One of my favorite things to do in the summertime is to slice a tomato and eat it all by itself, because for these few summer months tomatoes are at their peak and are so sweet and juicy.  I just slice and add salt and pepper, simple as that!  They become the perfect snack, or the perfect addition to any meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  My other fave summer veggie are cucumbers  that beg to be eaten just sliced with a little garlic salt or Cajun seasoning.   My other favorite thing to do with these beauties is to make a fresh summer tomato and cucumber salad that is the easiest side dish to accompany any weeknight meal or summertime backyard BBQ's.

It's so easy, and I make it at least once while the getting is good!  I make it at the beginning of the week and enjoy it with cottage cheese, tuna salad, or alongside a big juicy burger!  So fresh, healthy, and the texture is everything I love about a salad!

It's great for any sort of picnic, entertaining, or to use up an over abundance of summer veggies!  I love adding fresh dill to the mix for a little added zing and freshness!  You can add in corn, or avocado here and switch things up depending on what you have in your fridge at the time!  Any way you do it, this salad is going to be a hit!

Doesn't get much easier than chopping vegetables, mixing up a vinaigrette, tossing, and it's ready to serve!  Summertime really is the best isn't it?

Ingredients:

• 1 Pint of Grape Tomatoes, cut in half (or a couple large ones diced)

• 2 Cucumbers or 1 Large (I prefer using pickling cucumbers or English cucumbers)

• 1/4-1/2 of a Red Onion, depending on how much onion you like

• Fresh Dill (if you don't like dill, you could use basil or parsley)

• 1/4 Cup of Red Wine Vinegar (it is also delicious with balsamic vinegar, especially if you were to use basil instead of dill)

• 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Salt and Pepper

• Garlic Powder or Salt (if using salt you will decrease the amount of regular salt)

Directions:

• Slice your cucumbers into thin slices (only peel if you have the waxy skin cucumbers), cut your grape tomatoes in half, and slice your red onion into very thin rings.

• In a mason jar, add your red wine vinegar, your olive oil, salt and pepper, and garlic powder and shake vigorously until combined well.

• Sprinkle some fresh dill over the salad and then add about half of your vinaigrette and mix together. You can add more if you need to, but I always like to start on the lighter side and add more if needed.

• Taste test and add more salt and pepper to suit your taste and serve immediately or chill for several hours before serving.

I hope you love this salad as much as I do and that it goes into your favorite recipe rotation all summer long!