All the things I didn't know I didn't know about cucumber

This is fascinating. Lots of useless but interesting info about cucumbers.

 

Does anyone remember someone trying to grow cucumbers in square tubes to make it easier to fit them into slices of bread for sandwiches?
The idea didn't take off. I cannot imagine why!

 

Presumably because using cucumber in sandwiches is truly illogical...all that liquid and put it in between foamy bread. Nooooooo

 

Cucumber and marmite sandwiches. Unbeatable gastronomy!

 

Ah Britain's bland contribution to food...still remember my bafflement when I was offered cucumber sandwiches. The house plants nearby looked more tempting.

 

The marmite gives them a bit of zing!

 

Cucumber sandwiches need plenty of seasoning.

 

Didn't Victorian gardeners on big estates grow them in glass tubes to keep them straight?

I remember a rumour years ago - might have been true - that the Japanese were growing square watermelons to make them easier to store in small refridgerators?

 

Yes just the seasoning really, not sure why you need the cucumber in them.

 

It's one of your 5-a-day, @pete. Stop grumbling and eat it up.

I think square watermelons are a great idea. Next stop, pip-free too!

 

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cucumber and Marmite sandwiches, cucumber and salmon sandwiches, made with home made bread, lovely.
It is a good idea to pat the cucumber slices in kitchen roll paper to remove the excess of moisture before assembling the sandwiches. If you want to be really posh, remove the crusts from the bread and roll the remaining slice of bread with a rolling pin to get a really thin slice before buttering with softened butter. Eat with pinky delicately bent.
My grandmother always used to put her cucumber slices in a small bowl of water, vinegar, salt and sugar to serve with a salad.I would add a pinch of fennel seeds. I believe it is called "a light pickling" these days by many of the TV chefs.

 

Not that fussed about neat cucumber but OH loves them so I grow them for him. Needless to say they produced faster than he could eat them so I looked up recipes for light pickling and they were fab. Far better than gherkins which I find too vinegary. i also like smacked cucumbers as seen here Duckstrami with smacked cucumber recipe

 

Tzatziki...

 

Raita

 

We also use them cut into strips to eat with fresh spring rolls, Peking duck, veggie taco type dishes and sometimes I cut them into chunks, minus seeds, and serve them with chunked melon, chopped mint and some crispy lardons for a light salad.