Cool As A Cucumber Tzatziki Sauce

The heat of summer is upon us and my garden is overflowing with goodness! Almost everyday I take a walk around the garden boxes and containers and take an informal inventory on what is available. We have been doing this for a few months now and this is the basis for what we have for dinner each night.
I read something recently about foregoing recipes in your cooking. I find myself using recipes less and less. Instead, I take my inventory and try to come up with something with the freshly picked ingredients!
These hot summer evenings have us craving something simple, fresh and cooling. When my gardening neighbor Adam tossed me a couple of freshly picked cucumbers over the fence I decided I could make a meal out of tzatziki sauce. (My own cucumbers haven't matured yet!)

I picked juicy cherry red tomatoes, bright green zucchini and a small golden yellow summer squash. I pulled up the last of the first planting of carrots. Then I came up with this idea for the tzatziki...
I started with a 17.6 ounce container of FAGE Total Greek yogurt. I picked this because I didn't need to pre-strain it.

I peeled a large cucumber fresh from the garden. Then I diced it up in very small pieces. I chose not to grate it as I like the little fresh chunks of cooling cucumber. I put these tiny chunks on a paper towel to drain a bit before adding to the yogurt.

I have been looking for ways to use all the lovely fresh mint growing in containers around the yard. I decided to use mint in this sauce instead of dill. Either works great. I have to say, I was really HAPPY with the mint and have since made several batches the same way!

Cool As A Cucumber Tzatziki Sauce

1- 17.6 oz. container of strained yogurt
1 - fresh cucumber
2 - TBSP of fresh lemon juice
3 - cloves of garlic finely chopped or minced
1 or 2 TBSP of finely chopped fresh mint (or dill)
salt and pepper to taste
drizzle of good quality olive oil

When the cucumber was drained I added it to the yogurt. Then add the rest of the ingredients. Feel free to add more or less of any of the ingredients. Taste as you go!

Slowly drizzle a tablespoon or two of olive oil and gently incorporate.

That's it! It is so quick and easy. Bonus...no stove or oven necessary!

I served it with the fresh halved tomatoes, carrot sticks, summer squash and zucchini slices and GMO free golden round crackers...(you know, like Ritz, but without all the sketchy stuff)

Maybe it's the light and lovely cooling effect, the fresh pop of flavor and goodness or all the amazing fresh veggies...but, I've made this several times and everyone goes crazy for it!

Now...off to the garden to figure out what's next...!