Appetizers/ Recipe/ Vegetarian

Cucamelon Bruschetta

….Okay, that might not be entirely true… Especially if you’re a dude. 
 
But it’s a solid life lesson that it’s the small things in life that matter. The moments, the gestures, the little thoughts and construct our worlds and every day doings.
 
Cucamelon Bruschetta Recipe - She Eats
I like living small. Not that I would likely complain too much if afforded the ability to live large. I’d be totally down for jet setting around the world, drinking the finest wines and tasting the most lavish food and lazing on the most beautiful beaches… Yeah. Like that’s ever going to happen. A girl can dream!
 
To be honest, while I do appreciate the finer things, I live for the smaller ones. Quiet mornings on my front stoop with a hot cup of baileys and coffee before the world wakes up. The uncontrollable moment my amusement becomes a belly laugh (and pretty much takes over the room). The taste of fresh off the vine tomatoes. The smell of camp fire and “green”. The sound of leaves rustling in Autumn bound trees. A bottle of bright red nail polish and baggy, baggy sweat pants. Puppies… what? They’re small.
 
The smaller things. 
 
Cucamelon Bruschetta Recipe - She Eats
Like cucamelons! I stumbled upon these bad boys at the St. Lawrence Market a couple of weeks ago and they’ve haunted me ever since. So this past weekend I hauled my ass outta bed (and John’s too!) and we walked all the way downtown (that was one mother of a walk, let me tell you!) and I picked up a basket. 
 
…And then, I was stumped. 
 
Before moving to Toronto, I happily participated in a CSA. I was forced to Google and cook ingredients I had never seen before. It was a fun and exciting (sometimes disastrous) experiment. And I relished it. But now I’d done it to myself. What the hell was I going to do with these tiny watermelon looking things?? 
 
Turns out, they taste an awful lot like a cucumber. A tiny bit sour or limey but not much. So I treated them like one; I tossed a few in a glass of water and then made a cucamelon bruschetta on toasted garlic crostini. Not too bad, if you ask me. Refreshing, light, vegetarian friendly. It was a fun appetizer and next time I dinner party, they’ll make one heck of an adorable amuse bouche. 
 

Cucamelon Bruschetta Recipe - She Eats

Cucamelon Bruschetta

Prep

Cook

Total

Yield 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 Pint Cucamelons, cut in half
  • 2 Cipollini Onions, peeled & finely diced
  • 1 Bird's Eye Chili, finely sliced. (add another if you like it really spicy)
  • Small Handful of Basil or Mint, chiffonade
  • 1/4 C Good Quality Olive Oil
  • 2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp Local Organic Honey
  • Juice of Half a Lime
  • Coarse Sea Salt & Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
  • Toasted Bread to Serve

Instructions

  1. Toss the first 4 ingredients in a bowl. Set aside.
  2. Put the rest of the ingredients in a mason jar and season to taste. Cover with a lid and shake baby shake until emulsified.
  3. Pour over prepared vegetables. Stir well, season if need be.Spoon over toasted bread.
  4. Eat.
What small things do you find joy in? What matters to you?
 
  • luckiest1
    July 29, 2013 at 12:01 PM

    Early morning tea while I watch the sunrise in my backyard on a warm summer’s day. Relaxing with my three puppies on the couch, watching TV. A rare walk on a beach. Eating a ripe mango.

    • Kristy Gardner
      July 29, 2013 at 5:43 PM

      YES!!! All of that sounds fabulous Lisa!

  • Teresa, foodonfifth.com
    July 29, 2013 at 1:04 PM

    Kristy I have never ever seen these pretty little melons/cucumbers in our area but will go on a ” culinary hunt” for them now that I know they exist. How beautiful your salad is and I suppose I could use some very small cucumbers to make it…..but now I must have a cucamelon! Great post.

    • Kristy Gardner
      July 29, 2013 at 5:44 PM

      haha – do try to Teresa! They’re like a cucumber, but not quite. Plus they make it super cute. 🙂

  • Sam
    July 29, 2013 at 3:31 PM

    I need to remember to appreciate the small things. The cat rolling around in the spot of sun on the floor. A nice cup of iced coffee. Brooklyn apartments. 😛

    • Kristy Gardner
      July 29, 2013 at 5:44 PM

      absolutely!! One day, Sam… one day. eventually.

  • Becky
    July 29, 2013 at 8:31 PM

    I’m growing those in my garden this year and trying to figure out how to pickle them. They are the cutest little things, aren’t they?

    • Kristy Gardner
      August 4, 2013 at 10:59 AM

      ha! i was thinking pickling would be what elevated this dish. let me know how it goes for you!

  • Kirsten
    July 30, 2013 at 3:49 AM

    holding my spouse’s hand. (the holding is the tiny thing, the hand . . . it is not tiny)
    the first sip of tea, especially on cold mornings but really any day I’ve got half and half to add to it.
    my dog, inviting me out on an evening walk.

    your photos are lovely–makes me hope I get a cucamelon in the farm share.

    • Kristy Gardner
      August 4, 2013 at 11:00 AM

      love all of those, kirsten…

      …and congrats on the not so tiny hands 😉

  • Juggling Real Food and Real Life
    August 2, 2013 at 7:07 PM

    Cucamelons. I’ve never heard of them before. Now I have to find them. Their green is so beautiful. It would be hilarious to see my family’s faces as I served this to them. I can just imagine the puzzled looks I would get. I try to enjoy the small things in life. I don’t have a glamorous life, but I have a life full of small joys all the time. Holding my daughter’s hand as we walk through the farmer’s market. Sleepy smiles in the moring from my youngest son. I secretly enjoy that my older boys are now making me “short mom” as they have long passed me up in size.

    • Kristy Gardner
      August 4, 2013 at 11:01 AM

      aw – isn’t it funny how we all get so bent out of shape about so many things but there seems to be a common thread here: human connection. particularly with those closest to us. i guess it’s the little things – but mostly the love – that matters.

  • Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
    August 12, 2013 at 11:29 PM

    You are quite right my dear. It is the little things…realizing the Hubby got my coffee ready to go before he took off for the week, snipping some fresh lavender from the yard and putting it on my kitchen windowsill, enjoying a glass of wine while I catch up on blog commenting…namely yours. Thank god for Instagram or else I would miss our crazy interactions.
    This Cucamelon Bruschetta is genius.

    • Kristy Gardner
      August 16, 2013 at 8:18 PM

      oooooh i love love lOVE cutting fresh herbs. so peaceful…(and i know there’s something right yummy on the way!).

      also heart instagram. i’ve been thinking about public banana but every urge i have is too dirty. 😉 not THAT dirty… that came out wrong. haha..

  • lawstudentscookbook
    August 16, 2013 at 6:25 AM

    Those are the cutest little cucamelons! I want one. But I’ve never seen these before.

    • Kristy Gardner
      August 16, 2013 at 8:19 PM

      I hadn’t either! They were toats adorbs!

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    August 16, 2013 at 10:21 PM

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  • Heather @ InHerChucks
    August 22, 2013 at 5:30 AM

    Thanks for sharing such a yummy recipe with the rest of the party. Glad to know I’m not the only one who finds joy in the tiny things 🙂

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