Cucumber Sandwiches and Tea at 4am

My father taught me how to make cucumber sandwiches when I was younger, because like most little girls, I liked having tea parties, and wanted real food to go with it. I had always heard of cucumber sandwiches being served with tea at fancy parties, so I imagined them to be this incredibly complex thing to make.

This is how my dad taught me to make them, and how I like them, though I'm sure there are many different substitutions and varieties out there for you to experiment with.

Cucumber Sandwiches

• bread of your choice (I usually use wheat)
• a cucumber
• cream cheese
• dill weed

Toast your bread to your liking, then spread a good amount of cream cheese on one side. Slice your cucumber into thin circles and place them on top of the bread. Sprinkle dill weed on top of cucumber slices.

Grammy's Refrigerator Pickles

This is a recipe that’s been in the family for I don’t know how long, but I remember eating these pickles ever since I was really little. My grandmother on my dad’s side used to make them all the time, but now mostly just my dad (and sometimes my aunt) makes them. I realized recently I didn’t actually know the recipe and couldn’t make them myself, so when I saw my dad this weekend I asked him not only to make some, but to tell me the recipe so I could keep the tradition going for as long as possible.

Grammy’s Refrigerator Pickles

• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 cups white sugar
• 6 cups sliced cucumbers
• 1 cup sliced onions
• 1 cup sliced green bell peppers
• 1 tablespoon pickling spice
• 1 teaspoon celery seed

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring vinegar, salt and sugar to a boil. Boil until the sugar has dissolved, about 10 minutes.
Place the cucumbers, onions and green bell peppers in a large bowl. Pour the vinegar mixture over the vegetables. Transfer to sterile containers and store in the refrigerator.