I Need to Go Out and Start Picking Now!

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“I Need to Go Out and Start Picking Now!” – A Recipe That Starts in the Garden

There’s something magical about stepping into your garden or walking through a nearby orchard and realizing—it’s time. The berries are bursting with color, the herbs are full and fragrant, and the tomatoes are practically begging to be picked.

That’s the moment that inspired today’s recipe. When I saw how ripe and ready everything was, I thought:
“I need to go out and start picking now!”

And I did. And what I brought back turned into something fresh, simple, and incredibly delicious.

Fresh Garden Harvest Salad with Herb Vinaigrette

This recipe is perfect when your garden is overflowing or your farmers’ market haul is too beautiful to ignore. It’s light, flavorful, and packed with peak-season ingredients you can literally pick and eat the same day.

Ingredients

For the Salad:

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cucumber, sliced
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 cup fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries)
½ red onion, thinly sliced
1 handful fresh basil leaves
1 handful baby spinach or mixed greens
Optional: crumbled feta or goat cheese, toasted seeds or nuts

For the Herb Vinaigrette:

¼ cup olive oil
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp chopped fresh herbs (parsley, basil, dill, or a mix)
Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Harvest or prep your ingredients. Wash all fruits and veggies thoroughly.
In a large bowl, combine salad ingredients. Gently toss to mix.
In a small jar, shake together vinaigrette ingredients until well blended.
Drizzle dressing over salad and toss just before serving.
Top with cheese, nuts, or seeds if using. Serve immediately!

Why This Recipe Works

Seasonal produce = unbeatable flavor. Ingredients picked at peak ripeness are juicier, sweeter, and more nutritious.
Quick and customizable. You can swap ingredients based on what’s growing in your garden—zucchini, arugula, radishes, even edible flowers.
Naturally beautiful. The colors alone make this dish feel like summer on a plate.
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