Summer Harvest Salad

The garden, the files that are stacked, 271 e-mails to sort, the house to clean ... all the ingredients of the recipe for a busy and productive day! So between chores I'm going to try and sneak in a couple posts here. Yes, alternative to the chores I head out to the garden and fill my basket with fresh tomatoes, zucchini, lemon cucumbers and basil. Today, intrigued by these fresh ingredients, I'm making .. some kind of crazy salad, and calling it a Summer Harvest Salad!

Summer Harvest Salad

1/4 c vinegar (red wine, or 1/2 balsamic/1/2 apple cider. or whatever)

1/4 c chopped fresh basil

1/4 c chopped fresh parsley

2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 garlic clove minced

4 large tomatoes, chopped

4 medium cucumbers, chopped

2 medium zucchini (yellow or green), chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 c pitted Greek olives, or a can of black olives

Fresh baked french bread

Some kind of good cheese (Parmesan, or extra sharp white Cheddar)

Combine first 5 ingredients in a jar and shake. You can also add oil to this, like up to a half cup if you want, but I do not oil my dressings usually. You be the judge.

Then combine the tomato and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Toss gently, cover and chill for at least 2 hours.

When your ready to eat, toast the bread and melt the cheese over the top (I recommend using the oven or toaster oven for this) and serve to salad over the top or on the side of the bread.