Cucumber

The venerable cucumber is a member of the gourd family. I didn’t know that. It grows in three main varieties, slicing, pickling and seedless, and I did know that. A cucumber slice is placed over the eyes as part of having a facial. They contain ascorbic and caffeic acids which prevent water loss, therefore cucumber is frequently applied topically to burns and dermatitis. A little pharmacy with a skin that is rich in fiber

There are many types of cucumbers including, can you believe it, a lemon cucumber, grows into a ball about the size of a tennis ball and yes, yellow. The cucumber is believed to have originated in southern Asia but is now grown everywhere in the world. High water content, high fibre in the skin and a goodly dose of vitamin K are the nutrition details. Some people refer to cucumbers as cukes for short

There is something refreshing about a cucumber or even better, a cucumber salad on a hot summer day. Must be the high water content. Cukes go well with tomatoes which share the same internal little white seeds. Both are refreshing. We recently discovered a recipe for refrigerator pickles. Uses pickling cucumber with a brine and ready in four days. Wow

Placing a cucumber slice on the roof of your mouth may help to rid your mouth of odor-causing bacteria. According to the principles of Ayurveda (ancient and proven Eastern medicine), eating cucumbers may also help to release excess heat in your stomach, which is said to be a primary cause of bad breath. Now that I think about it, the taste of a fresh cucumber is, well not minty, but definitely refreshing in a minty kind of way. Hmmmm?

The cucumber variety we use to make dill pickles has been evolved through repeated seed selection. The preferred size is about 4 to 6 inches long and to be around 1 inch in diameter so that they stack in the jar nicely, and slice great for hamburgers etc. Who knew? I see the English cucumber in the stores and they are enclosed in saran wrap. Anybody know why? Cucumbers are interesting things.