As I sat down to make this post….from a distance I can hear Koel chirping cooh…cooh….milkman has just come on his two wheeler loaded with at least 25 liters of fresh milk…..opposite a huge 5 story building is getting constructed and the workers have just come….talking loudly discussing about the work, movies, etc….lying down on a pile of sand enjoying the early morning breeze….paper boy has just come to drop in today’s newspaper….I just peeked down to see from the balcony of first floor….I could see a lady neatly drawing ranjoli on the street in front of her house….
I am at mom’s place right now vacationing and soaking myself in the new place as my mom has recently shifted to a new town….Morning starts more early in villages and towns…people get up very early and go to bed early…..Still people sleep on the wire knitted beds placing them on the corner of the roads for natural air….some cover from head to toe with bed sheet….some use mosquito nets….I always wonder how it would be to sleep like that….I remember when I was kid and whenever I use to go to my Granny’s place during summers….we kids use to go and take a short nap at the terrace every night….counting stars and naming them….seeing every red blinking light in the sky and saying UFO or satellite….munching on ground nuts or watermelon pieces or relishing on mangoes….satisfying those mid night cravings….those were the best fun days of my life….
But now it is completely a different story….when I got up to terrace all I can see is buildings with radio or mobile towers….hoardings with brands…etc….that’s what development is all about I think…..I wonder what childhood memories my Lil’M would take with her as she grow up….Hope she gets to see cleared star knitted sky, fresh air and green environment…..
Do you remember eating watermelon as it is….by cutting it into half-moon and biting it feeling the juices…and getting those droplets running all around your mouth……that was one of the gratifying feeling which I loved….but growing with the time…eating simple has also changed….now I make juice of it to give it to Lil’M as she thinks eating watermelon like that may dirty her hands and dress….and that too it is bad manners to eat like that…. As eating a fruit is must during summers to me…I replaced evening snacks with fruit bowl or juice…in the process I am making some simple salads to soothe the senses….Today’s salad is very simple with minimal ingredients and simple dressing. It’s Watermelon-Basil Salad with lemon, salt and pepper dressing.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 cups Watermelon cubes
- 2-3 tbsp. fresh Basil leaves
FOR DRESSING:
- 2 tbsp. Lemon juice
- Salt
- Pepper
PREPARATION:
- In a bowl whisk lemon juice with salt and pepper and set aside.
- Divide the watermelon pieces in the serving bowl and add fresh basil leaves.
- Pour in the dressing and gently toss. Serve chilled.
- Add love to make the salad more ‘Yummy’.
VARIATIONS:
- You can replace basil with mint leaves.
- You can add feta cheese if it is available.
- You can even add a tbsp. of olive oil to the dressing.
- You can even add fresh crumbled cottage cheese or paneer to the salad.
Sowmya Madhavan says
Lovely post..yummy fruit dessert
razina ahmad says
tempting!!!
Akila says
Very interesting salad
Veena Theagarajan says
nice pics.. healthy salad
Priti S says
It bring backs so many memories for sure …those were the days ….salad looks yum n refreshing…
divya says
Wow, so beautiful & tempting.loved the presentation
revathi says
Lovely lovely salad..:) pics are amazing..Reva
Lail Hossain says
Refreshing salad for the upcoming hot summer days.
kathy gori says
gorgeous pictures, wonderful refreshing recipe. On the must make list at our house.