Amid the showy reds of strawberries and tomatoes, the sunshine sweetness of corn and the graceful elegance of asparagus and artichokes, bumpy cucumbers are the wallflower of the summer garden. But on a hot, humid day, the cucumber outshines its showier counterparts. There's nothing more cool and refreshing than a plateful of sliced cukes, lightly salted and splashed with vinegar.
Cucumbers are mostly water, so they're a perfect thirst quencher.
They also are cheap, plentiful and readily available during their summer growing season. They should be scrubbed before using to remove loose spines. Peeling is not necessary unless you prefer or if the skin is bitter. If you don't peel them, scrub them well to remove the wax. The majority are seedless, or nearly so.