To me, there is very little that is better than to bite into a cold cucumber.  In salads, on sandwiches, or as a garnish, they just scream freshness.  So this year, for the first time, I am attempting to grow my own.  I spaced my rows too close together, but otherwise they are doing fine.  With the help of Monty’s 4-15-12 at planting, Monty’s 8-16-8 during the growth or vegetative stage, and Monty’s 2-15-15 now that I am into the fruiting, I am harvesting about every other day, now.  My county agent came by yesterday to see all that I was doing and he said that I had so many blooms on my cucumbers that he could not count them all.  Which brings me to a question that you may have; what to do with all of those cucumbers?

Well, one of my favorite childhood memories was going to my Aunt Clara’s house. (technically she was my mom’s aunt and my great aunt but all of those vagaries escaped the mind of a pre-tween boy who was farm more fascinated with the days on the farm).  Aunt Clara was married to my Uncle Price (my namesake) and together they had a good northeast Texas farm.  I loved lunch there because each meal mean that she would open up a jar of pickles she had ‘put up’ that season.  I would eat as many as I could get away with, then sneak a few more in the afternoon when I caught them unattended.  After she passed, I asked one of my family members if anyone had her recipe.  I finally tracked it down and am now sharing it with you.  Truly, this is one of the best pickle recipes I have ever encountered.  It is simple but the results are wonderful.  I hope you enjoy making some ‘Aunt Clara Pickles’ this season.  Write back and let me know.

The second recipe comes from my mom.  She had farming in her veins but was the first generation to move off farm as she became a school teacher and missionary.  Needless to say her schedule kept her busy but she always maintained a garden patch or would enlist me to go with her on Saturday mornings to ‘pick on the halves’ at a local farm or to attend the Dallas Farmers Market before such things were trendy.  She never made traditional pickles, but she always had some ‘refrigerator dills’ going all summer long.  These modern "pickles" matched her lifestyle, they were quick, easy and "no muss, no fuss".  True, these are not pickles in the most explicit use of the word, but they also require no boiling, canning, or time.  What they lack in the true texture of pickles they make up for with the freshness of flavor that still carries a strong resemblance to cucumbers.  This recipe takes a total of about five minutes to prepare and while they are best if left to sit overnight, they can be ready to eat in as little as a few hours.  The recipe is below, under Mom’s Refrigerator Dills.

Finally, in this world of gardening and cooking in which I was raised, it was only natural that I would one day venture out and begin to try my own hand at each of these activities.  As such, I developed a quick light summer salad that can be used as a salad, a side dish, or a a great topper for grilled chicken.  It combines all of my favorite harbingers of summer, tomatoes, avocado, and of course cucumber.  You will find the  recipe below under  Summer Medley.

Aunt Clara’s Pickles

2 Qts. Water

1 Qt Apple Cider Vinegar

¾ – 1 Cup pickling salt (to taste – start with ¾ )

(Adjust above amounts proportionally to accommodate number of cucumbers.)

 Wash and Scrub Cucumbers

Place 1-2 bushy heads fresh dill w/stalks (fresh – not dry seed) into each jar.

Place cucumbers in jars – pack tightly.

Heat water, salt, and vinegar to boiling.

Pour mixture over cucumbers in jars to within ¼ inch of top.

Have new jar lids ready by bringing 1-2 inches of water to boil and placing jars lids (flat part with rubber seal) into boiling water for 5 min.

 Wipe off jar mouth with clean cloth prior to placing lids on jars. Place lids on jars (fresh from boiling water) and tighten retaining ring securely.

 Place filled jars into deep pan of boiling water sufficient to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Boil for 6 minutes. Remove from water (carefully) and place on towel to cool. Lids should “pop” down into concave shape upon cooling; otherwise, they are not securely sealed and should be reheated and cooled as above.

After properly sealed, store them in a cool dry area for 1-2 months to finish the pickling process.  Once they are finished, I dare ya to eat just one!

Mom’s Refrigerator Dills

Clean, Peel, and slice 2-3 medium to large cucumbers into ‘chips’  (If you are dealing with young, soft-skinned cucumbers you can skip peeling them)

Peel and slice a medium onion into rings

Layer mixture into a bowl just large enough to hold all of the cucumbers and onions

Add salt and pepper to taste (one clove of garlic is optional)

Add white vinegar until cucumbers and onions are just covered with liquid.

Place in refrigerator for at least 4-6 hours. 

Enjoy

Price’s Summer Medley

1-2 large Cucumber, 2-3 Large tomatoes, 1-2 avocados

make sure avocados are ripe, but not soft enough to make guacamole.

Pit and peel avocado, slice into six wedges.

Cut each wedge into two to three segments, set aside

Wash and cut tomatoes in to chunks, roughly an inch square or so. Set aside

Wash, Peel, and Slice cucumber into chips.  Cut chips in half.  (If you prefer you can diced the cucumber into large 1/2 inch chunks. Set aside.

In a medium sized bowl combine all three ingredients.  Add just a splash of olive oil.  Stir or toss lightly to coat.

Salt and pepper to taste.

If you have access to fresh herbs you may add those to taste, or optionally for spice add some dried chili pepper seeds or ‘Targin’ seasoning mix.

Enjoy!

Now as your cucumbers start to ‘come off’ you have three new recipes to try so you won’t have to wonder what to do with all of nature’s bounty.  With a little practice and patience you will have the fresh taste of summer, year round which is one of the things that makes gardening so enjoyable.  If you have a favorite recipe, let us know.  Simply send it to us in the comment section.

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