Salad and Garnish

Want to dress up your table top for a low cost this Labor Day weekend? Try the easy to make Cucumber kayaks. These are beautiful and a cinch to make. Finding foods that fit your budget and can be dressed up into interesting table decor is almost a necessity with todays fast pace and poor economy. Looking for a delicious way to get your guest talking during your Labor Day meal? Try the Shredded Salad.

Cucumber Kayaks

Prep time: 10 minutes
Total time to make: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups of golden raisins
2 Large Cucumbers
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
5 or 6 large lettuce leaves

Items Needed:

Medium bowl
Sharp knife
Cutting board
Small bowl
Spoon
A tray
Carat cutter/ skin peeler
Strainer
Aluminum foil/ plastic wrap

Rinse your lettuce off and strain them. Be sure to use cold water to help keep the lettuce leaves crisp. Line the bottom of the tray with the leaves of lettuce and set aside.

Using the carrot cutter, peal the skin off of the two large cucumbers, collecting the skins in the small bowl. Cover the small bowl with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator until later. Lay the two cucumbers on the cutting board and slice them in half length wise. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon. (It may be easier to use a melon ball scooper.) Save the innards of the cucumbers that you scrape out by putting them in the medium bowl. Set the cucumber halves to the side.

In the medium bowl, add in the raisins and mix well. Add in the peanut butter, being sure to mix the ingredients in the bowl well. If it would be easier, the mixture in the bowl may have to be folded several times instead of actually stirring it. Once the mixture is ready, fill the insides of the cucumber halves. Place a small amount of the mixture on top of your lettuce leaves, and place the cucumber halves on top, this will hold them into place on the tray. Wrap and refrigerate until you are ready for eating, or serve and eat immediately.

To dress up the kayaks, you may want to break a large pretzel rod in half and stick one half leaned against each side of the cucumber kayak.

Shredded Salad

Prep time: 10 to 15 minutes
Total time to make: 10 to 15 Minutes

Ingredients:

Bowl of Cucumber skins
Long carrots
Sharp cheddar
Lettuce
Salad Dressing of Choice
Cherry or grape tomatoes
Parmesan Cheese
1 Lemon
Salt and pepper to taste

Items Needed:

Large bowl
Carrot peeler
Spoon
Sharp knife
Cutting board
Cheese Grater

Using your cutting board and a sharp knife, cut the lettuce into long shredded pieces. Place the lettuce shreds into the large bowl.

Using the cheese grater, grate both the sharp Cheddar and the Parmesan cheese into the large bowl. Using a spoon, mix together the two kinds of grated cheeses and the lettuce shreds.

Using the carrot peeler, shave the skins of the carrots over the top of the large bowl. Now is a good time to add in the cucumber skins from the Cucumber Kayak recipe. (If you did not do the Cucumber Kayak recipe, you can always use the carrot cutter and peel the cucumber's skin now.) Mix the bowls ingredients well.

Using the cheese grater, grate some of the lemons skin into the salad. To dress up your salad, use the carrot peeler and cut long strands of the lemon by going around the outside of the lemon. Once you are done with it's outside, cut the lemon into fourths, and squeeze the juice over the salad and discard the rest of the lemon. Adding salt and pepper to taste is optional at this point. Before adding spices to the entire salad, I would suggest that you take a small portion of the salad out, salt and pepper it lightly, and test taste it.

If you would like, you could add the salad dressing now, however, I would recommend serving the salad dressing on the side. Remember, not all of you guest will want salad dressing on their salad.

Now give the salad one more good toss and line the outside edge of the bowl with the tomatoes. Cover and refrigerate, or serve immediately.