Sunday, April 03, 2011

Melon and Berries Salad with Fresh Mint

I have a silly little confession to make.  I workout on the treadmill every day (early morning) for an hour.  While briskly walking and jogging, I read food magazines and look at recipes and pictures of decadent, tempting food.  Why would I subject myself to that?  Really, because I don’t have any other time of the day where I could just sit and read magazines.  And because sometimes I find recipes I must try.  This salad (which is actually healthy!) is one of them.

DSCF4400I love fresh fruit.  Sometimes I think I could just live eating fruits and vegetables alone.  But then I am quickly brought back to reality—chocolate! ;)  I saw this salad in a supplement to Better Homes and Gardens magazine (April 2011 edition).  We were having dinner with some friends a couple days ago an I had volunteered to bring salad.  I brought this salad and a vegetable salad that I will share soon that I also found in the same BH&G supplement.   You can find the exact Better Homes & Gardens Melon and Berries Salad recipe online.  But here’s how simple I made it.

Melon and Berries Salad with Fresh Mint, adapted by Katrina, Baking and Boys! from Better Homes & Gardens

1 cantaloupe, seeded and cut into cubes or made into balls

1 honeydew melon, seede and cut into cutes or made into balls

1 pint blueberries

1/2-1 cup strawberries, cut into small chunks (raspberries would be fantastic, too, but were not on sale at the time I made this)

1 tablespoon honey

juice of 1 lime (about 1 tablespoon)

1-2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped

Combine the cantaloupe, honeydew, strawberries and blueberries in a large bowl.  In a small bowl, combine the honey and lime juice.  Whisk together to combine well.  Drizzle over the fruit and carefully stir it with a big spoon.  Sprinkle with chopped mint and stir again to distribute evenly. 

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Besides the strawberries being a little “sad”, this salad is really much better the next day as the lime and mint flavors develop even more.  You can chill the salad the day before serving and just add the berries before serving.  But I’ve eaten some leftovers the last few days and it is still good, though I’ve picked out the strawberries.  I love the honeydew melon and cantaloupe after it has been in the lime juice for a few days.  The blueberries are great, too.  This would also be great with watermelon added. 

I may not ever have “plain” fruit salad again!  I will be planting some mint soon, too.  I found a nice bundle of it at the grocery store, but I know once planted it can take over and grow like weeds.  Nice thing is out where we are with an acre of land, we have the room for that to be okay.

Speaking of our land, we woke up to this this morning—after it was in the mid-70’s yesterday, then by evening was VERY windy and rainy.

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Happy Spring, Ya’ll!  Apparently some other areas of Salt Lake and Utah County got well over 6 inches.  Last night the wind knocked over our free standing basketball standard and it hit the deck stairs railing and knocked out a big part of it.  That will be fun to get fixed.

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10 comments:

Lisa said...

Wow, I can't even imagine waking up to that especially considering that it's like 80 degrees where I am right now. That salad looks so delightful and refreshing. I could finish off a huge bowlful of that in no time.

Unknown said...

I'm not going to complain about our little dusting of snow last week anymore! (Eastern PA.) The melon/berry salad looks so refreshing - I love mint on these types of salads. I like to plant mine in a pot to be on the safe side.

Amy said...

THis look absolutely refreshing and healthful! Perfect for spring and pre-made the day before for parties! :)

Amy
http://utry.it

Barbara @ Modern Comfort Food said...

Love love love your fruit salad, Katrina, but ugh boo hiss your snow. You poor thing. Silly me, I've been complaining about how hot it already is where I live but am grateful for it now.

Amanda said...

ow that fruit salad looks great! ya, we (up in winnipeg, canada) got snow too...not as much as you tho i don't think!

Anna said...

Wow! It's been hot as heck here. I'm dreading summer already. Your house is so pretty.

briarrose said...

Wonderful reading material for the treadmill. ;) Pictures of goodies would totally keep me motivated.

Mmmm....fruit salad....I must have some of this....so fresh and perfect.

Megan said...

I live in Sunny California and Spring has hit. This fruit salad looks like a plate of sunshine.
Bummer about the fence. :(

Barbara Bakes said...

I'm looking forward to summer and delicious fruit salads like this! I am so ready for spring.

Anne said...

Oh it looks so cold! On Sunday morning during conference we couldn't believe the pictures and had to check the weather in Salt Lake (spring can be so fickle!) Glad you have awesome fruit salad to hold you through, it sounds delicious and I am going to have to try that with my newly planted mint. Yum!