ITALIAN CUCUMBER AND TOMATO SALAD

This Italian Cucumber and Tomato Salad is so delicious, especially when one has an abundance of tomatoes in the garden. For a dinner party, you can also bump it up a notch with artichoke hearts but it is delicious as is. Simple and flavorful ingredients make this cucumber and tomato salad a heaven salad.

Ingredients:

For the vegetables:

• 5 large tomatoes (fresh and fully ripe; tomatoes on the vine are a very good choice)
• 1 pinch brown sugar
• 1 English cucumber (fresh and firm)
• 1/2 large red onion
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh Italian parsley
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 pinch kosher salt
• 1 pinch black pepper

For the dressing:

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (very good quality)
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 2 garlic cloves (pressed)
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp dried oregano