Cucumbers-=- to eat and to DRINK

my cucumber salad

Cucumbers were first cultivated in India 10,000 some years ago. During the 1600s they made their way to Greece and Italy. They are my favorite color, low in calories (a cup of raw, sliced cukes are only 10 calories) and full of vitamin C, Vitamin A, Potassium and Magnesium.

I love them. They're quite refreshing, and although available year-round, they represent summer to me as much as the flavor-ice and slip 'n' slides of my youth.

I bought two large cucumbers at Wegmans yesterday and sliced 'em up as soon as I returned home. I threw in a little tarragon white wine vinegar, sugar, honey, salt, pepper, and a bit of cilantro flakes.  I let it sit over night and it was chilled and waiting for me in the morning.  Although the coffee pot was percolating- I thought to my self for the most split of seconds- who needs coffee when you got cold cucumbers-they're pretty awakening- then I realized one always needs coffee.  Bay City Rollers' "I only want to be with you" was on the player, my kitchen was clean, my beer samples were cold, and I knew it was going to be another good day.

Another good use of cucumbers-the one that gets you pickled: the tasty drink I had at Varga bar the other night.
St. Germaine, 
Blue Coat Gin, 
Muddled cucumber 
and topped off with ginger ale.