Summer salad--in new dishes

Here's a simple salad from the bounty of summer, with a one or two exotic ingredients thrown in.

--Use locally grown lettuces from your closest farmers market (I like arugula best)

--Dice one-half large, ripe tomato, add light salt and pepper

--Dice a cup of seedless watermelon

--Make your vinaigrette with a couple tablespoons of high-quality Balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper

--Toss all ingredients, sprinkle with goat cheese crumbles and chopped pecans, and serve. (These proportions are for 2 servings, but double them for 4, etc.)

The dishes are from a stop at one of my favorite road finds: Bloomfield's, a wonderful tableware and all things houseware in Flat Rock, NC, on I-26 between Asheville NC and Greenville SC. Discount prices on Fiesta ware, Italian crockery, and an amazing array of cookware, gadgets, grilling utensils, glassware, tablecloths, and too many other things to name.