Cucumber 'n Onion Salad

 Cucumber 'n Onion Salad

    This is a quick little salad I decided to make on the spur of the moment. It's from the Philadelphia Brand Cream Cheese 100th Anniversary Cookbook. The book was published in 1981.  Although I forgot to mix the cream cheese with the cream cheese, and then add the onions and cucumber, it still turned out good. I did also add pepper and dill to the recipe (those modifications will be in Italics). This recipe makes about two servings. You could easily double this recipe. It is perfect for a hot day. Enjoy!

Ingredients: 

3 oz Philadelphia cream cheese (or other brand) softened

1/4 cup sour cream

1/4 tsp celery seed (add more if desired)

dash of salt

1/4 tsp ground pepper

1/4 to 1/2 tsp dill 

1 cup peeled cucumber slices, sliced thinly

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion rings

Directions:

Mix cream cheese, sour cream and seasonings until well combined. Stir in cucumber and onion, mixing lightly. Chill until ready to serve. Makes about two servings.

Cucumber 'n Onion Salad

Week 8 - Dilly Crackers & Firecracker Crackers

Dilly Crackers & Firecracker Crackers

Recipe 8 - 52 in 2022

Appetizer #1

       Okay, "Appetizer" is the last of the eight categories for my Fifty-two in Twenty-two project. This is the first appetizer recipe.  I was excited to try this recipe, because I am a fan of dill pickles (I didn't use to be) and dill flavored foods.  I wanted to take this to my office to share, so I bought enough ingredients to make two batches. I decided however, to make one batch of  what I've been calling "Dilly Crackers" and I made up a version I named "Firecracker Crackers". Both versions were super easy to make. I did have a favorite of these two; "Firecracker Crackers" was the flavor winner for me and they seemed to be the favorite of my co-workers as well.  

   The original recipe for "Dill Crackers" was found in the 1989 Wonderful Outstanding Tasty Meals cookbook, put together by Women of the Moose, Chapter 552 in Huntington Beach, California. The book is a collection of member recipes and this recipe was submitted by a lady named Jane Hardisty. I love these kinds of cookbooks.  I love and think it is funny, when there are three or more versions of the same recipe.  For example, this book only has one recipe for "Dill Crackers", but there could have been more, because maybe some people like to use different ingredients.  I made a few minor modifications, which will be in italics.  I think if I made the "Dilly Crackers" again, I would play around with it and add more dill and less of the dry ranch dressing mix, because I did not like the "Dilly Crackers" as much as I thought I would. 

Ingredients - Dilly Crackers:

1 (10 oz) pkg oyster crackers (I used a 9oz package)

1 pkg (dry) ranch buttermilk dressing 

1 tsp dry dill (I used 2 tsps)

1 tsp lemon pepper

1/2 tsp minced garlic

1/4 cup canola oil 

Directions - Dilly Crackers:

    Combine all ingredients in a bowl, by first adding the oyster crackers, then drizzling the oil. Stir to coat crackers with oil and then add the rest of the ingredients.  Stir to combine. Add more seasonings as you like.  Pour your crackers into either a sealed bag or an airtight container (I used an airtight container). Refrigerate for 15 minutes and re-stir the ingredients. Serve in a bowl with a large spoon, for scooping onto plates. 

The original directions are simply "Mix in bowl for 10 minutes. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Restir."

Ingredients - Firecracker Crackers:

1 (9 or 10 oz) pkg oyster crackers    

1 pkg (dry) ranch buttermilk dressing

1 tsp of your favorite spicy, red seasoning

2 tsp red chili pepper flakes

1/2 tsp minced garlic

1/4 cup canola oil

Directions - Firecracker Crackers:

    Combine all ingredients in a bowl, by first adding the oyster crackers, then drizzling the oil. Stir to coat crackers with oil and then add the rest of the ingredients. Stir to combine and add more seasoning if you like. Pour your crackers into either a sealed bag or an airtight container (I used an airtight container). Refrigerate for 15 minutes and re-stir the ingredients.  Serve in a bowl with a large spoon, for scooping onto plates. 

Left: Dilly Crackers
Right: Firecracker Crackers