Hey, strangers! Is anyone else in complete disbelief that this weekend is Memorial Day Weekend already?? I feel like I blinked and the first half of 2019 blew past me. But then when I really think about it, a LOT has happened since January.
MDW represents so many great things: the unofficial start of summer, a 3-day weekend full of friends, family, and good #eeeeeats (we’ll get to that part in a second), and the midpoint of the year. This is a great time to reflect on the goals or intentions you set for yourself at the beginning of 2019 and have a little check-in with yourself. Are you still working on those goals? Did you already achieve them? If so, what are your new goals for the rest of the year?
For me, my main priority for this year was to get certified as a group fitness instructor and start coaching somewhere. I’m happy to report that that goal has been achieved! I’m in my third week of coaching part-time at F45 Training Center City, and I’m loving every minute of it. If you’re reading this, I’d love to see you in class! We’re offering a free week trial right now, so… get on that!
Anyways, onto the good stuff… MDW EATS. This is probably the diehard foodie in me, but the first (okay, only…) thing that comes to mind when I think of MDW is delicious food. This is the time of year when everyone starts firing up their grills (or grill pans, if you’re grill-less like me) and throwing pool parties, BBQs, picnics, etc. Hope and I love this time, because the meals tend to be more family-style, AKA, we can graze and try a bunch of different things on one plate! So, in the spirit of MDW, we’re giving you three new recipes this week to round out the perfect plate—with plenty of different flavors + textures—starting with this simple Cucumber Tomato + Feta Salad.
The beauty of this salad is the simplicity of it. No frills, just fresh fruits + veggies (tomatoes are a fruit, remember?). We recommend keeping these few ingredients on-hand all summer long, so you can whip up this refreshing salad as an appetizer, side dish, or snack at the drop of a [sun] hat!
Cucumber Tomato + Feta Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 English cucumber, roughly chopped
- 1 lb Roma tomatoes (about 4), roughly chopped and flesh discarded
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- juice of 1/2 lemon (about 2 tbsp)
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- Place cucumber, tomatoes, and feta in a large mixing bowl. Gently toss until just combined.
- Combine EVOO, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and oregano in a bowl.
- Before serving, whisk the dressing until it’s combined, then immediately pour evenly over the salad.
Yield: 4 servings
192 calories per serving • Fat: 18.2g • Carbohydrates: 5.5g • Protein: 3.6g