Mustard and Mayonnaise over Fried Cucumbers

 

Um, yum? I'm not entirely sure about this one but I would give it a try.

Ingredients

2 egg yolks

1/4 cup hot water

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 Tablespoon vinegar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoons dry mustard

1 Tablespoon chopped chives

Process

"Stir oil into egg yolks a few drops at a time. Mix vinegar and water and pour into mixture slowly. Cook in double boiler until sauce thickens. Add seasonings and chives. 

Pout over prepared cucumbers. 

 

Cucumber prep: cut lengthwise and then in 1/2 slices. Dip in egg and bread crumbs and then fried in butter. "

Fermenting Pickles

Alton Brown made SP do it.
I blame him.
We are bravely entering the world of fermented foods.
Wish us luck.
Recipe HERE.

Cucumber Sandwiches

Meet my favorite summer sandwich. HiHo loved making cucumber sandwiches. My kids ask for them by name. Friends want me to fax them and there is none other can compare. My making of these sandwiches has been compared to OCD and has rendered other people incapable of making sandwiches. They are so good, SP at them while mowing the lawn.

Meet the cast of characters - a simple line up.

Ingredients











1/4 to 1/2 a red onion, minced
White Bread, preferably Pepperidge Farm
Hellmann's Mayo
one cucumber (yea there's 4 in the picture but you only need one)
lemon pepper
salt and pepper to taste

Process
1. Mince your onion

















2. Fork your cucumber - yes you take a fork and drag it down the skin, cutting slits into the skin and therefore softening it and beautifying it for your future slicing.
Yes and because HiHo taught me how.

























3. Slice your cucumber thinly.
















4. Lay out your bread into an assembly line.

















5. Spread mayonnaise, salt, pepper and lemon pepper on slices of bread.


















6. Sprinkle a layer of red onion down, and then cover it with a layer of cucumbers.















7. Close your sandwich and press.















8. Cut into different shapes, and arrange on a plate.

Greek Cucumber Salad

Ingredients
2 large cucumbers
several handfuls of string beans, trimmed and then cut into 1 inch pieces.
1/4 to 1/2 pound of pitted Kalamata olives, coarsely chopped
1 cup crumbled Feta cheese
EVOO
a touch of Balsamic Vinegar or Red Wine Vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Process

1. Peel the cucumber, cut in half length wise, and then cut 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices.
2. Put cucumber in bowl and add prepared beans and olives and mix completely.
3. Add Feta and toss gently with EVOO and Vinegar of choice.
4. Season to taste.

Bread and Butter Pickles

I finally made a recipe for these that worked! It is straight out of my Ball jar book. I am excited to have enough of them to give away this year. The best part is that when they were done and I started to can them, the family was outside working or playing on a cool October afternoon. So I decided to bring a warm ladle outdoors for everyone to try.

Who knew that warm pickles had a spot to be hit!? It was PERFECT!
Even the baby loved them, and yes he is wearing his big brother's batting helmet.

Bread and Butter Pickles
*I doubled the recipe the first time I made it and it was perfect!

Ingredients
4 pounds 4 to 6 inch cucumbers, cut into slices
2 pounds onions, about 8 small, thinly sliced
1/3 cup canning salt
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons mustard seed
2 teaspoons turmeric
2 teaspoons celery seed
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon peppercorns
3 cups vinegar

Process

1. If you plan to use a hot water canner, fill it with clean jars and water and bring to a boil.
2. Combine cucumber and onion slices in layers in a bowl. Layer with the salt.
   
3. Cover with ice cubes. Let stand 1.5 hours (or more).
4. Pour into colander.
5. Drain. Rinse. Drain. Rinse. Repeat if necessary and turn batch with your hands. You don't want them to be too salty! Put aside.
   
6. Combine remaining ingredients in a large sauce pot and bring to a boil.
   
7. Add drained cucumbers and onions and return to a boil.
   
8. Pack hot pickles and liquid into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space. (warm pickles made a great snack on an autumn afternoon!)
   
9. Remove air bubbles. Adjust 2 piece caps.
   
10. Process 10 minutes at a rolling boil in hot water canner.
    
11. Yields about 7 pints.
    

Enjoy!