(ARA) - Whether salads are pre-packaged or fresh from your garden, medleys of fresh fruits and vegetables are without a doubt a summertime favorite for cookouts and family gatherings.

This season, dress up your salads with pure honey.  Honey is an all-natural sweetener that can add extra zest or a slightly sweet flavor to any salad.  Pure honey also can help your dressings cling to your veggies and not trickle to the bottom of your plate.  The National Honey Board provides recipes for a variety of quick and easy dressings, perfect for fruit and vegetable salads.

Making a homemade honey vinaigrette can be as easy as combining equal parts olive oil and honey, adding balsamic or red wine vinegar and seasoning with your favorite Italian herbs or lemon juice, and salt and pepper.

Different varieties of honey boost the flavor in a dressing.  A sweet, fruity-flavored honey such as orange blossom will complement an assortment of fruits such as melons, berries and citrus.  A mild-tasting honey, such as clover, adds a unique flavor to both vegetable and fruit salads.  Be  sure to check the label to ensure the product you purchase is 100 percent pure honey.

From a Spicy Honey Vinaigrette to a Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, these recipes will make your salad a sweet success at summer gatherings.  For additional food and beverage recipes using pure honey, visit www.honey.com, or to find a locally produced or special honey variety, visit www.honeylocator.com.

RECIPES:

Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients:
1/2 cup pure Honey
1/2 cup Lime Juice
Nutmeg or cinnamon, pinch
4 cups sliced fruit (a combination of berries, apples, melon, etc.)

Directions:
In blender or food processor, combine honey, juice and seasoning; blend until smooth.  In a medium bowl, toss fruit with dressing and chill until ready to serve.

Spicy Honey Vinaigrette

Makes 3/4 Cup

Ingredients:
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons pure Honey
2 tablespoons prepared Szechwan sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 small clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon grated ginger root
1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions:
Combine all ingredients except oil; mix well. Gradually whisk in oil; blend well.  Toss dressing with mixed greens, peppers, radishes and mandarin oranges.  Serve immediately.

Courtesy of ARA Content