English cucumber sandwiches

I read about how the English love their evening tea with scones and sometimes with Cucumber Sandwiches.
That didn’t sound too hard, I mean, they’re just sandwiches, how hard can it be???
Usually, when I think that, it usually turns out to be pretty hard.
But this time, no! It was just as easy as I thought it would be. And it tasted so refreshingly delicious. Like taking a shower on a hot summer’s afternoon.
Try this sometime, and you’ll never make any other kind of sandwiches.
Trust me! The English do know how to eat. Probably not as good as the French, no offense, but ya, they do!

Ingredients:

• A whole cucumber, firm, fresh, and hopefully not bitter. 

• Mayonnaise, low fat or regular, it really doesn’t matter.

• Salt and Pepper, to taste.

• Sandwich bread 

 You start off, by peeling the cucumber and cutting the edges off.
Then, de-seed and grate the cucumber in a medium fine sieve, so that you get delicate shards of translucent cucumber.
This step is quite crucial. You see, cucumbers are so watery, and if you use the cucumber as it is, the sandwiches will get so soggy, that you’ll just have to eat them with a spoon.
So transfer the grated cucumber onto a strainer, place over a cup, and leave it in the fridge for about 10-15 minutes.
This will draw the water out of the cucumber and the water(cucumber juice) collects in the cup, while you get not-so-soggy cucumber in the strainer. Voila! Sogginess averted!

Take the drained cucumber in a bowl, mix enough mayo to just combine it and season with salt and pepper.
Spread a little on a slice of bread, top it with another slice, trim the edges and cut them lengthwise into 1 inch rectangular strips. Repeat with the other bread slices till you run out of the cucumber-mayo filling, stack on a plate, go out to your balcony/porch, watch the sun set, and enjoy with a nice hot cuppa tea!
Heaven!

Oh! waste not, want not. About the cucumber juice that drained in the cup, hope you didn’t really throw it out. Cucumber juice is great for clear skin, so dip cotton in the juice, and cover your face with cucumber filled cotton balls. Can you think of a more relaxing afternoon? Tea with cucumber sandwiches, and a pretty facial!

For those who don’t care so much for a clear skin, it makes a nice refreshing drink as well.
To the cucumber juice, add a little lime juice, sugar, ice cubes and cold water. Stir well, and enjoy! Helps cool your body, and really handy during the dreadful summers that are just around the corner.