Hi friends/fellow crafters! Isn’t Lexi the best? I sure think so. You know what else is the best? Cucumber sammies. What was originally meant to be super thin layers of white bread with slivers of cucumber enjoyed during civilized tea time, has become a staple during afternoon lounges drowned in prosecco and Gina Gershon. “Are you doing you homewoooorrrrrrk?, a classic line from the instant lifetime treasure known as House of Versace.

Now, I know that Lexi loves a good Sammie, but I also know she loves a good crudité. And it just so happens that she also loves a good Kale salad. If only there was a way to combine them all into a delicious afternoon spread? If only I could find a way to do cucumber sammies more than one way? Like, what if . . . WHAT IF . . . what if we did them THREE WAY!!! Well, that is just what I am gonna do! See below to do it with me!

*editor’s note - Sometimes, while crafting or working on a recipe, I am on point – some might even say on fleek. And sometimes, well, not so much. For the cucumber sammies do as I say and not as I do. I hope you enjoy!

*editor’s note – yes, I am intentionally writing three way in lieu of three ways. Deal with it.

Ingredients

for all the ways

1-2 Cucumbers - minced
6 oz Greek Yogurt (or small package)
4 oz Cream Cheese
1-2 cloves Garlic (never mind the shallots you see in the images) - minced
1 tbsp. dried dill (or fresh!)
1 tbsp. dried chives (or fresh to death!)
1 tsp onion powder
S&P – about 1 tsp each

for one way – aka your favorite crudité vegetables

1-3 Rainbow carrots - julienned
1-2 stalks of celery - julienned
1-2 peppers of your choice - julienned
Leftover crust from two way
Olive oil
S&P

for two way – aka the sammie

1 cucumber - super thin sliced
Your favorite sliced bread

for three way – aka your favorite kale salad

Kale
Leftover crust from two way
Olive oil
S&P

Instructions

1. Dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum . . . BASE!

In a mixing bowl, pre-mix your herbs and spices (dill, chive, onion powder, S&P). Add one small 6 oz. (or 5.3 oz because that makes sense?!?!) package of greek yogurt (I used non-fat but you do you) and 4 oz. of cream cheese. Mix together until smooth

*it helps if cream cheese is at room temperature

*also, halfway through I wished I had used a food processor but then there would have been more clean up so meh

Remember the editor’s note about do as I say, not as I do? Well it comes into play here.

Cut your washed cucumber in half and scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Cut the halved cucumbers lengthwise into 6- 8 pieces. Finely mince the strips and add to bowl. Add finely minced garlic and mix well. Divide into three for all the ways

*In retrospect I wish I had minced the cucumber per my directions instead of doing the rough chop pictured. It would have created more of a spread instead of “cucumber salsa thing” - - -oohhhh, not a bad idea!

* Also in retrospect, I wish I had added the garlic per directions in lieu of the shallots. Garlic and dill divine together; not to mention that with chives and onion powder there was really no need for shallots. What was I thinking?!?!

2. One Way Crudite

The easiest of all the ways! Julienne your favorite vegetables and display beautifully with 1/3 of your Sammie Base. I used rainbow carrots because they are just so pretty. To add some carbs (and not waste food) take the scraps from the two way and (lightly coated in olive oil) bake them for 5-10 min @ 375 in the oven.

2. Two Way Samm-ay

Thinly slice the remaining cucumber until they are as transparent as . . idk, something clear? Evenly spread 1/3 of the base mixture on 6 slices of bread and add 4 slices of cucumber on each sandwich. Keep in mind that we are trimming the crust off, so place them as efficiently as possible :) Join the bread slices together, trim off the crust (save it!) and cut into 4 beautiful Sammies. Arrange beautifully on a plate because that is just what you do.

cucumbers are the best things since sliced bread. wait, what?

3. Three Way - kale-ay!

Whisk remaining base mixture with 1-2 tbsp of EVOO to make dressing. Strip cleaned Kale from stem and chop into bite size pieces. Cut leftover crusts from two way into crouton sized cubes. Lightly oil and bake for 5-10 minutes @ 375 in the oven. Mix all together into a beautiful creamy sammie salad.