Easy Cucumber Wrapped Salad

Yesterday, my 9 year old daughter Samantha took over my blog once again and shared her potato chip making adventure - which as far as adventures go was fun and delicious!  If you are a potato chip fan...check out our Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips and our Sweet & Spicy Potato Chips - Both of these were delicious!! 

Since OXO was nice enough to give her one of their Hand Held Mandoline Slicers to make potato chips, we decided use it the next night to make a "fancy" salad for dinner (to go with our leftovers, lol).

Don't you just love a new kitchen toy?


I was teaching her how she can cut other vegetables with the mandoline.  She became laser focused on cutting cucumbers (one of her favorite snacks)...she cut she ate, she cut she ate, lol.  Cutting cucumbers length-wise was a little tricky at first, since ya know cucumbers are quite the slippery suckers once you peel them, but she was able to get into a rhythm.

We wrapped 2 slices around to form a circle and secured them with a 2 toothpicks while we stuffed them, then we dabbed a bit of dressing (like glue) to hold it together just before we sat down to eat.  Some actually held together fine without our salad dressing "glue".  Seems if the cucumber slices are thin and wet they stick to each other just fine as long as you don't overfill it.

What a fun way to eat a salad!

I told her that a salad like this might cost $10.00 or more at certain restaurants and we made it for less than $1 a salad - so there you go!

When it comes to getting your kids in the kitchen, don't put any limitations on them.  I promise you that they can contribute much more than egg cracking and stirring!  You know your child, give them clear instructions on what you want them to do.  Model each method, technique or action you want them to perform.  Give them some creative freedom and praise, praise, praise each accomplishment.  In no time they will be surprising you with what they can do independently as well as the creative ideas they will have on what they want to make next!

My kids and especially Samantha, have been cooking with me since they were 2.  I love the independence she now has in the kitchen and I swear, sometimes that little bundle of joy and energy has saved me!  Yes, at the age of 7-8-9, SHE has pulled my butt out of the fire when we have hosted Thanksgiving and other get-togethers and I was going to be ready.  With instructions...she handles her own dishes now.  All of a sudden she keeps telling me "I know mom...I know mom". I have a feeling that my Little Chef is going to be teaching me soon!

In my opinion, OXO makes it easy to get your kids in the kitchen.  I must own a minimum of 40 OXO kitchen tools and you know what...I used to wish they or someone else had a line of kids kitchen tools but in the end they weren't necessary.  OXO's tools are so well made AND deliver on the functionality that was promised that kids of any age, once they have a bit of dexterity, can successfully use them.  Both my daughter and I are true fans!  I would say Samantha's 3 favorite OXO tools are the microplane/zester, which she has been using since she was about 5, the potato ricer (she's the chief mashed potato maker in our house), we happen to have the 3-in 1 Adjustable Potato Ricer (and boy is that a great tool and easy to use and easy to clean) and the cherry pitter...ALL kids love to use the OXO Cherry Pitter!

Thanks OXO for making my time in the kitchen with my kids even better!!

How would you like to win a few new OXO items for your kitchen?  Check out yesterdays post to enter for these 3 very helpful tools! Click here to go there and enter.

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post.  OXO provided my daughter with the mandoline, tongs and mixing bowl above for her potato chip making adventure as well as a second set to give away to one of you.  All thoughts and opinions about OXO products are my own.

Cucumber Wrapped Salad 


1 large cucumber, peeled
Greens
Tomatoes
Peppers
Croutons
And whatever else you like in your salad.

Using a mandolin on the 2nd setting, carefully shave your cucumber into lengthwise strips.
Connect 2 strips of cucumber by overlapping them a bit, to form a circle (secure with toothpicks if necessary.  Gently fill each circle with your chosen salad ingredients, top with croutons, nuts, dried cranberries or fruit.  Carefully remove toothpicks and if necessary, dab a bit of salad dressing in between where the cucumber slices overlap to "glue" them together.  Drizzle with the salad dressing of your choice and serve.

Enjoy!
-Colleen & Samantha