Indigo-Daisy

On my journey to finding peace within, I have been more in tune to the factors that diet and health play in ones overall peace of mind.

I don’t need a scientific study to tell me that when nourishing my body with fresh fruits, bright colorful veggies, nuts and whole grains, that I just feel healthier. And the fact is, when I feel healthy I feel a sense of peace in both body and spirit.

Summer is a wonderful time of year to look for fresh fruits and vegetables as there is so much more available. Consider yourself lucky if you live near a farmers market as you can’t get any fresher than that unless you grow them yourself.

I am always looking for new recipes to entertain the pallet as the same old salad week after week can get a bit boring. One of my new favorites is a simple tomato, basil and mozzarella cheese salad which is called “Insalata Caprese” in Italian.

Following is a very simple recipe.

• Look for fresh vine ripe tomatoes that are firm and not too ripe.
• Next find some fresh mozzarella cheese. This can usually be found in the deli area. I like the kind that come in the little balls called “boccocini”. They are wet and are packed in what looks like a cottage cheese container. If “boccocini” is not available, look for a larger ball of mozzarella that is soft and squishy when you squeeze it.
• The fresh basil can be found in the vegetable section near the lettuce and herbs.

Once you have all your ingredience, slice and quarter the larger tomatoes or if you have smaller Roma tomatoes, those can be sliced and cut in half. Arrange the tomatoes in a plate and sprinkle with salt and course ground pepper.

Cut the mozzarella in bite size peaces and arrange on top of the tomatoes.

Lastly, wash and tear the basil into small pieces and place over the tomatoes and mozzarella, if you like, sprinkle the entire salad with a bit of dill and then generously drizzle with olive oil.

This is such a simple dish to make and a beautiful addition to any table. Enjoy!