This month’s recipe comes from registered historian Laura Lee (MO#1184), whose passion for Schenectady’s rich history of collaborative governance extends all the way back to the 17th century, more than a century before the Declaration of 1776 that initiated a new nation of diverse people. As the archivist/historian for the First Reformed Church of Schenectady and a founding member of the Colonial Schenectady Project who has been active with several regional historical societies and museums, Laura is quick to note that the early days of Schenectady were rooted in cooperative relationships among European settlers and Haudenosaunee communities.  For instance, church records dating back to the late 1600s reflect a thriving intercultural community with extensive diversity well before the revolution and long after. In the 1800s, one of the church's congregants - a grocer and abolitionist by the name of Isaac Groot Duryee - went on to co-found the first African-American church in Schenectady, known now as the Duryee Memorial AME Zion Church), in 1837. Laura is passionate about lifting up the untold stories of diverse Schenectadians, reflected by her collaboration with Mrs. Marsha Mortimore on Black history as well as the Harriet Tubman & William Seward statue and Dr. Elizabeth Gillette statue soon to be erected. Here is Laura Lee in colonial attire, representing the women of Schenectady at the Bicentennial Commemoration of the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1825 return to Schenectady. 

Laura is thrilled that the Electric City Community Grocery is recognizing the importance of the 4th of July and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and participating in celebrations that gather diverse people together. The recipe she found to share celebrates her love for Stars, Stripes, and Human Rights, and the diverse textures, flavors, and colors of Schenectady and the United States of America. Blueberries are one of the only fruits native to North America/Turtle Island (and are even called "star berries" by some Indigenous communities). Watermelon's history dates back 5000 years to southern Africa where the tough, drought-tolerant ancestor of watermelon thrived. Feta cheese originated in Greece, where it has been made for thousands of years, with mentions dating back to Homer's Odyssey. 

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

• 1/3 cup olive oil

• 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

SALAD:

• 6 cups fresh arugula (about 5 ounces)

• 1-1/2 cups fresh blueberries

• 5 cups cubed seedless watermelon

• 1 package (8 ounces) feta cheese, cut into 1/2-in. cubes

Directions

1. For vinaigrette, in a small bowl, whisk the first 6 ingredients; gradually whisk in oil until blended. Stir in onion.

2. In a large bowl, lightly toss arugula with 1/4 cup vinaigrette. Arrange evenly in a large rectangular serving dish.

3. For stars, place blueberries over arugula at the top left corner. For stripes, arrange watermelon and cheese in alternating rows. Drizzle with remaining vinaigrette. Serve immediately.