a lot of rain! It was the possibility of small tornadoes popping up that kept my area on alert much of the day. Luckily it passed northward by dinner! Phew!
All back to normal this morning!
Your cover photo is wonderful, Deb! You are totally right about not turning the stove/oven on during the heat wave. I have not tried watermelon in a salad. I always enjoy adding feta. Thank you for the inspiration. I had a bad ‘incident’ with gin when I was about 19 and I have not tried it since then. I should give it another try. 😎
I used to feel the same way about tequila for the same reason…🤣 but I can drink it now. Time really does heal all wounds 😜. You might be OK to try gin again. Thank you, Erica😀💕
So glad you are on the other side of the heatwave!
Was your dip in Salish? Was it even colder than you expected (in contrast with the ambient heat)?
I love the colours, tastes and textures of your Watermelon Salad – I can just taste it! Delicious!
Thank you, Ju-Lyn 💕 Yes, my dip was in the Salish Sea and it was quite cool 😁. Very effective in making me comfortable in the heat, as you might imagine 😉. That salad is a winner, for sure!
Hi Deb – this is a part-piece I posted 4 years ago: “One final idea – a recipe I came upon as I was starting out in life which inspired my love of herby bread – that’s a standard when I cook – how about a melon salad … melon, cucumber, tomato pieces … with a vinaigrette of choice, fresh chopped parsley, chives and mint to sprinkle over … served with the herby bread – oh so good!!”
Now-a-days I’d use watermelon, parmesan slithers and rocket … a great starter and I love herby bread – not as strong as garlic bread. But the concept is so similar to your delicious looking salad above – while the pink gin, I’d have to swap for vodka too …
I see Pink Gin was popular in the 1800s … made with adding Angostura bitters …
Well it’s still tea-time … so I’ll try and stay in that drink mode! We have a hot weekend … so little or no alcohol … cheers Hilary
That meal you described sounds absolutely delicious, especially in hot weather. I think pink gin might be undergoing a bit of a Renaissance…or maybe its moment has passed again already. My Barbados buddy introduced me to it several years ago (she’s always ahead of the curve) and I forgot about it until just recently…certainly glad I remembered and it is now in my drinks cupboard. Thank you, Hilary 💕
Juicy. Glad you got past the heat. Then you (Canada) had the weather wreak havoc in Barrie. We are having some kinda year. Stay safe.
And the province I live in now is on fire…on the mainland of BC. And Europe is drowning. We are having some kind of year, for sure. Thank you 💕 I hope you stay safe as well.
Trying to. Will do.👌👍
hahaha – I think you are right that unicorn tears would likely be a pinkish kind of blue –
and I have not had a gin and tonic in quite a long time – but they can be so refreshing 🙂
also – the watermelon salad is such nice summer dish
😁 Thank you, Prior 💕 I feel seen, about the unicorn tears 😄
🙂
and I just got my post up for this month (I have been trying to join you all for a while – because this is fun celebration of food kind of series 🙂
Great! I will go and check it out. Thanks!!💕
🙂