Red Wine Cucumber Salad

Last night, with our Bison steaks, I threw together a cucumber salad.

I am rather picky about cucumbers, & rather turn my nose up at most of what the grocery stores have to offer in this area. I especially cannot abide by all that wax, rendering the lovely peels inedible. So I fervently hope that our little cucumber plant, full of tiny cucumbers & flowers currently, produces abundantly in the end. In the meanwhile we will rejoice in the box of small & crisp cucumbers we happened upon in last weekend's Farmer's Market.

For this salad I combined: One large thinly sliced green onion, two small diced tomatoes, three small thinly sliced cucumbers, two minced cloves of garlic, 1/4 cup of red wine, & 4 tsp olive oil.

(All but the final two it was our good fortune to find at the Farmer's Market downtown.)

I allowed the salad to marinate for a little over an hour. It was quite remarkable with a bit of salt & pepper.

Also, if you get the chance & happen to be omnivorous as I am, do try Bison steaks some time. Less fatty & more tender than the beef counterparts.

Favorite Song for today (led to in a more or less direct way by my favorite radio station):

Pearl and the Beard- Sweetness

Garlic Spinach Dip

Last night, weeks of helping my parents paint the rooms in their house caught up with me. Spray painting the lawn chairs yesterday must have been the last straw for my body. My arms were rubber & my wrists & even my fingers (from the spray painting).

Good thing Simply in Season came through for me again with this fresh & creamy pick-me-up.

My brother helped me modify the recipe, because our food processor has not been up to speed.

Mix: 2 tbsp sauted garlic, four cups finely chopped spinach, 8 ounces cream cheese, 1/4 cup milk, salt, & hot sauce.

We dipped slices of summer squash & zucchini.

I meant to garnish with a chopped tomato but I plumb forgot. Maybe I will try that with the leftovers.

Also, such things as Monterey Jack, tortilla chips, or toasted pita wedges are optional.

Favorite Song for today (led to in a more or less direct way by my favorite radio station):

Between the Minds- Joanna Chapman-Smith