Cracktastic Cucumber Dip!

I love impromptu, relaxed gatherings of friends, especially in the summertime.  Back when we lived in Colorado there was barely a night that passed that we didn't have at least one person over for dinner and buckets of wine (you know who you are). We always managed to throw something together and we'd pass dishes around our ginormous dining table and no matter what drama we were in the middle of, food and our "friend family" seemed to cure all that might have ailed us. (The buckets of wine didn't hurt either.)

I think maybe that's why people want to cook for you when you've had a baby, when you're sick ("FEEEED a COLD!") or have experienced a loss or why we comfort-eat. Food just brings people together and just makes us feel better...until after we've stuffed ourselves anyway.  Some of my best meals I made in that tiny Denver kitchen and now years later I look back on those as my formative years. Today the responsibilities of work and families (and for some of us, living miles or continents apart) keep us from getting together as much as we'd like, but you can bet when we do, it's always a good time and there is guaranteed to be a lot of great food there no matter where we are!

Probably one of the most requested recipes in my arsenal is that of the "Cracktastic Cucumber Dip." I typically refer to this crowd pleaser as "Cucumber Crack Dip," but after taking some to a great little "friend-family" gathering last weekend, it was lovingly renamed by my gracious hosts.  I like the new name better.  This one's a sure thing, and a perfect use for those summer cucumbers - even if you're not a cucumber fan - pop a Beano and get over it...this stuff rocks.

Cracktastic Cucumber Dip 

Ingredients:

• 1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced 
• 1 pkg cream cheese, softened (Kitchen Hint: to soften a block of cream cheese, unwrap, place in a microwave-safe dish and heat covered for 20-30 seconds) 
• 1/8 cup light mayo 
• 1/8 cup light sour cream (can increase mayo/sour cream later to get the right consistency)
• Coarse sea salt & ground black pepper (to taste) 
• 1/2 tsp salt-free seasoning like Mrs. Dash - or you can make your own 

Chop, mix, eat at one sitting.  Perfect on any cracker.

This makes great finger sandwiches for baby/bridal showers too (I've totally done that, and if you do it too, just very lightly spread the bread with tub-margarine before you layer on the dip so it won't soak thru and sog up your bread). You could add chopped bacon to it too for a yum twist or add chiles or a little paprika or chili powder...possibilities are endless!

So next time you hear a full mouth saying, "Owfmagawd whoof made disdip?!?" You'll be victorious!

Winner, winner chicken dinner!