Watermelon and Smoked Mozarella Salad

I have to admit I was never a fan of watermelon growing up, however I've recently reacquainted myself and realised how very very wrong I was. Especially on a hot day there isn't anything as refreshing and sweet like a beautiful watermelon, simple and satisfying.
This salad incorporates melon with smoked stringy textured cheese and slender crunchy flaked almonds. All rounded off with peppery rocket and slightly bitter red onion, all flavours balanced to make a wonderful summer salad. 

1/2 watermelon
300g smoked mozzarella
1 red onion
50g flaked almonds
70g washed rocket

Dressing:
2  juiced lemons
1 tablespoon wholegrain mustard
1 apple
1 shallot
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons water
50ml extra virgin olive oil

 Method:
To make the dressing peel apple and slice into wedges then cut out the core.  Place apple, lemon juice, mustard, diced shallot, salt and water over medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer. Once apple turns mushy remove dressing from heat and pour in food processor. Blend dressing with olive oil for 2 minutes till smooth.
Place a small fry pan over medium heat and add the almonds, toss in the pan till they just start to turn golden brown then remove from heat. Peel red onion, slice in half and top'n'tail then slice very finely lengthways. Remove the rind off melon and cube into 2cm piece's. To make the salad you can either make 4-6 individual servings or 1 large platter. First lay down rocket followed by a scattering of red onion and melon. Then tear mozzarella into small piece and evenly distribute over salad, lastly sprinkle almonds on salad and drizzle over desired amount of dressing.

Mediterranean Red, White and Green Salad

So recently I read a review on Kaffeine and they discribed my food as Mediterranean, this salad is the exception. I prefer to label my cooking style as nomadic and slightly dysfunctional (in a good way).
My ideas come from staring at a white wall for 3 hours every Friday afternoon then I write the following weeks menu. This salad however was a mistake, my vegetable supplier didn't come through with the goods one day, so I had to make something up with what I had in the larder. Thankfully I was on fire that day after a restful weekend and came up with this delightful, bright and healthy salad.

4 beetroot
2 red onions
2 red peppers
200g wild garlic washed
100g feta
50g green olives
Sea salt and cracked pepper to season
Extra virgin olive oil

PESTO:
1 small bunch basil
25g pine nuts
30g parmesan
1 clove garlic
70ml extra virgin olive oil
Pinch of sea salt

METHOD:
Peel beetroot and cut into 2cm cubes then lay out on a baking tray and season with a little salt, pepper and drizzle over 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Peel onions, slice in half and remove the top and bottom then slice 1cm lengthways and lay down one side of a separate baking tray. Cut peppers in half and remove the seeds and stalks, cut peppers into quarters and lay next to onions on the same tray. Season onion and peppers with salt, pepper and drizzle over 3 tablespoons olive oil. Place beetroot, onion and peppers in a pre-heated oven set at 200oC for 20 minutes, stir and roast for a further 15 minutes.
In the mean time toast the pine nuts in a fry pan over medium heat should take around 4 minutes. Grate the parmesan and peel garlic then place basil leaves, pine nuts, parmesan, garlic, olive oil and salt in food processor and blend together for 1 minute.
Place large pot over medium heat and add a dash of olive oil followed by the wild garlic and season with a pinch of salt and pepper, cook till the leaves are just wilted and remove from pot into side bowl.
Once the vegetables have roasted and cooled slightly its time to construct the salad, lay half of the wild garlic over large platter followed by half the beetroot, onion and peppers. Crumble some feta over the roasted vegetables then distribute half the olives, lastly drizzle over desired amount of pesto
and repeat the layer, serve as soon as possible.