My late
husband Harry Hoetink and I first met Sid and Jackie in Puerto Rico in the
1960s. Although we moved to the Netherlands we always kept in touch and met
regularly. Our son has very fond memories of the times we spent together.
Around
1975 I found this recipe for cucumber sandwiches in a Dutch women’s magazine. I
have put the text into English. Nowadays we might find the style of the recipe
a little strict or admonishing. Just look at the emphasis on clean kitchen
towels. Actually, the Dutch recipe says the towels may not even smell of soap!
Recipe
for Mini Cucumber Sandwiches
½
cucumber
salt
1 shallot
small
handful fresh dill
about 3½
tablespoons soft butter
1 tbsp
mayonnaise
2 tsp
Dijon mustard
ground
white pepper
8 slices
white sandwich bread
1 tbsp
lemon juice
1 tbsp
sugar
2 clean
kitchen towels
Preparing:
wash cucumber, cut into paper-thin slices, sprinkle with salt & place in
colander. With bowl, press out liquid.
Place
cucumber slices on one folded kitchen towel and cover with second folded
kitchen towel. Press out liquid with a rolling pin.
Making
dill butter: peel shallot & chop into very small pieces. Stir butter,
mixing in shallot, dill, mayonnaise and mustard. Remove
crust from bread.
Assembling:
sprinkle lemon juice, sugar and ground white pepper over cucumber slices.
Spread dill butter on 4 bread slices. Add cucumbers. Cover with remaining
bread. Cut diagonally into 4 mini sandwiches.
Sandwiches
can be made several hours before serving; cover with humid kitchen towel.
