A Summer Menu - and a New Twist on Watermelon Salsa

I hope your weekend - whether three days or two - was wonderful!

My husband was traveling, and my son spent the Memorial Day weekend in Glacier National Park with friends, so I was alone for a few days.  It was rainy and overcast, but I accomplished a lot in the house. (Thank you again for your amazing decluttering tips, Marie Kondo!)

It is amazing how a house stays tidy after you clean it, when you are the only one in it.  (Well - except the pets, they continued to shed and track in some mud, but oh, well!)

Throughout the weekend, I existed primarily on yogurt and toast. I was just too busy, and not at all interested in cooking for myself!  By Monday however, once my guys were both home, I was ready to cook a meal. Although it was blustery, the sun had come out and a menu of summer foods seemed the right way to celebrate Memorial Day.

I've been wanting to make Beer Marinated Chicken, ever since Sinea Pies published the recipe on Ducks 'n a Row. I have never developed a liking for the taste of beer - but I've used it in some recipes and have always been glad that I did.  This one took very little effort, and the end result was flavorful and very tender chicken. There is only one variation to the recipe that I would recommend. Instead of saving the marinade to use to baste the chicken on the grill, there was plenty of cooked broth in the pan after the chicken baked in the oven. That worked very well instead.

Monday morning, I paid a first-time visit to the blog Domestic Superhero, and found her recipe for The Best Ever Salty Smashed Red Potatoes. I decided these would be perfect with the chicken.  Especially since I had all the ingredients on hand, and I'd be using the oven to pre-cook the chicken any way.

One of my favorite summer recipes last year was a Watermelon Salsa recipe I found on the website Eating Well.  With a watermelon in the fridge, I decided to make the salsa. Imagine my dismay when I realized I didn't have the other ingredients.  It is a 15 minute trip to town for us, so rather than drive to the store, I decided to experiment. I am so glad that I did!

I created my own version of Watermelon Salsa. It was inspired by, but is quite different than the recipe I just mentioned. I actually think I like it even a little bit better - but maybe that's because I created it! It makes a really nice side dish or as a salsa with tortilla chips. Actually, Tostitos Scoops are perfect for this (and the Tostito company didn't pay me to say so!) because their shape and texture stand up well to holding just the right amount of salsa. I even just discovered that they make a multigrain variety!

This salsa is quick to make. Or at least it would have been, if I hadn't put all the ingredients in individual bowls and spent time arranging them to be photographed. You can skip that step - and you will have a lot less dishes to wash!

I hope you like this recipe as much as we do!

Better-Than-Ever Watermelon Salsa
(Printable Recipe - click here.)

Ingredients:

1 small seedless watermelon (about 4 cups, chopped)

2 large stalks celery (about 1/2 cup, chopped)

1/4 cup yellow pepper, chopped

1/4 cup green onion, chopped finely

3 or 4 kiwi (about 1 cup, peeled and chopped)

1/2 cup orange segments (navel, clementine or mandarin), chopped

1/8 cup lime juice (~juice of 1 lime)

4 - 5 sprigs mint, chopped (about 1 tbsp. chopped leaves, loosely packed)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 to 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

Method:

Chop all fruit and vegetables into small pieces. Place together in a large bowl.

Add lime juice, mint, salt and red pepper flakes (to taste). 

Gently combine.

Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to combine.

Place into a serving dish using a slotted spoon, leaving behind as much of the juice that has accumulated as possible. 

Serve with tortilla chips or Tostitos Scoops, or as a side salad.

Note: Refrigerate leftovers. Best served within 12 hours.

By the way, whenever I come across an interesting recipe, I save it on Pinterest. You might enjoy taking a look at all of the recipes I've saved there. Just click on this link and it will take you to my Pinterest Boards. And, if you like this recipe, I really hope you will pin this post on yours!

A perfect summer meal: Beer marinated chicken, Smashed Red Potatoes, a green veggie and Watermelon Salsa

Note: In the spirit of full disclosure, this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of them, it would not affect the price you pay but I may receive some small compensation. All opinions expressed, however, are entirely honest and my own.

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