Dried Beef Cucumber Sandwiches

Over 20 years ago I had a sandwich at a place called the Unicorn in Clinton.  It was one of the best sandwiches I ever had.  It was a roast beef sandwich with cucumbers on oatmeal bread.  Ever since then I have believed that roast beef and cucumbers belong together.  I've combined two recipes I love and made my own beef and cucumber sandwich.  

2 ½ oz. of dried beef (1/2 jar)

½ cup sour cream

8 oz. whipped cream cheese

½ cup mayo

½ tsp. onion powder

½ tsp. garlic powder

A couple shakes of black or white pepper

½ tsp. dill weed + extra for on top

1 English or seedless cucumber

1 loaf of Pumpernickel cocktail bread

Mix your sour cream, mayo and cream cheese until smooth.  Add your onion and garlic powder and a pinch of pepper.  Add your dill weed (not seed) and stir until well mixed.  Using a kitchen scissors cut your dried beef into small pieces over the bowl and mix in. 

Slice your cucumbers thinly.  I leave the skin on.

To assemble take a teaspoon of the cream cheese beef mixture and put on top of a piece of pumpernickel cocktail bread.  Top with a slice of cucumber and lightly sprinkle a little more dill on top of the sandwich.

These make a nice healthy appetizers or simple lunch.  It’s what is for lunch for me today.

Variation -  You may use the rye cocktail bread if you like.  You may also use saved roast beef and chop it up instead of dried roast beef.  If you'd like more onion flavor chop some green onion and add it to the cream cheese mixture. You do not need to put these on cocktail bread.  Make a whole sandwich and try it on oatmeal bread.

I still have a half a jar of dried beef to make chipped beef on toast for another dish. I love that.  That saves money on one small jar of dried beef.

Make a roux of equal parts butter and flour stirring in a medium hot pan for a couple of minutes.  Add whole milk to thicken and a couple tablespoons of cream cheese.  Using your kitchen scissors again, cut your dried beef in quarters and add to your thick milk mixture.  Taste and season with pepper to your liking.  Serve on top of toast.  I love this for a quick lunch. 

Hope you have a great day, be happy and may God bless you and yours.