This is probably my most requested recipe. It’s fun to watch the uninitiated take the first bite and chew slowly, savoring the crispy cucumbers surrounded by a divine spread. Very thin bread holds it all together without dulling the flavors. Perfection!
My family lived in England for a year before I was born as my dad was up to some scholarly pursuits. Then when I was four we spent a summer there. We travelled across the Atlantic by boat as at the time it was less expensive than taking an airplane. When we returned to the states, we brought with us the tradition of four o’clock tea time. We gathered as a family at 4:00, which was our afterschool “snack time.” Along with tea (with lots of milk and sugar when I was young) we had one fruit-type cookie, one plain shortbread-like cookie, and one “special” cookie, typically with chocolate. There were rules as to the order in which the cookies were eaten and with which cup of tea. When adult guests joined us and reached for the special cookie first, we were scandalized! (That’s my mom with a special cookie.You can tell by her smile.) Cucumber sandwiches fell into the fruit-type cookie category.
Here’s the recipe:
4 ounces room temperature salted butter (1 stick)
8 ounces room temperature cream cheese (1 block)
1 tablespoon jarred prepared horseradish (or more)
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated onion (or more)
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Cucumber slices (we like them fairly thick)
Very thin white bread (such as Pepperidge Farm)
Using a stand mixer, hand mixer, or by hand, thoroughly combine the butter and cream cheese. Add horseradish, grated onion (not chopped onion — too lumpy!), lemon juice and sugar. Combine thoroughly.
Spread mixture liberally on two slices of very thin bread. (We leave the crust on, but of course you may choose to cut it off.) If the skin on your cucumbers is bitter or thick, take it off, but English cucumbers are good-to-go skin on. Cut slices to your desired thickness. Arrange four cucumber slices on one piece of bread, top with a second slice and cut into quarters. Enjoy with a cup of good English black tea, such as Yorkshire Gold or Earl Grey. Pinkies up!
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