Cucumber Salsa

Cucumber Salsa

The ingredients you will need.

Vegetables diced and ready

 Dressing mixed and very fragrant

Crunchy, spicy and oh so very delicious.

CUCUMBER SALSA RECIPE

2 cups finely chopped seeded peeled cucumber
1/2 cup finely chopped seeded tomato
1/4 cup chopped red onion
2 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley
1 jalepeno pepper, seeded and chopped
4-1/2 tsp minced fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
1/4 c reduced-fat sour cream
1-1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 - 2 tsp lime juice
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp seasoned salt
Tortilla chips
In a small bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. In another bowl, combine the sour cream, lemon juice, lime juice, cumin and seasoned salt. Pour over cucumber mixture and toss gently to coat.

Serve immediately with chips.

"When you first wake up today.....

Send love to your day ahead and remember to stop and catch the miracles."

Dill Pickle Relish

Summer time is a time of fresh fruits and vegetables from your garden. There is nothing sweeter and so delicious than biting into a freshly picked cucumber. This year I planted a few different varieties, Sweet slice, Marketmore, Burpless, Lemon and Persian cucumbers. The first two are ones that my Mother always planted ' because they are good producers',  so I carry on her tradition. We have had such a hot and sunny summer that the cucumbers are loving it,  and with so many of them I decided to make this Dill Pickle Relish.

I am not a fan of the sweet relish so this I think will become a favorite of mine!

It is tangy, with a hint of sweetness and a beautiful dill flavor. If your garden has an abundance of cucumbers make some of this relish for your family, friends or as gifts.   

 Dill Pickle Relish

Cucumbers washed and ready for slicing

Cucumber chopped fine

Salt and turmeric are mixed in

Water has been added to cover. Now it sits for 2 hours.

The rest of the ingredients to be added.

Cucumber are drained in a colander, then more liquid squeezed out

The sugar, vinegar, onions and dill seed are added.

 Relish smells amazing, after simmering - ready for jarring

Jarred and now to process in a water bath for 15 minutes.

 

Dill Pickle Relish ready for tasting

DILL PICKLE RELISH RECIPE

Makes approximately 7 pints

Ingredients:

8 pounds pickling cucumbers

1/2 cup pickling salt

2 teaspoons ground turmeric

4 cups water

2 1/2 cups finely chopped onions

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons dill seeds

4 cups white wine vinegar

In a Food Processor finely chop cucumbers.  *You will need to work in small batches.

Place chopped cucumbers in a glass or stainless steel bowl and sprinkle with picking salt and turmeric. Add water, cover, and let stand in a cool place for 2 hours.

Transfer to a colander placed over a sink and drain thoroughly. Rinse with cool water and drain again. Finally, squeeze out excess liquid with your hands.

In a large stainless steel saucepan, combine drained cucumbers, onions, sugar, dill seeds and vinegar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Reduce heat and boil gently, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and vegetables are heated through (approximately 10 minutes).

Prepare canning jars and lids.

Ladle hot relish into hot jars, leaving 1/2 head space. Remove air bubbles by placing a plastic utensil down the inside of the jars.

Wipe rim. Add warm lid and ring.

Process in water bath for 15 minutes.

Cool overnight and before storing, make sure that the lids have sealed by pushing down in the center of the lid. If it does not move, it is sealed properly

"Thoughtfulness for others, generosity, modesty and self-respect are the qualities which make a real gentleman or lady."

- Thomas Henry Huxley 

Monkey Butter.......takes me back to Hawaii

We travelled to the Kootenays to visit family on the July long weekend. So good to be surrounded by family....so much love. While drinking coffee one morning my sister Holly came across this recipe and shared it with me.

Once home I had to use up some very ripe bananas and this was the perfect recipe!

The butter/jam is so very tropical with all my favorite flavors. I love it on Greek yogurt. I hope you make some for your family.

Monkey Butter

The ingredients you will need.

All ingredients are put into the pot to simmer.

Monkey Butter has simmered and is ready for jarring.

It smells so tropical in my kitchen.

Monkey Butter ready for topping your yogurt, ice cream or toast

MONKEY BUTTER RECIPE

1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple, with juices *(see note)

2 3/4 cups white sugar

4-5 ripe bananas, thinly sliced

1/4 cup coconut

1/4 cup lemon juice

Glass jars

Preparation

1. Place sliced bananas in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and top with sugar, pineapple (and juices), sugar, coconut and lemon juice, and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low and, stirring frequently, cook until mixture is thickened and has reduced down. Banana slices will break down into pieces.
3. Mixture is ready when it coats the back of a spoon; remove from heat and transfer to glass jars. Let cool, then refrigerate until ready to use

*Note: I used fresh pineapple slices that I had frozen. Thawed and blended into 'crushed'.

 'Be an encourager: the world has plenty of critics already'

Dave Willis