what do I do with cucumbers? I give most of them away as Dad planted way too many for 2 people...again. friends, neighbors, mailman, dog groomer, garbage men, anyone breathing. Last Sunday he brought in 15 and more this week.

Seriously, I make salad with them. Into a green salad, mixed with a tomato salad or just plain. Sliced thin, add red onions, some salt, and red wine vinegar to taste.

Then there is the cucumber in sour cream. Slice medium thick, place into a colander and salt very, very well. Allow it to drain for about 3 hours or liquid stops releasing. Do not rinse! Most of the salt has dripped off. Add anywhere from 1/2 cup to one cup of sour cream, some red onion, apple cider vinegar and dried dill to taste. Toss well and chill for about an hour. Note that this will keep leftovers for several days as they were drained.

Have fun with your harvest!

I would make pickles, of course, but try a new different recipe like Spicy Asian Pickles. And make some pickle relish. And also Tzatziki, Greek cucumber yogurt dip. How about cucumber sandwiches?

Love to make tzatziki sauce. This is Martha Stewart's recipe that is like the recipe I use.

tzatziki

Serve with pita for dipping.

Cucumber salad is a favorite. Thinly sliced peeled cucumbers, slices of onion, mixed with mayo, white wine vinegar, tad bit of sugar, dill. Best if it sits over night.

There are several variations on Julia Child's braised cucumbers.

Second on mimipadv's suggestion of cooked cucumbers. We use the English type so standard cukes need to be cored. I usually partially peel them, too, as they have thicker skins than the English. Braise in EVOO with a single pat of butter, good sprinkle of lemon pepper, until translucent. DH loves them!

I use them raw in Greek salads. Also in a Mediterranean salad that's so easy I stopped using the recipe and just wing it by eye:

Standard box (10 oz) of plain fast-cook couscous. Cook per instructions, fluff it up and let it cool 3 minutes. Then add:

- Partially peeled/cored raw cuke, sliced

- Red or black seedless grapes; halved is easier to eat but if I don't have the time I just throw 'em in the bowl. In the winter, reconstitute dried cherries, cranberries, or even raisins.

- 4-5 Tblsp of a simple vinaigrette: EVOO, balsamic or lime juice, lemon pepper or some salt & pepper.

Toss well to distribute the vinaigrette and let sit for an hour to blend flavors. Refrigerate if not serving immediately.

Sprinkle with chopped pistachios. Pine nuts, or finely chopped toasted walnuts will also work.

Works as a side starch to any plain meat or fish; as a main dish salad over greens (drizzle with more dressing, in that case) with or without sliced meat on top.

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But braising uses up more cukes, LOL! The water evaporates and they really shrink down.

Make cucumber sauce! It's excellent on salmon patties or other fish. I think it would be good over salad greens too. I usually double the recipe when I make it.

Cucumber Sauce

1 cucumber

1 tablespoon finely minced green onion

1 tablespoon minced cilantro (I usually add more than that though)

2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup mayo

1/2 cup sour cream

salt and pepper, as needed

Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Grate cucumber into colander and let it drain thoroughly. Combine all ingredients in bowl, blending well. Chill in refrigerator.

I like to peel and slice the cucumbers and use them instead of bread or crackers to eat egg salad or tuna salad. Just put a spoonful of the egg or tuna salad on a slice and enjoy.

Today, I made a cucumber salad with sour cream dressing to accompany stuffed cabbage rolls (defrosting and reheating-not in the mood to cook).

Thanks so much for all the great ideas and recipes! I'm sharing them all with my daughter-in-law, and between us we'll be busy enjoying them. I just wish I could share the cucumbers with all of you. :-)

I make something similar to Caprice salad. It's low cal.

i also like to slice them and sprinkle some Mrs. Dash for veggies on them.

Do you have senior places around there as here seniors really need things like that for their food consumation with costs so expensive and so find out or food banks and ask them.

I have been donating my things and some goodies to women in need and the ladies that work and their coffee break room really love those goodies, think what you could give them too.

My dad years ago did grow and start tomatoes in his little side to the house green house and then move them outside and he gave tomatoes away to neighbours as not all grow and they absolutely loved having fresh. In fact one neigbhour when it snowed used his machine to clear driveway as we lived way up and so that was a great thing to have in return. Another neighbour absolutely loved them and in fact my dad then gave tomato plants which they grew in their garden and helped them have something like that. Not everyone can afford and to have fresh out of the garden items are something else. And not all have gardens either.

My parents in one place lived grew on their acreage this huge garden and when my brother and wife would come, they would load up, wife loved having fresh items for them to eat.

