Cucumber & Red Onion Pickles

Living in South Africa came with a host of unwritten, social etiquette rules. Wedding and bar mitzva invitations were sent out 2 months in advance, children's birthday parties demanded at least 4 weeks' notice, Saturday night dinner reservations were carefully diarized, and even kids' play-dates required forward planning And...exhale. What a relief it was to move to Israel with its spontaneous, live-in-the-moment society. Of course, not planning ahead does has it drawbacks, and I bet many readers would take the stand that life's too short to pickle your own cucumbers. Enter the 'Quickle Pickle'....a vibrant and hugely versatile cucumber 'n red onion salad that is pickled to perfection within an hour of popping the lid on your bottle of vinegar. Simply sensational served with fried fish, deli meats, cheese sandwiches, homemade burgers, and virtually any other dish you choose, it's the pickle you've all been waiting for, and it's within even the most reluctant-to-plan cook's reach. Get yourself into a pickle and you'll never look back.

4 large cucumbers 1 medium-sized red onion 1/4 cup (60 ml) red or white wine vinegar (NOTES) 2 tablespoons (30 ml) lemon juice 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil 2 teaspoons (10 ml) sugar or sweetener 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt Black pepper to taste 1: Peel the cucumbers then halve lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, and thinly slice. 2: Halve and thinly slice the red onion and place in a bowl with the cucumber. 3: Combine the vinegar, lemon juice, oil, sugar, and seasoning, whisk together, then pour over the vegetables and mix through. 4: Allow to stand for a minimum of 30 minutes before serving. COOK'S NOTES: It's easy to scoop out seeds by running a teaspoon along the length of the halved cucumber. This step is not essential but it does prevent the cucumber from getting watery. Red and white wine vinegar are interchangeable here. You could use apple cider vinegar if necessary. I would recommend always having red or white wine vinegar in stock as this is the most versatile of all vinegars and best for salad dressings.