Who else agrees that summer season = watermelon season?! There’s nothing I crave more on a hot summer day than a bowl of cold, refreshing watermelon. What I love most about this fruit is the versatility of use in a variety of recipes. Add it to a cocktail, throw it on the grill, freeze it into a sweet popsicle or simply serve it as is. The mouthwatering possibilities are endless, which is a good thing considering the hefty size of a single watermelon can feed a family of four or more!

A few years ago I experimented with different summer salads including watermelon as a way to use up leftover chunks. The result of my experiment was a light, refreshing salad made from four simple ingredients – watermelon, cucumbers, feta cheese and balsamic glaze. Some of you may be questioning the feta cheese and balsamic glaze, but trust me – you can’t knock it until you try it!

Not only is this snack tasty on a warm summer day, it’s a healthy alternative to other traditional sides and salads served at picnics and BBQs. Watermelon and cucumbers are both comprised predominately of water and are good sources of vitamins A and C, and other minerals. One bowl of this summer salad (2/3 cup of watermelon mixed with 1/2 cup of cucumber) totals just 38 calories! Adding the feta and balsamic drizzle does add more fat and increases the calorie count, but still significantly healthier than grabbing Aunt Betty’s macaroni salad at the family picnic.

I hope this simple summer salad brings a big watermelon smile to your face, just like it does mine!