I hope you find place and people you can bring them too and let them enjoy the wonderful taste of fresh out of the garden.

How about food banks too, ask if they will take fresh out of the garden items.

I heard on church grew and they gave away plus recipes as so many homeless/needy people no idea how or what to do with these veggies or what they even are.

My mother gave some fresh green peas from one of their gardens to friends of mine and she let them rot downstairs, finally told me she didn't have a clue what to do with them????? I said you got to be kidding, you can just munch on them as they are or cook very little bit and put some mint, yummmy they are.

I didn't realize having grown up with gardens parents always had did know what they all were and how to cook them/steam them.

We even had a local restaurant and we would see the guy up and about looking at fresh vegetables, and salad items and buy them up for their restaurant.

Another is these families piece of land and they grew and they actually got big enough to supply restaurants who do look for fresh items to feed their customers.

At our senior centre someone sells eggs which a friend she knows has chickens and has lots there buying them up.

So, you never know who or where you can give them away and let others enjoy.

So, many end up like seniors living in tiny condos and no land to grow anything at all and they loved to garden and enjoy supplementing their food budgets and so maybe check into that too if there is any senior condo buildings, etc. you know and ask, you never know.

Love cucumber and cream cheese sandwich. Sour cream, thinly slliced onion and cucumbers salad, fattoush salad. I wish I could get someone to make me some bread and butter pickles, they are so good.

Raven - I am an incurable 'grazer' and that sounds yummy. Will try it today :-)

I can sweet pickle relish. I don't have a garden but when someone gives me cukes, that's what I do with them. Also, I have a friend that loves the relish so I'll give him some to.

I made bread and butter pickles. Have started some cukes for the Fall and will hopefully have enough to make several kinds of pickles, to last until the spring.

I love cucumber salad- this recipe is pretty much what I do and love, though I use way less sugar. The link to allrecipes seems to be broken, but the KEY to making this awesome is to boil the vinegar , water, and sugar together and then pour over the cucumbers. The nice thing is that after it's refigerated, it will keep for a long time and is a wonderful side dish in the summer. ( confession- I make it year round and it's wonderful at Thanksgiving with all the heavy foods). Also although it says white onion, it's prettier with a red onion.:) enjoy

4 cucumbers, thinly sliced
1 small white onion, thinly sliced
1 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon dried dill, or to taste

All these sound so good--thank you! I'm printing them out to share with my daughter-in-law. She grows cilantro, so maybe she'll start with the cucumber sauce. I'm going for the Mediterranean salad first. :-)

I live in a rural, farming area, so it's unlikely anyone is experiencing a shortage of fresh vegetables. I'll ask around to see if there's a need, but I'll be surprised if the answer is yes.

Thanks again!

I have also made home grown salsa back when I had a garden and I would use diced up cukes and/or zucchini in the fresh salsa. It's very good.

Boy I wish I was close enough for some left over fresh vegetables! I miss my gardens and my neighbors garden. I don't have anyone here that shares. At least there's some good farm stores. I got some nice cukes today!

I have devised and refined a recipe for Cold Cucumber Yogurt Soup, that many people who don't typically like cucumbers rave about. Just this past week I brought about 10 cucumbers from our garden with us to Maine (in a carry-on bag) to make a large batch of it for a potluck gathering of my wife's family.

The recipe makes about 36 oz which should serve about 6 as an appetizer

Cold Cucumber Yogurt Soup

3 large cucumbers (peeled and seeded)

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup plain greek yogurt

1/3 cup sour cream

2 Tbsp crushed garlic

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp dill weed

After peeling and seeding cucumbers, chop them into 1/2" cubes and
place in colander. Sprinkle all of the salt on the cucumber pieces and
let sit for 10 minutes. (to draw out some of the moisture and any
bitterness)

Next place salted cucumbers in food processor or blender with all of the remaining ingredients, blend until desired smoothness.

Chill for about an hour and serve.

I use them in green smoothies. I also like them on some salad recipes.

Dr. Ruth used to have a suggestion for cucumbers...

Make an Indian Raita:

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup chopped seeded cucumber

2 T chopped fresh cilantro

2 tsp chopped green onions

1/4 tsp each ground coriander and cumin

Mix ingredients, salt and pepper to taste, chill. Serve with spicy Indian food.

That sounds delicious, GV!

Soak some cucumber in chilled seltzer water for a refreshing beverage.

My favorite easy pickle.

Crunchy Sweet Freezer Pickles

I like my cucumbers in salads and fried. Just slice lengthwise, roll in flour, salt and pepper and fry till nice and brown on each side.

Sue