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When July 4 emerged as a steam bath in these parts, I decided I’d go with fruit salad for the holiday potluck; I couldn’t bear to turn on the oven for the roasted-potato salad I’d planned.

I turned to the Summer Fruit Salad with Mint Sugar available on Epicurious that I first found in my Gourmet cookbook. It’s as easy and delicious as you could hope for. It keeps the kitchen cool and has an extra cooling effect, thanks to the refreshing mint in it.

I have to admit that the first time I made this salad, I was skeptical, but give it a try. It makes a plain fruit bowl special. For my salad yesterday, I used sweet cherries (which are a snap to pit with any manner of cherry pitter), seedless green grapes, and bite-size pieces of cantaloupe, a very pretty combination, I must say.