Cool as a Cucumber! Summer Sips and Refreshers

It’s HOT outside and there are only so many glasses of water you and your family want to drink. Enter the humble cucumber, which can provide all kinds of ways to stay hydrated, refreshed, and feeling a little cooler. Most of the ideas below are simple enough the kids can help.

• “South of the Border” Cucumbers - Slice cucumbers and then add a little lemon juice, salt, and chili powder or cayenne pepper.
• “Brightened” Cucumbers (and carrots and celery) - Cut these veggies into sticks then place in a glass so they stand upright. Fill the glass halfway with water and a couple of teaspoons of lemon juice. Let them sit in the fridge for an hour or so. The veggies will draw up the lemon flavor and taste really refreshing!
• “Take 5” - Slice 2 rounds from a cucumber that’s fresh out of the fridge. Lay them over your eyes and just relax for a few minutes enjoying the coolness on your face.
• “Refridgerator” Pickles - When you have finished up a jar of pickles, put all that liquid left in the jar to good use instead of pouring it down the drain.  Bring the liquid and all the little spices to a boil for 3 minutes. While that’s heating, wash the jar and peel and slice a fresh whole cucumber. Cut that cuc into disks or thinish wedges, put them in the clean jar, and pour in the boiling pickle juice. Cover all the cucumbers with liquid, adding hot water if you are out of the brine. Cover, let cool, and then put in the fridge. The next day you will have a crispy little snack to go along with your lunch salad or sandwich. (If you try it and like this, it also works well for carrots and cauliflower. To give it some kick, add garlic, fresh jalapeno pepper or dried red pepper flakes to the jar.)
• Cucumber Water - Add some sliced cucumbers to a large pitcher of water and enjoy the mild flavor they impart upon your water. So easy but we sometimes forget this standby until we see it at a restaurant!
• Asian style Cucumber Salad - (This is a make-ahead recipe as the salad has to be chilled in the fridge.) Slice and seed a cucumber. In a saucepan mix ½ cup sugar, ⅔ cups rice wine vinegar, and 2 Tbs. soy sauce. Simmer until the sugar is dissolved then add the cucumber slices and some dill. Cover and let it marinate for 10 minutes, stirring it occasionally. After the 10 minutes transfer it to a bowl, let cool more, and then put in the fridge for later. When served, thin slices of green onions and toasted sesame seeds can be used as garnish. Kids probably like it better plain.

So there you have it - 6 ways you can be Cool as a Cucumbers despite what's going on with the weather outside!