Crisp Cucumber Salad

I was examining cucumbers in the produce isle when OC -- the man who, when we were courting, told me he would eat anything -- mentions casually that he doesn't particularly care for cucumbers. I'm not going to tell you how many times I've head the, "I don't particularly care for ..." phrase in the last couple of months, but I can tell you that I'd heard it enough by the time he applied it to the cucumber that my mental response was, "Tough!"

I put the cucumber in our shopping cart and told him, "I am going to make a cucumber salad. If you don't like it, you don't have to eat it." Well, I made the salad and guess what?

Yep.

He likes it.

Crisp Cucumber Salad

1 medium cucumber
1 small sweet onion*
1/4 cup sour cream
vinegar
water
pepper

Scrub the cucumber and score the peel by scraping down the sides of the cucumber with fork tines. Cut the cucumber into thin slices. Cut the sweet onion into thin slices. Mix the cucumber and onion slices together in a bowl. Cover the mixed slices with a 50-50 solution of vinegar and water. Marinate overnight (or all day). Just before serving drain the slices. (Do not pat or shake them dry, allow them to retain some moisture.) Spoon the sour cream over the slices, add pepper to taste, and stir. Arrange on plates and garnish with sour cream, fresh carrot sticks and the greenery of your choice. Serve chilled.

This salad does not keep well and is best eaten fresh. (It continues to pickle and gets stronger.) Try to eat within 24 hours.

*The photo does not show whole onion slices because I only had half of a large onion on hand. It tasted the same, but didn't look as pretty.

70 Years of . . . Yum?

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Spam,
Happy birthday to you!

Yep, you heard me correctly. Today is the 70th Birthday of Spam canned luncheon meat. OC called me from work to tell me he'd read about it on the front page of the paper during his morning commute. I teased him a bit and promised him I would go to the store and get him some Spam for dinner. He demurred, but encouraged me to read his post.

The Monty Python skit brought a recipe to mind. I thought I'd share it with you.

Spam Spread

1 can Spam, diced
1/4 cup finely diced onion
1/4 cup finely diced dill pickle (or sweet pickle if you swing that way)
1/4 cup mayo (or Miracle Whip if you're that type)
1 tbs. spicy brown mustard (You can use the plain stuff, but why bother?)

Mix. Chill. Spread on your favorite bread or cracker. Try to convince your loved ones to eat it.

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