Good Dinner Mrs. Mellen

I am not much of a kitchen gadget person; basic kitchen tools are my go to for cooking. So when my son purchased an air fryer which he said was perfect for achieving juicy food, crisp on the outside without frying or using oil and suggested I purchase one I didn't give ti too much thought until he gave ma a gift card for Williams Sonoma for Christmas that covered the purchase. Philips Airfryer with TurboStar Avance from Williams Sonoma. At first I tried the basics, chicken wings, ribs and more. Then I turned to vegetables which I just find fabulous in the air fryer especially beets. Fresh beets are so good for you and in my air fryer a no mess quick method for cooking. After cooking the beets I just store in the refrigerator to use on salads for added flavor and color.    Air Fryer Beets 3-4 fresh beets, peeled sea salt Sprinkle beets with sea salt and place in air fryer. 'Fry' at 400F for 20 minutes.  I used the cooked beets in my recipe below!

Nothing say summer more than a beautiful Caprese Salad. I love using farm fresh Heirloom tomatoes in alternating colors. You can use any type of tomatoes as long as the are freshly kissed by the sun not a water down hot house variety. Here in New England we anxiously wait through our long, cold, snowy winters for the local summer produce to appear in famers markets in all the charming towns indicative to our area. In the town that I live in Wednesday is farmer's market day or if I am on Martha's Vineyard you'll find me Saturday mornings at the West Tisbury Farm market. Being of Italian heritage tomatoes are part of our fabric and growing up I benefited from my grandparents large garden with filled with all different tomatoes varieties; some like plum tomatoes my grandmother canned to use during the winter; others like  Bonnie Original ,  Big Beef ,  Red Beefsteak  heirloom, Better Boy and  Cherokee Purple , we sliced for salad and sandwiches. My grandparents u