Starter Recipe: Cool Cucumber Soup

Aside from serving as luxurious eye pads at the spa, cucumbers have a bunch of other great uses. If you're not scheduled for a massage anytime soon, you can still enjoy a relaxing and refreshing treat with the help of this lovely green veggie. A cool cucumber soup will invigorate you, putting you in a state of zen without leaving the kitchen. Here's how to prepare this healthful and tasty soup...

Cool Cucumber Soup

Ingredients

• 1 clove crushed garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups peeled, seeded, and chopped cucumbers divided
• 1 /12 cups buttermilk
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 2 ice cubes
• freshly ground pepper to taste

1. Place the garlic clove on the cutting board and sprinkle with salt. Mash with the side of a chef's knife into a smooth paste then transfer to a blender.

2. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cucumbers for garnish then pour the rest into the blender with the buttermilk, mint leaves with the sprigs reserved for garnish, vinegar, and ice cubes.

3. Blend until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve in bowls with remaining mint sprigs and cucumbers.

4. Enjoy!

Condiment Recipe: Homemade Pickles

Let's be honest: Pickles are a fantastic invention. They taste great on their own or on a burger, and no corned beef sandwich is complete without a thick wedge on the side of the plate. Sadly store-bought jars lack crispness and their texture leaves much to be desired. For the best flavor and texture, nothing beats a homemade batch.

Fortunately, pickles are remarkably easy to make. Perhaps the best part of a homemade jar of pickles is the opportunity to experiment with flavors not found in stores. Add peppercorn, or coriander, or red pepper flakes for an additional kick to your pickles. The possibilities are endless! Keep reading below for instructions on making your own...

Homemade Pickles

Ingredients

• Fresh Kirby cucumbers (or other dense cucumber with thin skin. Avoid salad cucumbers or waxed cucumbers)
• 2 cups pure water (non-chlorinated. If your tap is chlorinated, leave to sit on the counter uncovered overnight and the cholrine will dissipate. Bottled water also works)
• 1 tablespoon Kosher salt (or fine sea salt. Do not use iodized salts)
• Fresh garlic (optional)
• Fresh dill (optional)
• Experiment with other spices and veggies like onion, coriander, and jalapeno!

Directions

• In a separate bowl mix together water and salt (about 1 tablespoon for every 2 cups of water) until the salt is dissolved. Make as much brine as you think you are going to need (It's perfectly okay to make too much).
• Cut the cucumbers into desired shape and size and pack them into sanitized glass jars with the other vegetables and spices if you are including any (un-flavored pickles are delicious, too!)
• Fill the jar with the water and salt solution, making sure the cucumbers are completely submerged. Cap the jars with their lids and let sit out.
• You should eventually start to notice rising, and maybe a little froth. After 3 days, taste a pickle. It should be about half-sour. If you'd prefer a full-sour, let the jar sit for another two days.
• The jar should remain room temperature for a maximum of five days to preserve the pickle's texture. After five days, or whenever the pickle reaches the right flavor (whichever is sooner) skim the froth off the top of the brine (if there is any froth) then place the jar in the fridge to stop the fermentation process.
• The pickles last about 6 months in the fridge.
• Enjoy!