If you are into cucumbers like me, here are some great cucumber recipes for Spring!!
Afternoon Tea Sandwiches
These Afternoon Tea Sandwiches are an easy, elegant and a very pretty little bite, perfect for a luncheon, a baby or bridal shower. Make them as appetizers for a buffet, a casual BBQ or picnic and great afterschool snack, healthy and light. While there is the classic English Tea cucumber sandwich on crustless white bread with butter, I am including some tasty additions that are as pretty a presentation, as elegant an appetizer and as appealing a snack! English cucumbers are the best to use, with a thin skin that you don’t need to peel and few seeds.
While white bread is traditional, use any soft bread of choice. If you lean towards artisanal or crusty French bread, slice it as thin as you can for ease of picking up and eating in a bite. Cut in triangles, squares or circles. Save any leftover pieces of bread for homemade breadcrumbs! Kids may love raisin bread and olive and nut bread would add a slightly more filling sandwich. The rule is to keep it small, easy to pick and eat in one bite. After that—just remember, it’s your kitchen!!
Foodie Lit
There are numerous memoirs and historical novels about the Inquisition and the Holocaust, often detailing the horrors that individuals had to endure, those who survived and those who did not. This is not the first work of Susan Shalev’s to deal with the Holocaust. The first was a fictionalized version of the experiences of her mother-in-law. “I hope that my stories create characters who are easier to relate to or empathize with, and perhaps discourage Jew hatred. Unfortunately, I fear that we are past the point of no return as far as ingrained antisemitism is concerned. I also think that these bigots are not my readership. But I pray for better times.”
Afternoon Tea Sandwiches
Serves 7-12 as an appetizer, 40 mini sandwiches.
1 English cucumber or 3-4 mini cucumbers
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons mayonnaise or yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons, chopped chives or green onion tops, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons chopped dill
2 teaspoons chopped parsley
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 or 2 grinds black pepper, to taste
Butter, softened
1 loaf, bread of choice
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Mise en place--gather the ingredients together.
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Cucumbers: With a fork, press tines into flesh of cucumber and make vertical lines down the length, turning to cover all the surface. Slice thinly on. A mandolin or by hand. Place in a colander, sprinkle with kosher salt and let drain for 15 minutes.
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Cream Cheese Spread: By hand or in a mixer, blend the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice, chives, dill, parsley, garlic powder and black pepper until thoroughly mixed and very smooth. Keep at room temperature for ease of spreading. You can buy a prepared herb spread but i will say this homemade spread is very delicious and not difficult to make!
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Place bread on a clean surface. Cut crusts off if desired. (Save for breadcrumbs!) Spread butter on each slice. Then spread the cream cheese mixture thinly onto each piece of bread.
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Remove cucumbers from colander and pat gently to remove any moisture and excess salt.
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Place cucumber slices next to each other on each piece of bread. Add one or more of the choices below, as per your personal preference.
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Add a slice of lox and fresh or dried dill.
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Add a thin radish slice.
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Add watercress or small leaf of lettuce.
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Add 1 teaspoon of smashed chickpeas.
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Add a small slice of cheese.
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When you have completed your filling, spread more cream cheese mixture on the second slice of bread. Place the second piece of bread on top, cream cheese mixture side down. Holding the bread firmly, slice into triangles, squares or deired shape. Place any extra cream cheese mixture in a lidded container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to a week.
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These sandwiches are best eaten immediately or within an hour or so. If you need to wait to serve, place paper towels on top to absorb any moisture and refrigerate.
Expandthetable suggestions
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Vegan: Use a vegan cream cheese, mayonnaise and margarin. You can also substitute hummus for the cream cheese spread for a Middle Eastern twist.
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Bread: Use different kinds of bread for an appealing color assortment. White bread, party size rye or pumpernickel create a very nice presentation!
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Open Face: If using a crusty or artisanal bread, keep the sandwich open face for ease of eating. Press the cucumbers down into the cream cheese to keep in place.
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Herbs: Use mint instead of dill for a light summery flavor.
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Crackers: Use crackers in place of bread for an easy snack or hor d’oeuvre.
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Seasoned cream cheese spread: Save time with a prepared seasoned cream cheese spread.
