Tomato Melon Salad

OK, everybody. You need to get your buns to a farmer's market pronto and find yourself some heirloom tomatoes. I just created the most delicious end-of-summer tomato salad, and I think you need to do the same.

Here are the ingredients:

• a really delicious and hearty heirloom tomato (according to our local farmer, the one I used was an old seed variety "rescued" from Ukraine during the McCarthy era)
• ripe cantaloupe (usually I don't touch the stuff, but the husband bought one days ago and was having a hard time eating through the whole thing by himself...)
• fresh mozzarella cheese (you could use those cute little bocatini mozzarella balls to add some interesting shape to your salad)
• fresh basil leaves
• balsamic vinegar
• olive oil
• course salt

Now this couldn't be easier:  Cube the tomato, cantaloupe, and mozzarella (unless you're using the bocatini) and toss them all in a bowl in whatever ratio you would like. Sprinkle with a generous pinch of course salt, drizzle on a couple tablespoons of olive oil and about half as much balsamic vinegar, and toss to coat everything. Chiffonade some basil leaves (roll the leaves up and slice them very thinly to create little basil "ribbons") and carefully stir them in. 

Voila! A sweet and juicy salad, perfect for a relaxing summer day.