Watermelon Feta + Basil Quinoa.
You know how a few weeks ago I mentioned some of the spring cleaning I was doing, and by spring cleaning I really mean going through my closet and trying on things with super high stilettos in order to procrastinate traditional spring cleaning?
It’s the truth.
Well. Yesterday I found a drawer that I missed. I don’t know how you miss a drawer, what with only six or so in your bedroom, but I succeeded at this. In said drawer were skirts. Like a lot of skirts. Denim skirts specifically, from American Eagle circa high school or college or something during that time period when American Eagle made the best denim skirts EVER and if you were anywhere between the ages of 14 and 21, you most likely owned two or three. So typically… I owned two or three.
The thing was, these skirts? They were like… SO FREAKING SHORT. Did I really wear these short skirts? I’m sort of embarrassed for myself. I mean I was trying them on and basically felt naked. It was like I was wearing a bathing suit bottom. One wrong move and I’d be in trouble. But seriously, I must be getting so old because I don’t even remember wearing these specific ones Ugh. I’m definitely getting old. I’m so boring.
Like, what did I wear with this dark wash skirt? And why did I pay what I can only assume was a small fortune for the very light washed skirt, that was totally weathered and torn and frayed? Not because I weathered and tore it myself, but because when you’re 18 it’s your life goal to buy a pair of jeans for $89 with a 2-week paycheck that are already torn to shreds.
Oh but get this. The most gruesome of the discoveries was all the way at the very bottom, where I spied a just-as-short CAMO skirt, Abercrombie circa a time period I’d like to forget. I hesitate to even speak of such horror because my husband is going to flame me when he gets home since I’ve tortured him endlessly about his Dale Jr cutoff’s and puffy camo winter jacket. Oh and the entire camo Under Armor line that he wishes was in his possession yesterday. It just wasn’t that the skirt is a blatantly obnoxious camouflage print – I do distinctly remember wearing some cute olive and taupe tanks with it for some sort of… outfit – but it’s the fact that the darn skirt is literally as long as it is wide. It’s like an actual square. Why I found this length appropriate to put on my body at some point and show my face in public, I have no idea.
Also noted: why I’m scared to death to have a child someday.
Now the worst, and especially embarrassing part? I didn’t get rid of the skirts. I know. TECHNICALLY it wasn’t really my fault. I mean, I totally was planning on tossing them in a bag to donate later this week, but in true Jessica fashion (um, definitely no pun intended) I got distracted mid-project because I heard Tell It To My Heart blasting from my iPod downstairs and had a spontaneous dance party, then started watching old True Blood clips, then read enough celeb gossip to make my head explode, then went for a walk and made dinner and by the time bedtime came along… those stupid skirts ended up back in the drawer that they came from as an easy out.
Now, if anyone sees me wearing one, you must promise to punch me in the face.
The only redeeming quality of my day was lunch and dinner, both which consisted of some leftover watermelon feta salad. And I use the term “leftover” loosely, since I didn’t have a chance to eat it the day before and inhaled the entire batch in two sittings.
I tried my twist on this trendy combination meshed with quinoa, because it’s one of those things that’s actually healthy that I adore. This here is sweet and savory, served cold for summer, and during these scorching months when my appetite tends to disappear in the heat of the day, it makes for the perfect light meal and is a superior pre-ice cream choice. Easiest side dish ever.
Watermelon Feta + Basil Quinoa
serves 2-4 generously
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed (I used a mix of TJ’s tricolor quinoa)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh watermelon
1 tablespoon honey
2/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
15-20 basil leaves, chopped
the juice of 1 lime
Cook rinsed quinoa according to directions on package (which is most likely a 1:2 quinoa to water ratio). Let quinoa cool completely and toss with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper.
Toss chopped watermelon with 1/4 teaspoon salt and drizzle with honey. In a large bowl, combine cool (or even cold) quinoa, watermelon, crumbled feta and basil. Toss well, then squeeze in lime juice and toss again. Serve!
The heat may take away my desire to chew but it never takes away my desire to suck a margarita through a straw. This is a fact.
162 Comments on “Watermelon Feta + Basil Quinoa.”
One of my favorite things about Summer is all of the fresh produce available and watermelon tops the list! This would be the perfect side dish for just about any BBQ food. I love it! :-D
This watermelon quinoa looks so refreshing and delicious!
This post made me laugh out loud! I had one of those drawers of mini skirts, too. What was I thinking? Did I think that was a good look for me? I see young girls wearing those 4 inch skirts now and I think…”just wait”! Not good…
Love this combo! And love your story…we’ve all been there. At one time 80% of my wardrobe was from American Eagle. Yep.
Lovely combo of flavours. There’s something about the creamy cheese with watermelon that does it for me everytime.
Oh, what a refreshing and wonderful dish!!! I love watermelon!!! Can’t wait to try this recipe!!
