Easter is easily my favorite holiday, candy wise. As a child, I adored the Cadbury Crème eggs. By college, the Cadbury Mini Eggs had become my Achilles Heel. I have had my fair share of both this season. I am ready to say sayonara to these seasonal delights.
Just as quickly as Easter candy season wraps up, ice cream season is upon us.
Ice cream is my all.time.favorite.food.ever.
EVER.
If I was on death row, my last meal would be a bowl of ice cream as big as my head.
I can think of worse ways to die.
Ice cream ranks high up there on Lloyd’s favorite foods lists, too. It falls somewhere between coffee cake, bleu cheese, Thin Mints, and anything his dad cooks. Lloyd stalks the ice cream shop in our town starting late spring. Once it finally opens, you can bet Lloyd will be torturing me by asking me to take a ride down there after dinner 2-3 times a week. Sadly, I often have to “just say no” and watch him enjoy his cup of mint chocolate chip, envying his metabolism.
Until then, it’s time to stuff myself with vegetables instead. Luckily, I’ve always loved veggies. I never had to be forced to eat them as a child. I was the weird girl who brought salad for lunch in 3rd grade. I still eat a salad almost every day, mostly for nutrition, but partly because I truly enjoy it. When spring and summer finally find their way to New England, I fully embrace local produce- I love nothing more than simple, fresh ingredients! Some of my favorite summer meals are something off the grill (the only place Lloyd attempts to cook!) served with a delicious side dish, like the one below. It’s so easy that it’s hard to consider it a recipe. Ever since I started making it, I’ve been hooked, and I look forward to its frequent appearance on our dinner table.
Ingredients
- 2 beefsteak tomatoes
- 1 cucumber
- 1 shallot
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- salt & pepper, to taste
Directions
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Cut the tomatoes in half, and then into quarters. Peel and slice the cucumber. Slice the shallot, thinly.
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Place in a bowl and toss with thyme, red wine vinegar, and olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix well.
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Let vegetables sit for at least one hour. Best served at room temperature.
This “salad” is light and refreshing. The sweet tomatoes and crunchy cukes are the perfect vehicle for the vinegar and olive oil combination. If you can find ripe, juicy tomatoes, this dish is even better! The shallots add additional subtle layer of flavor. Although thyme is most commonly used in a bouquet garni and doesn’t receive much attention on its own, the aromatic herb brightens a simple dish like this.
And because the ice cream shop won’t be open for at least another month, we’ll be over here, enjoying our cucumbers.
Cannot wait for my tomatoes to start growing. Love this salad!
After too much ham and deviled eggs yesterday, your salad looks so light and delicious. Love your square plates too.
Great minds think alike! I so need to detox after yesterday and the mountain of candy the bunny left for me.
Tough to ignore those ice cream shops – but this healthy salad will help balance out the indulgences
Tomato salad is one of my favorites and yours looks sooo good. Now I’m craving it. I’ll have to try out your recipe today.
Simple and beautiful! I wish I had some garden tomatoes to try this…fingers crossed there will be something decent at the market b/c I’d love this for dinner
Tis the season for these delicious salads! Looks great!
I was that “weird” kid, too, who brought salads for lunch! I have always been a veggie/salad lover and I LOVE light salads like this one. I can practically taste it!! Yum.
ha I can COMPLETELY relate to this post—first of all, Easter candy rules. Definitely hitting up the clearance stuff today
Secondly, I’m with you on ice cream (may or may not have made a fresh batch of cookies and cream this weekend…ON TOP OF all the Easter candy!). Finally, this is one of our favorite summer salads!! 
I’m trying to eat more salads, but a plain old lettuce and carrot shebang can get old pretty quickly! This sounds like an awesome simple combo for these hot spring and summer months!
This looks so similar to something my boyfriend makes once it gets nicer outside. It is so unbelievably simple and delicious. Thanks for reminding me that I soon will be able to eat it again!
Two thumbs up for light salads! In the Atlanta heat that’s my go to lunch!
I really love this salad! My son is just like you, LOVES vegetables and it’s never a fight to get him to eat them, I hope his love continues into adulthood like yours!
I wish my garden season was already here! This is the perfect straight from the garden salad!!
This salad looks so simple and refreshing, Liz! Thanks for sharing your recipe. I will definitely be making this soon!
@Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking, So easy but packed with fresh flavor- you’ll love it!
@Lori, Garden tomatoes are the BEST!
@The Farmers Wife, I used to want broccoli, like every night… I still eat it almost every day. The only veggie I don’t do is celery- weird, right?!
@RavieNomNoms, Def a warmer weather meal!
@faith @ lovelyascharged, I know, gotta change it up a bit!
@natalie (the sweets life), Ummm I went to raid CVS last night and the Easter candy was like, already off the shelves. I was not happy!
@Maris (In Good Taste), Thanks!
@Lindsey @ Gingerbread Bagels, Let me know if you love it!
@Kita, I didn’t even get candy from the bunny but I managed to find some to snack on…
Cucumber and tomato salad was always a summer staple in my family. Can’t beat how fresh and delicious it is!
This is my kind of salad! Simple but flavorful!
My family makes a salad similar to this…everyone goes crazy for it!
This is one of my favorite salads…it is light and always reminds me of summer…perfection! I am so impressed with your ability to hold out for ice cream. I am always giving in!
I have such an affinity for tomato salad, and boy.. those cucumbers are round.. or maybe they are just an odd shape here?
Such a wonderful summer salad!
I hear ya! Cadbury really knows the way to a girl’s heart. I have a few bags stashed in the pantry for emergencies. Congrats on your engagement!
Liz – you’ve done it again! I love this one and made it for a barbeque this weekend.