fireworks, friends, food, and a day to celebrate our freedom! i love everything about the 4th of july. for us, it's just a chill family day. something for everyone. sparklers for the kids and the big guns for us who still like to think we are kids. the weather seems to cooperate and the food is always great be it you like hot dogs and burgers or something more fancy like a lobster bake. everything tastes great amongst family and friends. my team in the office was talking about a fabulous watermelon salad that chloe's sister made and tyler tried. with knowledge of the basic ingredients, i set off to put my personal twist to it. adding some unusual items while guessing on others. it turned out amazingly if i do say so myself. actually, my husband was my taste tester and he oohed and ahhed with each and every bite. it was immediately evident i had a winner on my hands. yay! it's so simple but incredibly refreshing.

enjoy!

xo
gaye

here's the recipe if you want to give it a shot:

1/2 cup fresh o.j.
1.4 cup fresh lime juice along with 1 t. zest
2 t. honey (i always warm the honey bottle under hot water to liquefy)
ground black pepper and kosher salt to taste
a few splashes of pomegranate-infused red wine vinegar to taste
1/2 maui onion or another sweet white onion
4 oz. crumbled gorgonzola cheese
1 medium chopped jicama
1 medium watermelon (you can slice but i like to make them into balls and it's just as easy)
1/2 cup FRESH mint leaves torn (save the tops to garnish)

whisk together juices, honey, salt + pepper and pomegranate red wine vinegar in a large bowl. add the remaining ingredients and toss to coat. garnish with tops of mint leaves.