I am not much of a gardener myself (I feel like I kill anything I touch!), but I have plenty of other gardeners in my life to know that cucumbers are one of those veggies you plant with everything else but end up getting way more than you know what to do with! One plant produces so many; you have to start getting really creative with your cucumbers so you don't let them go to waste!

Of course, one can always just eat them plain. Cucumbers are naturally pretty sweet, so really they are great for snacking on! You can always dip them in ranch or hummus if you want a little more flavor.

They are also great for adding a little crunch to your dishes. Cucumbers have a subtle flavor, but they have such a tasty crunch! They go great with any sandwich or salad you may be having for dinner. You could even just have a little after-school tea party (or chocolate milk party if you don't drink tea;) ), and have fun making different shaped cucumber sandwiches. You could also do away with the bread completely and put different toppings on little shaped slices of cucumber- tomato, dressing, peppers, cream cheese or mayo with seasonings, shredded carrot, hummus, olives, etc.

Another way my husband's family has used up cucumbers in the past is making a simple salad of cucumber and onion slices in a vinegar dressing (basically salt, vinegar, and sugar to taste). Sour, packed with a punch, and tasty! My father-in-law can eat a ton of this stuff (he is 100% pure German;) ), I can only handle so much cucumber vinegar salad before my tastebuds are begging for a break and are about to shrivel up and die from all the canker sores!

So last year I decided to try a new recipe involving cucumber, and it did not disappoint. I have found two other recipes that seem pretty promising to me- I haven't tried them yet personally, but they sure sound good! I thought I would share them with you so that you have some options for all the delicious cucumbers you may be pulling out of your garden right now.

The first one is Cucumber Salsa. This would be a great way to use other veggies that are growing in your garden. There is nothing like eating homemade salsa made from vegetables that you (or maybe your husband;) ) grew right in your own backyard! There is something very fulfilling about it! I included the particular recipe I used, but I know there are a lot of variations you could do with just this one idea.

The second recipe is a Cucumber Dip. I haven't tried it, but it looks so cool and refreshing! I imagine it would be a perfect addition to any picnic or barbecue or even just an afternoon snack.

The last recipe is Creamy Cucumber Bagel Sandwiches. That name alone just sounds appealing to me! I am a sucker for bagels, and especially ones that are packed with flavor. Can't wait to give this one a shot!

What are your family's favorite ways of using up all those cucumbers?