This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy was my first dog and he thought the garden was his, even though I did all the work. Now Suzie and Charley follow in his footsteps. We're located near Boston (USDA zone 6A). I have a community plot, a backyard vegetable garden, fruit trees, berry bushes, chickens, and bees. I use sustainable organic methods and do my best to grow all of my family's vegetables myself.
What a great haul of cukes! My all-time favorite recipe is this White Gazpacho from Martha Stewart http://www.marthastewart.com/347308/white-gazpacho. It is absolutely delicious; it really tastes of summer and is an excellent showcase for garden cukes.
i have not one but two go-to recipes for cucumbery abundance. one is for a sweet pickle that i make by the gallon, as dh loves it. if you're not a fan of sweet pickles, another one i use that uses up tons of cukes is my recipe for cucumber relish. both of these are canning projects, however. not sure if you're into canning or not. contact me if you're interested!
yes! we make a great grain salad that's perfect for hot weather. it's: red quinoa, cukes, feta cheese, red onion, pan fried chickpeas, mint, olive oil. Delicious and good for at least a couple of cucumbers. Good luck!
Peeled, sliced thin Add lemon juice to cover(best using fresh squeezed0 Add paprika to cover and then 1/4 to 1/2 tsp chili powder depending on tolerance. Salt to taste.
In Mexico the cucumbers are peeled lengthwise put in foil halfway and made this way~and we buy them from the vendors as we walk around, shop, or to go home.
Cucumber salad! .. Use a mandolin to slice them thin.. soak them in salt water for about an hour.. drain.. add mayo (not too much), dill-weed, and pepper... One of my favorite summer salads!
Peel, slice thin. Sprinkle a bit of red wine vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss. Then coat with sour cream or plain Greek yogurt. Let set in fridge to blend flavors. You can do the same with green beans that have been cooked Al Dente but add a bit of fresh parsley or mint.
I loved what "Humble Wife" shared ... as a Mexican... yes... we eat lots of pepino as a "treat" with chili powder, salt and fresh squeezed lime like she said... we also drink a very refreshing "Agua de Pepino" which is a drink you make with cucumbers, limes, sugar and ice... it's perfect for summer so I hope you try it:
Ingredients: 8 cups of water 4-6 green limes (depending how juicy they are, it should be about 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed juice) 1 good sized cucumber (with the peel and everything) cut in big chunks. 1/2 cup to 3/4 cups of sugar (or to taste)
Add 3 of the cups of water to your blender, blend with the rest of your ingredients, transfer to a bigger pitcher/jar and mix with the rest of the water. Chill it and serve it with lots of ice (never use cold water to blend the ingredients or the sugar won't really sweeten and you'll need to use more, it's even recommended to use some warm water to mix the ingredients first and then you can chill it afterwards)
Mine is also a cold soup. You can find the recipe here: http://bit.ly/OdL0L0 It's from a book called A Taste of Heaven and Earth. I love the touch of paprika sprinkled on top--a nasturtium flower makes a nice edible garnish, too.
I have cucumber envy! If I had that bounty on hand, I'd muddle a few slices in a cocktail shaker, add some ice and Hendricks gin, and shake for refreshing cocktail. For something a little less boozy, I'd make a cucumber raita with grated cucumber and yogurt seasoned with cumin, mint, salt, a little chile powder and maybe some garlic.
Pamela #2, I'm with you, but after a couple weeks of martinis (with all different types of gin and/or vodka, local and imported, etc), I still have tons of cukes. My first cuke of the season was christened in gin - I will add a photo here soon. I have never tried muddling. Hmm, a new idea...
Have you tried Death's Door gin from Wisconsin? Its nice and junipery like Hendricks. Yummy with cucumber.
I certainly wish I did! I just realized I have a similar problem! Tzaziki (cucs with yogurt and garlic) is a classic. Perhaps the English cucumber sandwich? I love everyone's suggestions - great post, K!
How funny! I just posted the same thing on my FB page, and several friends sent recipes. Our cucumbers have been incredible this year! Here's a link for some of the recipes: http://growingdays.blogspot.com/2012/07/invasion-of-giant-cucumbers.html
So happy to find your site! Looking forward to visiting often. Cheers!
Yum! Nice bunch of cucumbers there. Yes I love to use cucumbers in all above ways so delicious and for more ways to use cucumbers go to Martha's link: http://www.marthastewart.com/search/apachesolr_search/English%20cucumbers?filters=type_name%3ARecipe&clicktype=type_name she has drinks, sweet salads, savoury, sauteed cucumbers, slaw, raita the list goes on and on :)
Chop with tomatoes and onion - pour good olive oil and red wine vinegar over with a few herbs (basil, oregano) an let marinate. YUM.
But my main question is...HOW in the world do you keep the cucumber beetles off your plants??!? I have having the darndest time this year. :( Do you have any tried and true methods?
If you have a juicer, you can simply juice them. Cucumber juice is delicious and refreshing. Add some lemon and a couple of green apples. I go through a cucumber a day out of our garden by drinking it, and it is supposed to be very good for you.
What a great haul of cukes! My all-time favorite recipe is this White Gazpacho from Martha Stewart http://www.marthastewart.com/347308/white-gazpacho. It is absolutely delicious; it really tastes of summer and is an excellent showcase for garden cukes.
ReplyDeleteWow, those are nice looking cucumbers. I use a lot of mine in a drink. I have it on my blog:
ReplyDeletehttp://piedmonthomevegetablegarden.blogspot.com/2012/07/a-way-to-use-cucumbers-cucumber-drink.html
i have not one but two go-to recipes for cucumbery abundance. one is for a sweet pickle that i make by the gallon, as dh loves it. if you're not a fan of sweet pickles, another one i use that uses up tons of cukes is my recipe for cucumber relish. both of these are canning projects, however. not sure if you're into canning or not. contact me if you're interested!
