"$1.00 makes for a Happy Monday."

Hello,

Happy Monday to you. Yesterday Ian and I had a day out visiting markets at Mundaring and Midland. We picked up this Italian Cucumber from one of the stall holders at the Farmers Markets in Midland. Total cost for this 1.1 kilo cucumber---$1.00.

Italian Cucumber.

We quite often get our vegies from the same stall holder, a elderly Italian gentleman. He has varieties that aren't available commercially. I can assure you this cucumber was so fresh and crunchy.

So today I got organised to do something with this cucumber.

Cutting the Cucumber.

I found a recipe in the CWA (Country Women's Association) Classic cookbook which Lucy gave to me for Christmas. I had to double the quantities because of the size of the cucumber. I put the seeds in the blue bowl, will be saving these to plant some more.

Cooking the Onion and Cucumber mix in the pan with the vinegar solution.

The kitchen was soon was smelling of vinegar and onion.

5 jars of Spicy Pickled Cucumbers

Spicy Pickled Cucumbers

2 medium sized continental cucumbers (about 650 g total weight)
1 onion,thinly sliced
1 tablespoon salt
1 cup white wine vinegar
1 small fresh red chilli,finely chopped
185 g sugar
1 teaspoon tumeric
3 cloves garlic, crushed

Slice unpeeled cucumbers thinly, put in a bowl with the sliced onion,sprinkle salt and add water to cover well.
Leave to stand for 2 hours, then drain well.

Combine the rest of the ingredients in a pan,bring to boil, then removed from heat and leave to stand for 5 minutes. Return to heat, bring back to boil and add drained cucumber and onion, turning gently to coat. Cover, and cook gently for 5 minutes.

Leave mixture to cool until tepid, then bottle and seal.

Allow  3 weeks for flavours to develop. Store in a cool dark place. Refrigerate after opening.

Makes 4 cups.

Now I didn't have chilli so I added some mustard seeds and for the cloves of garlic I have bucket loads of the large garlic  I think people call Elephant garlic so there is quite a bit more garlic in our jars.

So today I am happy that $1.00 makes 5 jars of Spicy Pickled Cucumbers.

Other things that make for a Happy Monday are.

I have the new threads I needed for my cross stitch. Called into Spotlight yesterday while we were in Midland.

On our walk this afternoon we saw a  long neck turtle sunning itself on a branch of a tree in the local river.

Having Sunday  lunch with Ian in our favourite cafe in Mundaring .


A special thank you to all those special bloggers who offered to get the threads I needed for my cross stitch. May you all have a wonderful week which involves no un-picking!!! Unlike mine.

Happy Monday everyone.
Bev C