Potluck Recipe: Minty Citrus Sweet Fruit Salad

Fruit salad is always a summer favorite at potlucks! With tons of fresh, juicy fruit in season, it's easy to find the ingredients, and a jiffy to throw together at the last minute. This one combines the fresh, summery flavor of mint with tangy citrus juice and honey for an all natural and healthy dessert treat. You may not even want to take it to the pot luck, but save it for yourself!  :-)

Minty Citrus Sweet Fruit Salad

Ingredients:

Fruit Salad. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh mint
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
1/4 cup natural honey
1 can (15 oz) pineapple chunks (or fresh)
1 large cantaloupe, cut bite sized pieces (or 2 cups diced watermelon)
3 cups berries (any in season)
2 cups seedless grapes, halved
1 tart apple, washed, cored, diced
1 cup chopped pecans or other nuts

Directions:

• In a large serving bowl, put the mint, lime juice, orange juice, and honey, and whisk until well blended and slightly frothy.
• Add to the bowl the everything EXCEPT the nuts, and stir gently to combine.
• Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Stir again gently before serving, then top with nuts and serve.
• Will serve 8 small portions at a potluck, but can easily be doubled or tripled for larger crowds.

Recipe - Cantaloupe Blueberry Salad With Creamy Yogurt Dressing

If you're looking for a tasty and light sweet summer fruit salad, this one is easy and delicious. Mild, sweet and juicy cantaloupe gets a pop of citrus flavor, and sets off the darker tangyness of ripe blueberries, combined in a light creamy yogurt dressing - a match made in heaven if there ever was one! (A big bowl of this without the lettuce also makes a great breakfast!)

Creamy Dressed Cantaloupe Blueberry Salad
(Makes 8 small salads.)

Ingredients:

1 (8 oz) container vanilla yogurt
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp poppy seeds
1 tsp orange zest
1 medium size cantaloupe, cleaned and sliced into crescent shapes
24 Boston lettuce leaves
2 cups fresh blueberries

Directions:

1. Combine the yogurt, lemon juice, poppy seeds, and orange zest in a bowl and whisk until smooth and creamy; cover and put in refrigerator to chill.
2. Divide the lettuce leaves between 8 chilled salad plates, then top with the sliced cantaloupe, arranging evenly between plates.
3. Spoon 1/4 cup of the blueberries over each salad, then drizzle the yogurt dressing over each salad and serve immediately.