Health for life

Sweet readers! Todays post is a bit abbreviated for the vacation, but I didn’t want to skip this recipe. It’s a really good one, with absolutely no cooking involved, and it only gets better after a day or two in the fridge. Add a little feta cheese on top for pure Greek pita enjoyment.

Happy 4th! (Er ... or 5th.)

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Greek Antipasto Pita
Serves 4 to 6.
Adapted from Moosewood’s Simple Suppers.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried dill or oregano)

1 celery stalk, diced
1 large tomato, seeded and diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1 cucumber (unpeeled), seeded and diced
1/4 red onion, minced
8 kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

4 whole wheat pitas
A few sprinkles reduced-fat feta cheese (optional)

1) Fill a small bowl with ice water. Add red onion and let sit for 10 minutes. Drain, Set aside.

2) To a medium serving bowl, add olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and dill. Whisk to combine.

3) Add celery, tomato, bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, and olives to bowl. Stir to combine. Salt and pepper to taste. Let sit at least 10 minutes.

4) Scoop filling on to pita. (You can toast the pita it if you like.) Sprinkle with feta if desired. Enjoy!

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price Per Serving
4 servings: 269 calories, 10.7 g fat, 6.7 g fiber, 8.4 g protein, $1.19
6 servings: 179 calories, 7.1 g fat, 4.5 g fiber, 5.6 g protein, $0.79

NOTE: For these calculations, I used Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Pitas. Your numbers might vary slightly depending on your perred pita.

Calculations
2 tablespoons olive oil: 239 calories, 27 g fat, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein, $0.24
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar: negligible calories, fat, fiber, and protein, $0.03
2 garlic cloves: 9 calories, 0 g fat, 0.1 g fiber, 0.4 g protein, $0.12
1 tablespoon fresh dill: negligible calories, fat, fiber, and protein, $0.40
1 celery stalk: 9 calories, 0.1 g fat, 1 g fiber, 0.4 g protein, $0.19
1 large tomato: 33 calories, 0.4 g fat, 2.2 g fiber, 1.6 g protein, $0.49
1/2 red bell pepper: 21 calories, 0.2 g fat, 1.7 g fiber, 0.8 g protein, $0.61
1 cucumber: 45 calories, 0.3 g fat, 1.5 g fiber, 2 g protein, $0.66
1/4 red onion: 12 calories, 0 g fat, 0.4 g fiber, 0.3 g protein, $0.21
8 kalamata olives: 67 calories, 6.7 g fat, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein, $0.44
Kosher salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, and protein, $0.01
Freshly ground black pepper: negligible calories, fat, fiber, and protein, $0.01
4 whole wheat pitas: 640 calorie, 8 g fat, 20 g fiber, 28 g protein, $1.33
TOTAL: 1074 calories, 42.7 g fat, 26.9 g fiber, 33.5 g protein, $4.74
PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): 269 calories, 10.7 g fat, 6.7 g fiber, 8.4 g protein, $1.19
PER SERVING (TOTAL/6: 179 calories, 7.1 g fat, 4.5 g fiber, 5.6 g protein, $0.79

Dude. It’s watermelon season.

Last week, it went on sale for $0.39/pound, so I dragged a 13-pounder home from a supermarket half a mile away. Its been parked on my kitchen table ever since, like some giant, edible bowling ball.

Yesterday, I finally cowboyed up and gutted the thing. And now, as you can see from this picture, we have enough watermelon to fill two man-sized storage containers.


The problem is, Husband-Elect and I are but two people. True, we’re two people who really like watermelon, but we’re two people nonetheless.

Consequently, over the next week, we’re gonna have to get creative with this thing. I’m thinking Watermelon Margaritas, Watermelon Salsa, and of course, more Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint.

I have to admit: I didn’t think dropping feta into a bowl of fruit would do much. But it adds two things: salt and creaminess, which are both unexpected and very welcome. The mint and lime provide additional freshness and lightness, which keep the dish from being murky.

Beyond that, the dish boasts three huge pluses:

1. It takes less than 10 minutes to make.
2. There are no mandatory ratios. You can tailor the amount of feta, melon, mint, and lime to your liking.
3. If you’re feeling adventurous, the recipe can be expanded to include olives, red onions, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, basil, cilantro, cotija cheese, jicama, and many, many more exciting ingredients. Guidelines abound online.

Alas, there is a minus, as well. In my experience, the salad doesn’t store particularly well. The fruit juice eventually breaks down the cheese, and you’re left with a thick, fruity mess. So you gotta eat this fresh, or within a day of making it. Otherwise … to the trash, Robin. Still, its good. And I will be eating again. Probably several times tomorrow.

And with that, readers, any suggestions for watermelon recipes? We, uh, could use ‘em right now.

P.S. All-watermelon barbecue at my house tomorrow!

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If you’re thinking about making this, you might also whip up some:

• Plums with Orange and Mint
• Strawberry and Avocado Salad
• Sublime Fruit Salad and Mint

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Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint
Serves 1 or more.
Adapted from many, many sources, but especially Whipped.


A few cups watermelon, balled or cut into 2-inch chunks and chilled
A small block of feta cheese
A small handful mint leaves, chopped
Fresh lime juice

1) Place desired amount of watermelon in a bowl or on a plate.

2) Crumble desired amount of feta over watermelon. (The more, the better.)

3) Sprinkle mint over watermelon-feta mixture.

4) Squeeze lime over it all.

5) No. Seriously. That’s it.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price Per Serving
147 calories, 6.5 g fat, 1 g fiber, 5.5 g protein, $0.79

NOTE: As this recipe is totally/completely adaptable to your tastes and perences, I’m making up some arbitrary numbers for calculations, just to give y’all an idea of the nutrition/price breakdown. Your numbers will undoubtedly be different, so please take this as a rough guide, only.

Calculations
1-1/2 cups watermelon: 69 calories, 0.5 g fat, 0.9 g fiber, 1.4 g protein, $0.26
1 ounce feta cheese: 75 calories, 6 g fat, 0 g fiber, 4 g protein, $0.37
1 tablespoon mint leaves, chopped: 1 calorie, 0 g fat, 0.1 g fiber, 0.1 g protein, $0.10
1 teaspoon lime juice: 2 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein, $0.06
TOTAL: 147 calories, 6.5 g fat, 1 g fiber, 5.5 g protein, $0.79