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Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Do your kids like cucumbers?

Ro and Ree are mad for cukes, and they're mad for cooking, so this simple little recipe for Dill Cucumber Stars is right up their alley. 1. Cut two cucumbers into thin slices. You can stop right here and go on to the next step or get a little crazy and use a mini cookie cutter to cut the slices into shapes. You can see that (as usual) we err on the side of crazy in this house.

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2. Put the slices in a glass bowl (don't use plastic because it'll do funny things with your vinegar). Add 1/3 cup white vinegar, 1/3 cup water, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, 1 tablespoon minced dill.

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3. Stir it all up.

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4. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. Oops, forgot to take a picture of this part. My bad.

5. Drain the liquid and put the slices out for the eating, we use individual little bowls or plates -- cuts down on the bickering.

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6. Be sure to get out of the way, because these things are mighty popular with the little ones. Sometimes they don't even wait until you're done taking a dang photo before they start snitching stars.

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These work great in little bento boxes, as a side to any meal, or as an anytime snack. Mmmm. The girls do everything but wield the knife. Actually they get to help with that part too -- the rule around here is that I hold the knife and one girl at a time can put one hand on the handle and the other hand on her hip. Keeps the self-inflicted and sister-inflicted injuries to a minimum.

PS: If food's not your thing, we've got some fun pics of Uncle Bobby's visit yesterday where we played hooky, hung out at the park, and then I forced him to do manual labor and paint a giant canvas for me. Check out the thumbnails, captioned pics, or slideshow. Oh yeah, and I took a little video of them playing too, it's here.

25 comments:

  1. Funny to see this post ... I was just thinking about either emailing or leaving a comment about something! Very cool idea - love the cookie cutter stars and the concept.

    But - what was a huge hit with my 18-month old was slightly frozen fire-roaster corn. Ever since you mentioned frozen corn as a twin-approved treat, I've been thinking about the idea. Tonight put 4 kernels in a little bowl; Miss C happily ate each one and begged for more.

    You, my dear mama friend, are a genius!

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  2. cool! i'm number 2-- one of these days i'll be 1st!!! no mine don't-- and i will definitely try this idea!!!

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  3. and i'm #3!!! i had to comment on your weather from the slideshow--soooo jealous-- we are in the middle of a snow storm-- and i'm coveting your warm weather pics!

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  4. We love cukes too!! What a great idea!! Can't wait to try it!! Just loving the star shapes!!

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  5. Oh this is a great idea, Adia loves Cucumbers.......we eat them all the time. This will be a nice new way of trying them.

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  6. Anonymous4/01/2009

    good thing they love to cook :)

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  7. You are kidding me. Is there anything you don't do. My kids eat Cucumbers, even Maylin, but I have never cut them is such cute shapes. I haven't even thought about doing that.

    I do have to say, more the cucumbers, Maylin likes fiber bars. I know weird.

    So the girls look darling! I am still laughing about the video that went horribly wrong. And laughing what watching it, put Maylin through, BUT hey, a mom has to enjoy themselves too.

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  8. Our daughter loves sunomono. I know, weird. She also likes beets and beans. I do not have a creative cell in my body, so SS has to eat her food the boring way. :) Will give your recipe a try.

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  9. I'll have to try them that way. We do ours with sugar, salt and Japanese vinegar but we leave the skin for extra crunchiness, yummy.

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  10. You are the best MOM. I love to see your girls and all the fun things they do. Make me wish mine were still little. Now I get to enjoy the grandchildren.:)

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  11. Thanks for this cucumber recipe!! Sarah loves cucumbers....she would eat them everyday and she loves to dip them in a little ranch, so I am thinking she would like this recipe too!!

    Cute pictures...the girls look like they had a blast playing hooky with Uncle Bobby!!

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  12. Jammer is just getting into eating cukes but I will definitely have to try this recipe. I love dill and hopefully he will too. I'll have to get out my stash of cookie cutters and see what fun shapes I can come up with.

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  13. Kristina4/02/2009

    Savannah loves cucumbers too!! Kyle could have cared less for them and barely eats them now. Love the pics with Uncle Bobby and your new canvas is beautiful!!! Wonderful backdrop for pics!

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  14. My kids love cucumbers. They will eat them whole if I don't grab it away quick enough to slice up. I love the star shapes! I guess I'm just not creative enough to think of such things. Not sure if they would go for the vinegar mixture on the cucumbers. One likes pickles and three do not, so not sure how that would go over.

    The photos and video are very fun. I love that tire looking merry-go-round thing! Your new painted canvas is a great backdrop. Good job Uncle Bobby!

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  15. Mmmm...those cukes look super yummy but I'm not sure if I was more excited about this recipe or seeing that green grass really does exist somewhere!! Got that 'oh so ready for spring' feeling here!

    Fun times at the park and such beautiful pics of your girls with UB! Like the new background too. Great colour!

    Need to bookmark this one to watch the videos at home. Don't want to miss any of the Salsa fun on video.

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  16. I love when Uncle Bobby visits because he is such a hottie. :-)

    The cukes are neat too. I love dill so I'm definitely going to try that at home.

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  17. Anonymous4/02/2009

    How about cucumber sandwiches??

    Bake Pillsbury french bread loaf (comes in a can like bisquits) according to directions. Cool. Slice into thinish (1/4" or so ) slices.

    Mix one block of cream cheese with one package of dry ranch dressing.

    Spread on bread slices, top with cucumber slice.

    DELISH is all I can say :)

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  18. Anonymous4/02/2009

    Mmmmm..Uncle Bobby. Cucumbers? Yeah, they're okay too.

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  19. I am very excited about this recipe!!! I am not a fan of dill but I want my son to experience many flavors and he loves cucumbers!! Thanks for the recipe! Can't wait to try it!

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  20. That park has such wonderful and new inventive equipment. My daughter loved watching the girls and Uncle Bobby. She wants to play too!

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  21. I like I like I like! Just awesome, you are one super Mommy!

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  22. :o) Just checked out the video. The girls look like they were having such fun....and UB maybe even more! Great balance skills UB!!

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  23. New to your blog. Ro and Ree are a-freakin-dorable! What a beautiful family you have :)

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  24. Try garlic wine vinegar on those cucumbers. Yummy, Yummy!

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  25. There is a Persian traditional appetizer called Mast-o-Khiar, Mast meaning yogurt, O meaning and, and Khiar meaning cucumber, the recipe is almost the same the only difference is that Persians use yogurt instead of vinegar.

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