Eat*Drink*Cleveland: cucumber finger sandwiches

Cucumber Finger Sandwiches

I recently hosted my very first tea. I had wanted to for years and am so glad I finally took the plunge. All you need is tea and some nibbles so call up some girlfriends and have your very own tea party!

Finger sandwiches are one of the best things about having tea - who can resist the mini morsels? There are many varieties to choose from but my favorite is a cucumber sandwich.

Here's my sassy version of a classic.

Sassy Cucumber Finger Sandwiches

1 loaf Pepperidge Farm Very Thin Sliced Bread
6-8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 English cucumber
4 T fresh dill, finely chopped
zest of one lemon
1 t fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
4 T unsalted butter, softened

Thinly slice cucumber, as thin as possible. Place slices on clean lint free towel or paper towels and squeeze to remove excess liquid. Set aside.

Combine softened cream cheese, dill and lemon zest/juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Lay out 2 slices of bread. Thinly spread one slice with butter. Place sliced cucumber on butter, slightly overlapping slices. On the other slice of bread, spread a thin layer of the cream cheese mixture. Press pieces of bread together to form sandwich. Repeat with remaining slices. Place sandwiches on large plate or tray and cover with damp towel. Refrigerate.

When ready to serve, place sandwiches on cutting board. Cut off crusts of bread then cut each sandwich into four triangles.

Enjoy with a cup of tea and some sweet treats for a fun filled afternoon with your favorite girls.