Strawberry Cucumber Salad

The perfect salad for mother’s day is one that’s as delicious and wonderful as it is beautiful. This strawberry cucumber salad is just that

It’s that time of year again. The time that we all take a moment to remember the women that have given up their own selfish desires just so that we could live, experience all that life has to offer, love and be loved. I know I certainly have a lot to thank my mother for, and my husband’s mother as he is wonderful, which means she must be as well. If you want to give the perfect Mother’s Day gift, get her the Rosanna bowl (or another) pictured above, filled to the top with this beautiful salad and just go spend an afternoon with your mom, leaving the bowl as her gift. (No, I wasn’t paid to say that, but I did receive this pretty bowl from Rosanna and loved it so much I thought you should too)

But, enough about that… let’s move on to the good stuff. My mom, Carolyn was born and raised in good ol’ Idaho. Jerome to be exact, though there’s a huge chance you’ve never even heard of it. She was the daughter of a farmer and World War II vet.   Mom loved living on a farm and told us a dozen or so stories about, “Ducky Lucky” little lambs and her brother crying that the lambs would lose their tails, playing in the ditch out back with cucumber boats, learning to ride a horse and laying in the tall fields watching the clouds slowly move across the big, blue sky. Sounds heavenly doesn’t it?

My Mother in law, on the other hand, was raised clear across the country in North Carolina. Nancy grew up in a place that had the best of both worlds, beautiful, lush mountains and weather and the gorgeous beach and ocean.  Nancy is a true southern belle. She loves the people around her and gets to know each person and their story. She also has a cute little southern accent and says funny words like, “pocket book” for purse and “buggy” for shopping cart.

This salad is a perfect way to celebrate both of the mothers in our lives. It’s beautiful and wonderful, just like both of the lovely ladies that raised us. And while I can still hardly believe this myself, I’m now a mother, and it is truly the greatest thing I’ve ever done. There’s no one who sacrifices or loves like a mother does for her children. It’s kind of like that favorite book of mine, I’ll Love You Forever” and the sweet song that portrays perfectly how we feel about our children and our mothers. “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always. As long as I’m living my baby you’ll be” I love that we have this special holiday to remember those who have sacrificed so much to bring us into the world and surround us with love and protection.

Here’s to the women in my life. I adore each of you and your examples to me.

Can Cucumbers Be Eaten With the Skin On?

You can eat cucumbers with the skin on.

The cucumber should be washed thoroughly, using a brush, to remove the little stickers on the skin.

Cucumber peel is a good source of dietary fiber that helps reduce constipation and offers some protection against colon cancers.

Are Cucumbers Nutritious?

There are only 16 calories in a cup of cucumbers.

One cup of cucumber will provide you with about 4 percent of your daily potassium, 3 percent of your daily fiber and 4 percent of your daily vitamin C.

They also provide small amounts of vitamin K, magnesium, potassium, manganese and vitamin A.

Are Strawberries Good For You?

Strawberries are packed with vitamins, fiber, and particularly high levels of antioxidants.

They are a good low calorie food.

Strawberry Cucumber Salad

Yield: 1 salad bowl

Strawberry Cucumber Salad

Total Time: 10 mins

Prep Time: 10 mins

The perfect salad for mother’s day is one that’s as delicious and wonderful as it is beautiful. This strawberry cucumber salad is just that

Print Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 Pint Strawberries, sliced in circles
• 1 Large or 2 small Cucumbers, peeled leaving occasional strips of peel on, sliced in circles
• 2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons Honey

Directions:

1. Mix the balsamic vinegar and honey in a small bowl.
2. Arrange the strawberries and cucumbers in a bowl, layering one slightly overlapping the other like a fan.
3. Pour the dressing over the top.

See note*

This salad is delicious served right away, or after sitting in the fridge to mellow out the flavor.

Nutrition Information

Yield: 1 salad bowl, Serving Size: 1

• Amount Per Serving:
• Calories: 295 Calories
• Total Fat: 1.3g
• Carbohydrates: 73.9g
• Fiber: 8.1g
• Sugar: 59.7g
• Protein: 3.8g

All images and text ©Carrian Cheney for Oh Sweet Basil.

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