Southern Chat: A Summer Italian Salad Recipe Perfect for the Beach

Last week, I made lunch for a friend. My friend is not Southern, and she does not like mayo, deli meat, or eggs. I'm sure there are some other things on her list, but when you do not like mayo then that wipes out a lot of traditional Southern lunch dishes.You know, here in the South, we like our pimento cheese, egg salad, chicken salad, pasta salad, and tuna salad. Check any Southern cookbook and the first ingredient you find for a classic, Southern luncheon is mayo, preferably Duke's.

So I served this to her.

And she loved it. So simple. Refreshing. And easy.

I think I may be making it all summer even when I'm vacationing at the beach in our rental.

Summer Italian Salad

15 small fresh mushrooms, cut
2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
1 large English cucumber, sliced
1 red pepper, seeded and chopped
1 bunch of green onions, sliced
Butter lettuce mixture
Freshly ground pepper
Grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup of Italian dressing, chilled. (I used Trader Joe's Tuscan Italian)

Combine vegetables in bowl. Mix with dressing. Serve salad on lettuce-lined plates. Sprinkle with pepper and cheese.

This salad will be perfect in any location, but I said coastal lifestyle because the summer issue of the Skimbaco Magazine came out today, and it's all about coastal living and family travel. My son, Jack, was interviewed for this issue. I'm so proud of him.

I also have a feature on Carolina Beaches of Yesteryear that begins on Page 31.

We've got a busy week ahead of us. It's dance recital week then we'll be relaxing at the beach after that. I will still plan to blog as much as I can, but I do have freelance assignments that do take priority.  With school out, I now have my kids with me all day.

I have, however, decided to mix my Facebook page up a little bit this summer to make it more interesting and engaging. I will share at least one post/photo a day with this schedule.

Talk to you all later this week. School is almost out. Life is full.