That looks amazing. I kind of forgot about quinoa somehow (I know, how weird, right?), but you brought it right back to me. We are going to have quinoa for dinner this week. Promise. Maybe even this delicious looking recipe.
And I don’t think I could punch you in the face, even if you were wearing a skirt like that. I might even join you. It must feel some kind of liberating to look utterly ridiculous from time to time, don’t you think? ;-)
I had to laugh at this post. I never could figure out why people would buy ripped and faded jeans even when I was in high school, nor did I ever own square short skirts… but I have several t-shirts I pulled out of the dark recesses of my closet. I have way too many clothes and not enough room for the 3 or 5 things I actually wear. I gasped in horror at my PURPLE camo t-shirt and shoved it back into the drawer. I don’t dare scare the people at Goodwill with it.
So now I’m in the same boat, more time spent “weeding” through my closets and dressers and very little progress made. :)
Ooh this looks delicious! About skirts, that is SO funny that you mentioned them because I literally just cleaned out my dresser about a week ago, and in it I found 2 RIDICULOUSLY short, pre-ripped to shreds American Eagle skirts that I guess I was hanging on to “just in case”. I brought myself to throwing them out (because I don’t think even people at the Goodwill would want them, but they definitely brought back memories!
So fun, and such a neat idea!
Love love love this idea… and TOTALLY just ditched some skirts of the same caliber…
Oh gosh. Those skirts! …. I love looking into the past through the woredrobe – but it scares me a little each and every time. I actually wore that stuff!
Love watermelon, feta, basil, and quinoa! I’m pretty sure I would love this!!!
Ummmmm… I still have an A&F skirt circa 2004 where the pockets hang lower than the frayed hem. I still have it for the hope that a) I will have some sort of theme party to go to and b) if any of my gf’s come over I want to show them how cool we were. I used to rock that with layered graphic tees, a ribbon belt and those GAWD AWFUL platform wedge flip flop things.
Oh those skirts…
I love when we are in sync. I recently discovered an old A&E NEON YELLOW SKIRT that I rocked (I use that term lightly) in the good ole’ GCC days. Three cheers for finding that sucker right when they obnoxious color is back in style. Also, all I’ve been craving during and after workouts is sweet, cold watermelon dripping down my face. Tasty.
FYI your instagram has seemed to redeem itself. Thank God.
Oh thank goodness!
Amen to the margaritas in the heat! Why are they so refreshing? And why doesn’t my husband consider that dinner??
Oh Lawd… i WORKED at American Eagle through high school and most of college – I shudder to think of the way my paycheck went right back to the company every. single. week. and I *may* have had a mini skirt that was… overalls on top…
OH my.
LOL this post was fun to read, I still love American Eagle, their jeans are very comfortable! I always enjoyed pairing watermelon with feta cheese, but never thought of adding a grain to make it a whole meal!
My denim skirt from Abercrombie has a lace trim, lace patchwork, and frayed strings falling down the bottom. I remember I had to save in order to buy it because my mom wouldn’t buy it for me. I WONDER WHY. This skirt is so embarassing and yes, it’s still in my closet.
On a much more pleasing note, I’d like to say HECK YEAH to this quinoa recipe!! Loving the combo of flavors, kinda like your watermelon salsa and then throwing crumbly feta (which makes everything better!). Yum!
I, too, am 29 and have a drawer full of old, short skirts that I can’t part with. One is even pink camo. Another gem is turquoise and stretchy and says Abercrombie on the band above the butt. The band is basically the same width as the fabric that ‘covers’ my ass. Another is an American Eagle denim mini that I actually CUT because it wasn’t short enough! The worst thing is that I am pretty sure some of these skirts accompianied me to the bar in February…and I live in Canada. So effing inappropriate. Yet, I can’t throw them out.
Gah I LOVED those skirts from abercrombie… I have some too, couldn’t bear to give away.
Saving up a 2 week paycheck to buy $89 jeans…yup, that was me! How embarrassing! haha
yeah for fruit + feta! i made strawberry and feta skewers today.
uh….worse? i had a pair of blue camo/faded-ish JEANS. was i in the service? no. was i in rotc? nope. was i gangsta? i guess i thought i was. so, so bad.
Brilliant. Looks so good.
P.S. I still have all of my American Eagle skirts.
Totally went through similar phases!! If I could turn back time….
Watermelon + feta cheese = a match made in heaven.
I 100% owned both the tattered american eagle jean skirt AND the camo abercrombie square of fabric. And the jean skirt may or may not still be hanging in my closet. But I at least had the decency to trash the camo one. I hope I’m blessed with all boys, I can’t even handle teenage girl fashion.
I wish I had your decency! Maybe today. :)
I was never (un?)fortunate enough to get one of the skirts you talked about. But my sister did, and man was I jealous! I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend $56 on 4 square inches of fabric? Your post put the whole thing into perspective. As always, great writing and recipes, Jessica!
