Simple salad for a summer day

I just came back from Nantucket where I enjoyed licking ice cream from cones, bike riding with my sister at night and jumping in the waves with my friends. Summer, much like ice cream, is effortlessly delicious and heart fulfilling but quickly melts away before you have the chance to truly savor its perfection. (This is not an ice cream appreciation post but whenever I can I feel it’s vital to praise the treat that never lets you down). Summer is fleeting and now in the midst of August, I feel the urgency to relish the last few sun rays I have left before it’s time to walk into school and enter reality. (Side note: my school is reopening and has created a plan that allows students to go to school for 5 days.) I am extremely grateful that my school is reopening, but I can’t help mourning the end of summer. Believe me, I love school. Ask anyone and they will confirm that nothing gives me more joy, other than eating ice cream, than chatting with my teachers after class about life and the beautiful and complex world we live in. But now that’s it’s nearing the start of school, I feel pressure to be uber productive and jump into high gear; prepare myself for the daily rush of clubs, sports practices, musical rehearsals, essays, and math tests. Even on Nantucket, our vacation, my family was constantly in motion: Who’s walking Tula (our adorable lap dog who‘d much rather sprawl out on the sofa than venture into nature)? Where are the towels? We need to leave for the beach in 10 minutes! Where are the masks? Who ate my sandwich? (I am guilty of this.) Have you finished your summer homework? (Not yet.) I often feel so overwhelmed with the stressors of daily life that I forget to take time to look around. This morning I felt a longing for stillness and simplicity, so I found leftovers in the fridge and made this simple, three ingredient salad while listening to a lawn mower and birds outside. I felt completely at ease, relaxed and satisfied. I encourage everyone to find a couple minutes any place or time to reconnect with what matters and gives you joy and just be still. If there’s anyone who needs to work on this most (the stillness), it’s me. So, together, let’s try to create time for ourselves. Make a salad, eat a scoop of ice cream (or more, much, much more), read a book, binge your fav series on netflix, hangout with your family, or spend some time closing your eyes and doing absolutely nothing. Whatever you need to re-charge, do it! We can’t stop time or slow it down so let’s enjoy the time we do have and savor these last drops of Summer.

Ingredients:

- one large red tomato

- one purple onion

- olive oil

- balsamic vinaigrette

- salt and pepper to taste

Materials:

- knife

- cutting board

- spoon

- bowl

Directions:

- cut the tomato and onion into pieces (whatever size you prefer)

- throw them into a bowl

- drizzle a hardy amount of olive oil and a little bit of balsamic

- add some salt and pepper

- toss it all together with a spoon and you're ready to serve!

Enjoy this easy, light salad and let the summer tastes take your worries away!