ReplyDeleteyes! we make a great grain salad that's perfect for hot weather. it's: red quinoa, cukes, feta cheese, red onion, pan fried chickpeas, mint, olive oil. Delicious and good for at least a couple of cucumbers. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWe eat cucumbers this way:
ReplyDeletePeeled, sliced thin
Add lemon juice to cover(best using fresh squeezed0
Add paprika to cover and then 1/4 to 1/2 tsp chili powder depending on tolerance.
Salt to taste.
In Mexico the cucumbers are peeled lengthwise put in foil halfway and made this way~and we buy them from the vendors as we walk around, shop, or to go home.
Cucumber salad! .. Use a mandolin to slice them thin.. soak them in salt water for about an hour.. drain.. add mayo (not too much), dill-weed, and pepper... One of my favorite summer salads!
ReplyDeleteI have a lot posted on my blog plus last year I did lots of canning. You've managed an excellent haul!!
ReplyDeleteHere is my recipes,peel the cucumber, slice it round, add 1 crush garlic, some sesame oil, and soy sauce to taste. Hope you like it :)
ReplyDeletePeel the cucumber, slice it round, add 1 crush garlic, sesame oil and soy sauce to taste, hope you like it :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoy fresh cukes and brie cheese on a slab of warm baguette.
ReplyDeletePeel, slice thin. Sprinkle a bit of red wine vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss. Then coat with sour cream or plain Greek yogurt. Let set in fridge to blend flavors. You can do the same with green beans that have been cooked Al Dente but add a bit of fresh parsley or mint.
ReplyDeleteI loved what "Humble Wife" shared ... as a Mexican... yes... we eat lots of pepino as a "treat" with chili powder, salt and fresh squeezed lime like she said... we also drink a very refreshing "Agua de Pepino" which is a drink you make with cucumbers, limes, sugar and ice... it's perfect for summer so I hope you try it:
ReplyDeleteIngredients:
8 cups of water
4-6 green limes (depending how juicy they are, it should be about 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed juice)
1 good sized cucumber (with the peel and everything) cut in big chunks.
1/2 cup to 3/4 cups of sugar (or to taste)
Add 3 of the cups of water to your blender, blend with the rest of your ingredients, transfer to a bigger pitcher/jar and mix with the rest of the water. Chill it and serve it with lots of ice (never use cold water to blend the ingredients or the sugar won't really sweeten and you'll need to use more, it's even recommended to use some warm water to mix the ingredients first and then you can chill it afterwards)
I hope you like it!
Mine is also a cold soup. You can find the recipe here:
ReplyDeletehttp://bit.ly/OdL0L0
It's from a book called A Taste of Heaven and Earth. I love the touch of paprika sprinkled on top--a nasturtium flower makes a nice edible garnish, too.
lucky duck!
ReplyDeleteLove summer cukes from the garden.
Bread & Butter pickles are my go to for surplus cucumbers. I can't eat a grilled cheese sandwich without a side of them.
Spicy Sechwan Cucumber salad, and Herbed (dill, mint, parsley, green onion) Yogurt Cucumber salad are very tasty.
Tzatziki?
A friend makes a cold curried cucumber soup...
Cheers,
Jake
I'd do pickles!
ReplyDeleteI have cucumber envy! If I had that bounty on hand, I'd muddle a few slices in a cocktail shaker, add some ice and Hendricks gin, and shake for refreshing cocktail. For something a little less boozy, I'd make a cucumber raita with grated cucumber and yogurt seasoned with cumin, mint, salt, a little chile powder and maybe some garlic.
ReplyDeletePamela #2, I'm with you, but after a couple weeks of martinis (with all different types of gin and/or vodka, local and imported, etc), I still have tons of cukes. My first cuke of the season was christened in gin - I will add a photo here soon. I have never tried muddling. Hmm, a new idea...
ReplyDeleteHave you tried Death's Door gin from Wisconsin? Its nice and junipery like Hendricks. Yummy with cucumber.
I certainly wish I did! I just realized I have a similar problem!
ReplyDeleteTzaziki (cucs with yogurt and garlic) is a classic. Perhaps the English cucumber sandwich?
I love everyone's suggestions - great post, K!
How funny! I just posted the same thing on my FB page, and several friends sent recipes. Our cucumbers have been incredible this year! Here's a link for some of the recipes:
ReplyDeletehttp://growingdays.blogspot.com/2012/07/invasion-of-giant-cucumbers.html
So happy to find your site! Looking forward to visiting often. Cheers!
Yum! Nice bunch of cucumbers there. Yes I love to use cucumbers in all above ways so delicious and for more ways to use cucumbers go to Martha's link: http://www.marthastewart.com/search/apachesolr_search/English%20cucumbers?filters=type_name%3ARecipe&clicktype=type_name she has drinks, sweet salads, savoury, sauteed cucumbers, slaw, raita the list goes on and on :)
ReplyDeleteOH and don't forget Tzatziki never forget Tzatziki: Thinly sliced cucumbers,garlic,and greek yogurt.
ReplyDeleteChop with tomatoes and onion - pour good olive oil and red wine vinegar over with a few herbs (basil, oregano) an let marinate. YUM.
ReplyDeleteBut my main question is...HOW in the world do you keep the cucumber beetles off your plants??!? I have having the darndest time this year. :( Do you have any tried and true methods?
http://debrasgarden.tumblr.com/post/28203447806. Lemonade Cucumber Popsicles
ReplyDeleteIf you have a juicer, you can simply juice them. Cucumber juice is delicious and refreshing. Add some lemon and a couple of green apples. I go through a cucumber a day out of our garden by drinking it, and it is supposed to be very good for you.
ReplyDelete