Love the flavor combo of this salad! Perfect for summer!
YUM! i have made a similar salad with mint instead of basil! so good!
I had one of those “seriously, how did I wear this?!” moments while trying on my free people dresses from a few Summers back. They’ve been retired!
This salad looks so refreshing, and I’m on a quinoa kick right now!
Your recipe looks beautiful and I can see these ingredients blending well together.
I could sure identify with your skirt dilemma. I have so many clothes in my closet too that I have become attached to as well. You are not alone. So Funny!
oh yes i had many an abercrombie and american eagle skirt that i used to proudly wear. the best ones were the stretchy fabric ones with the words abercrombie across the butt. good times.
this quinoa looks delicious!
Always looking for things to do with watermelon. Thanks! (By the way, it’s okay to hide old clothes, hehe)
I have that terrifically (terribly?) short camo skirt too. did you notice I said HAVE? can’t get rid of it.
my first real job after college, I had to wear suits every day… I’d buy skirt suits, and have the skirts hemmed higher. shorter. geez.
Great looking salad…watermelon is on steady rotation around here.
And I see girls in the mall that are jr. high to early college-age wearing some of the shortest shorts and skirts. Sometimes I am like did I really wear things that short? I plan to give my daughter some guidance in that department when she’s older!
ugh, i got embarrassed for myself the other day just THINKING about the skirts and shirts i used to wear. yowzers…
I just bought quinoa for the first time. So excited to try some new recipes.
I’m dying laughing over here. I had the same skirts. Funny thing is I also had a CAMO skirt, inherited from my older – and much more fashionable – sister. I think I tried them on before we were moving (and purging stuff) and I almost died. I guess it’s one of those things you only understand when you are in the moment…funny thing is the skirts look even shorter these days.
You are SO funny. Glad I’m not the only one who has a tendency to become preoccupied when cleaning. This salad looks quite yummy even though I’ve never been a fan of watermelon. Weird, I know, but I can only eat it if it’s really cold on a very, very hot day. I dunno, maybe I was traumatized with watermelon as a kid.
Too funny- I can’t believe how obsessed I was with A&F and the amount of money that I gave that place!
hahaha this made me laugh out loud – I definitely had (have!) a few of those skirts! I hope I never have daughters :) On a side note, this recipe looks amazing and summery and a must try.
Let me just paint you a picture:
American Eagle skirt, frayed, hole-y, too short, aka perfect back in the day.
Wore it for my drivers test because it was “lucky”
Passed my test, on cloud nine (rocked parallel parking bitchesss)
Got home with so much excitement, caught my seat belt in one of the holes and tore the skirt in half.
Such a sad, sad day. But now I look back and cringe.
The other day I was digging around in my closet for a pair of shorts because it was finally hot enough to wear them, and lo and behold, I also discovered a jean skirt, circa junior year of high school. It had glitter on the pockets and a frayed bottom. Truly horrendous, so I obviously put it right back where it was. I wish I knew why.
On another note this summer salad looks fantastic. Definitely saving this recipe!
I definitely had my fair share of those skirts! My brother liked to call them “belts.” One even had pockets that were longer than the actual skirt…..embarrassing!
I had the same horrible discovery while tossing out pregnancy clothes… THRILLED to toss those but why on earth did I still have skirts that haven’t been able to fit over my hips since high school? I have no idea. It’s just baffling. I’m scared…I have 2 girls… save me.
This sounds like a refreshing summer grain party for my mouth!
I laughed so hard at the whole skirt shenanigan! I have THE SAME problem- can’t throw them away…can’t wear them…and all are AE brand. Gosh American Eagle..why oh why were you supporting teenage crazy skin showing?! And why oh why did I give in?!!?!? GAW!
LOVE the watermelon feta combo!
Also, my skirt was PINK camo and shredded all over and about 4 inches long! And ooomygosh i just remembered… I think there were also pink camo cargo pants, the kind with drawstrings at the ankles so you could cinch them up! Ugh! What was I thinking?
I have thankfully removed those from my closet… but there are still some tiny denim scraps of fabric hiding in there, that I could not in my wildest dreams fit into I might add.
OMG LOVE THIS!!!!! OBSESSED!!!! can’t wait to make it myself!!!!
Just saved this recipe… and also just gave away the same three skirts just a few weeks ago… except one may have been from abercrombie. gag.
This post made me laugh so hard!! I always find old clothes of mine and wonder what in the world I was thinking!??
Anyway, this looks delicious!!
Just wait til you’re 53 and have the belly of Jabba the Hut and you still have your size 26 men’s levi’s tucked away because you’re just CERTAIN that you’ll have that 15 year old boy’s body again some day. SIGH.
That recipe looks fantastic. I’d be woofing it down all by myself as hubby has an aversion to watermelon (he’s not right)