Cukes are bustin' out all over!

[hippywife]

Planted lots of pickling cukes and had a few volunteers in the stuff that composted in the boxes through the winter. Besides these, I have another full crisper drawer full from the last two days and lots more coming!

So besides eating some of them, pickles were made again this year and will continue to be made, I 'spose. LOL

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=236&topic_id=66725&mesg_id=66725

[bvar22]

1. Hey, those are pretty.

We only planted one cucumber this year, and I am now regretting this oversight.
Pickles are a natural to last through the Winter.
:)

[hippywife]

2. Hey, there you!

Thanx! They really taste good, too. I messed with the recipe so they are tangier and somewhat sweet, not as cloyingly sweet as usual. I put a little red pepper flake in half the jars, too.

What's the latest over at your place? :hi:

[bvar22]

9. Hot and dry

Everything is late.
We are just now beginning to get some ripe tomatoes.
It is not just us, everyone here is late for everything.

We are used to giving away tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and beans on the 4th of July, but this year..:shrug:

Everything is growing OK and looks healthy....just late.

We did take off a little over a gallon of sweet, pure, clover honey from one of the hives, so we are happy about that. We should get more honey in the Fall (goldenrod), but we usually leave most of that for the Bees.

Maybe we could work out a trade....honey for pickles?

[hippywife]

11. Everythings pretty much the same here, too.

All that rain in the beginning but I'm not going to worry about it too much. Season's long enough some things can be replanted, which we will have to do with the squash and zukes due to a rash of squash beetles.

That is so awesome about your honey! Terrific! I'm afraid you might get the short end of that trade. LOL

[PuraVidaDreamin]

3. How do you keep pickles crisp?

Ate my last years harvest a few months ago, but the had lost their crispness.
I used Alum, but didn't seem to help. There must be another way.

[hippywife]

4. I don't try.

I really don't care if they stay crisp or not, just as long as they taste good. I just store the jars in a kitchen cabinet because I have no really cool place to store them.

[brer cat]

5. Do you like cucumber soup?

It's a summer favorite at my house...soooo cool and refreshing.

1 med cuke, peeled and sliced
1 can cream of chicken soup
3/4 cup milk
1 cup sour cream
salt/pepper to taste
season with curry powder or dill

put all in blender & blend for a minute or so, then chill. Stir and serve...garnish with fresh chives if desired.

EASY and yum!

[hippywife]

6. Sounds really good.

Someone posted this recipe on another board I frequent that sounds pretty tasty, too.

WHITE GAZPACHO WITH GRAPES AND TOASTED ALMONDS

A refreshingly updated version of the classic tomato-based cold Spanish soup, this gazpacho starts with a beautiful pale-green cucumber broth, light and cool, with just enough body to give it substance. Its surprising garnishes really bring it to life. Chopped scallions, toasted slivered almonds, cucumber chunks, and sweet-tart green grapes add an exciting mix of textures and flavors and keep it all elegantly green and white. This soup has so much visual and taste impact it's perfect for a dinner party where you really want to impress. It is also fun to serve half-portions in martini glasses at a cocktail party.
Serves 4
Serving Size 1 Cup


Ingredients
• 1/4 cup plus 4 teaspoons slivered almonds
• 2 large English cucumbers or 3 large regular cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and roughly chopped
• 3 slices white bread, crusts removed
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled
• 6 scallions (whites only), thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar or sherry vinegar, plus more to taste
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup green grapes, cut in half


Directions
Toast the almonds in a small dry skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently; set aside.

Set aside 1 cup of the chopped cucumber for a garnish. Soak the bread in the water until soft, about 2 minutes. Place the soaked bread, the rest of the cucumber, grapes the garlic, 1/4 cup of the scallion whites, the vinegar, lemon juice, 1/4 cup of the almonds, the salt, and oil in a food processor and process until the cucumbers are completely blended and the liquid and almonds are almost completely invisible, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with more salt and vinegar, if desired.

To serve, ladle 1 cup gazpacho into each serving bowl. Mound 1/4 cup of the reserved chopped cucumber, 1 tablespoon of the remaining scallion whites, 2 tablespoons of the grapes, and 1 teaspoon of the almonds in the center of the soup and serve.

[The empressof all]

7. Creamy soups without the cream and fat

I make wonderful creamy soups by cooking a cauliflower, onion, celery and garlic in broth then blend it with my stick blender. Using this as a base you can create all kinds of fabulous creamy soups that can be served hot or cold without the fat, dairy or calories. I had a roasted red pepper soup tonight with some crumbled blue cheese on top.

Blending diced cucumbers into this base makes a very refreshing cold soup. I've also made a creamy gazpacho by adding tomatoes and peppers.

I'm obsessed with soups right now and this has to be my current favorite base as it gives me that rich and luscious mouth feel I long for now that I've been following a lower glycemic, lower fat way of eating.

[femmocrat]

8. Those are beautiful!

I started two varieties from seed inside, but they didn't do well after I transplanted them. Next year I'm going to start the seed right in the garden. I love fresh garden cukes. The store-bought ones cannot compare.

[hippywife]

10. Starting them right in the garden is the easiest way.

They are so damn hardy and end up everywhere if you're not careful. LOL