Sammis Cucumber Boat Food

SALMON AND CUCUMBER BOATS

Steps:

• Zest orange over a bowl. Cut away rind. Section orange over bowl, removing membranes and catching juices and sections in bowl. Mix in salmon, tomato, onions, basil, oil, pepper and salt. Divide salmon mixture evenly among cucumber boats. Top each boat with 1 1/2 teaspoons sour cream. Serve with bread.

CUCUMBER BOATS

Steps:

• In a small bowl. combine chopped tomatoes, oil, vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper. Toss gently until well mixed. Chill until serving time. (at least a few hours).
• Just before serving, add feta cheese to tomatoes and mix well.
• Peel cucumbers and cut them in half lengthwise. Using a melon ball scoop or a spoon, scoop out and discard seeds. Pile tomato mixture into cucumbers.
• Serve right away.
• Preparation time does not include chilling time.

CUCUMBER CRAB BOATS

Steps:

• Cut the cucumbers in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds. Cut each cucumber half crosswise into 4 pieces and place on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt. Let stand while making the filling.
• Beat the cream cheese and mayonnaise in a medium bowl until smooth. Fold in the celery, bell peppers, crabmeat, seafood seasoning, lemon zest, lemon juice and chopped dill.
• Pat the cucumbers dry (to remove the liquid and salt). Spoon the crab salad into the hollowed cucumbers. Garnish with more dill. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

SMOKED SALMON MOUSSE IN CUCUMBER BOATS

Steps:

• In food processor, chop up salmon into a paste. Add cream cheese, salt and pepper, and heavy cream to make a mixture loose enough to pipe out into cucumber boats. Peel cucumbers and halve lengthwise. Slice cucumbers into 2-inch lengths. Use melon baller to scoop out the cucumber to make into small boat-shapes. Spoon salmon mixture into pastry bag fitted with a star tip, and pipe mixture into each cucumber "boat." Garnish with fresh dill.