Cucumber Cups Recipe 455

Steps:

• Trim ends from cucumbers and cut crosswise into 24 (3/4-inch-thick) rounds. Scoop a 1/2-inch-deep depression from one side of each round with a small melon-baller, forming little cups. Drain cucumbers, cup sides down, on paper towels for 15 minutes.
• Beat cream cheese, chopped dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, and black pepper together in a bowl. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon cheese mixture into each cucumber cup. Top each cup with 1 salmon strip and 1 dill sprig.

Steps:

• Remove the peel from the cucumbers using a vegetable peeler. Cut the cucumber into 2 inch slices. Using a small melon baller, scoop out most of the inside. You want to leave the walls and a thick portion of the bottom intact. In a bowl, combine the sour cream and the cream cheese with a fork until well combined. add the remaining ingredients and stir until combined. Fill each of the cucumber cups with the crab dip. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve within 2 hours of making.

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, mix together the onion, pepper, tomatoes, olives, oregano, feta, parsley, lemon juice and zest, and olive oil.
• Season with salt and pepper, and reserve.
• Peel the cucumbers partially, so it has 4 stripes of skin going down the entire length of the cucumber.
• Trim the ends of the cucumbers and cut each cucumber into slices 3/4 of an inch thick -- you should have about 20 pieces.
• Scoop out the center of each slice with a melon baler, leaving a shell of flesh.
• Scoop about 1 to 2 tablespoons of the Mediterranean salad into the cucumber cups and enjoy your refreshing bite-size snack!

Steps:

• For the hummus: In a food processor, combine the peppers, tahini, lemon juice, cumin, salt, cayenne pepper if using, beans and garlic. Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl if needed. Season with salt if needed. Transfer the hummus to a small bowl.
• Run the tines of a fork down the length of each cucumber several times, turning to make ridges about 1/8-inch deep in the skin all the way around. Cut cucumbers crosswise into 1-inch rounds, for a total of at least 12. Using the smaller end of a melon baller or a round measuring spoon, scoop out the center of each cucumber round to form a hollow. Use a small spoon to fill each cup with hummus, mounding slightly over the top. Tuck a small fresh parsley, cilantro or mint leaf into the side of the filling as a garnish.
• Arrange the cups on a platter and serve.

Steps:

• Peel the length of each cucumber to form alternating stripes of unpeeled and peeled. Cut the cucumbers into 12 (3/4-inch) pieces. Scoop out the center using a teaspoon or a melon baller, leaving the bottom and sides intact to form a cup. (Reserve the centers for the Round 2 Recipe Chicken Tacos with Cucumber Salsa.) Turn them upside down onto a towel and let them drain while you make the filling.
• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the shrimp and cook until bright pink, about 3 to 4 minutes. Strain and rinse in cold water. Remove the shells and discard. (Reserve 12 shrimp for the Round 2 Recipe Shrimp and Potato Salad with Sour Cream and Bacon Dressing.)
• Chop the shrimp into small pieces and put them into a bowl. Add the horseradish, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste, half the can of tomatoes (reserve the remaining half for the Round 2 Recipe Chicken Tacos with Cucumber Salsa) and 1 tablespoon of parsley. Evenly divide the shrimp mixture between the cucumber cups. Arrange them on a serving platter and garnish with remaining parsley.

Steps:

• Slice cucumbers in half lengthwise; trim ends. Cut each half into 3/4-inch pieces.
• Scoop out the center of each piece of cucumber with a melon baller, and fill with about 1/2 teaspoon cottage cheese. Garnish with clover sprouts, and serve.

Steps:

• Using a zester, vegetable peeler or fork, score the length of each cucumber to create a striped effect.
• Remove the ends and cut each cucumber into 3/4 inch rounds.
• Using a melon baller, scoop out the seeds from the center of each round to form a cup.
• Reserve 1 tbsp of the walnuts as a garnish.
• Combine remaining ingredients and stir until well blended.
• Spoon the mixture into the cucumber cups, garnish with the remaining nuts and chill until serving time.