Chunky Tuna Dip



If you like Tuna Salad, you will really enjoy this combination. I know, everyone can pretty much put together a tuna mix for sandiwiches and stuff. This combination not only has those basic tuna fish sandwich ingredients, it takes a little twist that I like to call Chunky Tuna dip.

The key is to cut eveything in large chunks (well, as chunky as you want them anyway).

This is what I like to throw in my dip:

Canned Tuna

Celery

Onions (any kind)

A splash of Pickle Juice

(I don't add pickles to this dip usually)

Dill Weed

Salt and Pepper (liberally)

It's easy and tastes like you put a little something extra in there but, like I said, it is a basic tuna fish mix with a twist. I like to serve it with large crackers and it makes a perfect snack for those days when a basic tuna fish sandwich doesn't do it for you.

Mustard Pickles

This is a recipe of my husbands grandmother. He grew up eating them. He loves them. I have to say I had never tried them until I meet my husband. I don't know that I can really say I loved the pickles when I first tried them, but I have grown to like them. They are kind of an acquired taste and after that are kind of addicting. And if it is your first time ever trying a mustard pickle go for the smallest ones. (Less potent) My kids call them the hot pickles. (not that they are spicy) I was going to post a picture of them in the container they are store but it doesn't look very appealing, so you will have to try them yourselves.
The pickles are stored and mixed in a crock. If you don't own a crock (they can be quite expensive) don't go out and buy one. A good substitute we have found that we actually used this year was a water cooler. Kinda different but it worked.

Crock Mustard Pickles

1 gallon Vinegar
1 cup. Salt (pickling)
1 cup. Sugar
1 pkg. 3oz Pickling Spice 1 lb. Mustard (Dry)


Mix 4 dry ingredients. Add a little vinegar and mix. Then add remaining vinegar and add cucumbers. Makes enough to cover 1/2 crock full of cucumbers.

Pastrami Pickles

This creation was passed onto my husband by his aunt Carol who made these since he could remember. They are fast, easy and great for parties. Better yet, they taste better than you'd think. They can become addicting so watch out!

This one pretty much explains itself.

1 Whole Dill Pickle

Cream cheese to spread over

(I have also used Laughing Cow Cheese)

Wrape in a thin slice of Pastrami

Slice and serve chilled.

Delicious.

Cucumber Sandwiches

Before I finished my spring semester in school, I was studying about the United Kingdom. Of which, I studied traditional English cuisine. I thought about making things such as Spotted Dick or the traditional fish and chips and may still do so. But, one simple English snack that I had tried before- the cucumber sandwich- was something that I wanted to share for a taste of England. You can find my class notes and other information (with pictures) about England by clicking here.

Thinly slice your cucumber. Some may suggest peeling them but, if you buy an English cucumber, I don't even bother.

(As you can see, mine are not as thinly sliced as normal which makes them better to layer on your sandwich)

You can buy an English cucumber or regular although I've read and experienced that :

It is generally sold wrapped in plastic to reduce water loss, and so is usually not waxed and therefore does not need peeling.
It is usually called seedless (which is an outright lie), but its seeds are much smaller and less prominent.
It is the seeds in a cucumber (and especially in an aging cucumber) that make it bitter, so a semi-seedless English cucumber is less likely to be bitter
It has been bred to be more easily digested than some other varieties (fewer burps).

(Copied from http://www.ochef.com/189.htm)

Soak you slices in some White wine vinegar (or regular vinegar) and water for 30-40 minutes.

I let mine soak in my salad spinner. This way after they soaked, I dumped extra vinegar out (without touching the cucumbers) and gave it a quick spin to release the excess
(otherwise, you would pat them with a paper towel).

Then sprinkle salt and pepper on as desired.

To prepare your bread (usually white bread), butter both sides with real butter. At this point you can cut of the crusts now or after placing the cucumbers on them. So, place your cucumbers accordingly on your bread and cover with the other end.

These are a great appetizer or snack you and your company to enjoy!
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Do you think that this is something you'd like to try or have you tried them already?