Cucumber Mint Refresher

The temperatures in Duluth are finally feeling more like summer and I am ready for fresh non-starchy vegetables!  I definitely miss eating salads in the summer, but have found alternatives that are tasty and satisfying.   This is one of my favorites to add some vegetable zing to a summer meal.  It is also a great way to use the abundance of fresh mint in my herb garden.  Mint is also purported to aid digestion and is high in Vitamins A and C, as well as manganese. 

Ingredients:
1 medium cucumber, peeled
4 - 6 fresh mint leaves

Preparation:
Chunk the cucumber and snip the fresh mint leaves into small pieces.  Put it all in the blender and wala!  It's as easy as that.  I added just a pinch of fresh sea salt.

Nutrition:
Servings per recipe: 1
Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories:  34
Total Fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 11  mg
Total Carbs:  6 g
Dietary Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 2 g

Strawberry Mint Dazzler

This is a refreshing summer treat and incredibly easy to make.  Balsamic vinegar and strawberries may seem like an odd combination, but they complement one another superbly!

Ingredients:
1 cup halved fresh strawberries
2 - 4 fresh mint leaves
1/2 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon granulated sugar

Preparation:
Put it all in the blender and blend to desired consistency, making sure that the mint leaves are fully pulverized.

Nutrition:
Servings per recipe:  1
Serving size:  About 1/2 cup
Calories: 67
Total Fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 4 mg
Total Carbs: 16 g
Dietary Fiber: 4 g
Protein: 1 g