cucumber-dill salad prep

I don't know what it is but I have been on a cucumber kick. Surely "I'm on a kick" sounds familiar because that kick used to be all about risotto.  I'll come around again. Just wait. 

This dish reminds me of Swedish Smorgasbords with my family around Christmas time!  Because this dish is sitting in the fridge, soaking in the white wine vinegar, sugar, salt, dill seed, dill weed and parsley... I figured it was a perfect time to have a Valentine's Day dinner with friends. I don't know how one serving of Cucumber-Dill Salad turned into making Swedish meatballs, scalloped potatoes, and a Swedish torta BUT... it did :) So I'll be a busy bee in the kitchen tomorrow.

First, you score the cucumbers... I used pickling cucumbers but you can use good ole cucumbers too.

Chop 'em all up, but don't get lazy like me and make them this thick...

That's more like it...

Mix the sugar, salt, dill weed, dill seed and parsley in a small bowl. Once this is mixed you'll add the white wine vinegar. Then boom, add all of this to the bowl of cucumbers and mix it ALL up. 

Plop it in the fridge and wait over night (or eat some right away) and that. is. it.

I'll let you know how they taste tomorrow. But 20 seconds in: tasty...

leftovers for lunch

Items from the fridge and pantry: top half of a wheat bun (toasted), a few lumps of boursin cheese, one small tomato, left over bacon already sauteed, pine nuts, lettuce, and scallions.

It was hard not stopping at the bakery on the way home from class but I knew there was plenty to work with at home.  I plopped the bacon back on heat with a little olive oil and a few pine nuts. The flavors were so rich I didn't even need dressing! Mmmm

the wedge

It has been quite a while since I have posted... Not because the kitchen has been untouched though! All I have to say is thank goodness for the french-english dictionary I bought today. It is coming in handy for my immersion french class but has also been a great help for trips to the market. The wedge salad is a very simple salad to make and goes great with steak! Unfortunately the 'bifteck'/steak we bought at the grocery store to accompany this salad was icky... but we definitely made up for it at the boucherie today! (will be posted soon)