Simple Pickle Slaw

Crunchy fresh with a bite of vinegar and a happy sweet finish. Make this as a garnish or use it wherever pickles might be used. This is so very simple:

Slice the skin off of a fresh slicing cucumber, leave a bit of skin if you like. Then thin slice the skinned cucumber using a mandolin or other grater. (Long strips are better than short ones. Thin is the thing.) If you must, use a sharp knife or even a potato peeler, just try to be careful to keep the strips thin. Then simply toss the strips with cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes and then put it on, or nearby, anything.

You can make this as you get ready to prepare sandwiches. You won't get the salty bite of a store bought pickle, or the dilly deliciousness of a good home made pickle. What you will get is a sharp vinegar bite, followed quickly by a happy cucumber flavor. This will  to round out sandwiches in a new way.  You might add some crushed garlic, ground wasabi, grated horse radish, or thinly sliced onion to the mixture, but the cucumber is the king of this simple garnish.

Simple Pickle Slaw also works well as a side garnish for rice dishes and I'm told that eating this daily will keep pesky Summer mosquitoes away.