Cucumber Tea Sandwiches, Chicken Salad, Bishop’s Bread

DEAR SOS: The McCharles House Tea Room in Tustin serves the best cucumber sandwiches. I wonder if you can obtain the recipe? --LAURA

DEAR LAURA: These sandwiches are just the ticket for an elegant summer tea. They’re flavored with mint, a highly complementary herb.

CUCUMBER TEA SANDWICHES WITH MINT BUTTER 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves 16 thin slices bread, crusts removed 1 medium cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

In small bowl combine butter and mint leaves. Spread 1 side of 8 bread slices with butter mixture and layer with cucumber slices. Top with remaining bread slices. Cut sandwiches into desired shapes and serve. Makes 8 sandwiches.

Each serving contains about: 157 calories; 205 mg sodium; 17 mg cholesterol; 7 grams fat; 20 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams protein; 0.3 grams fiber.

DEAR SOS: A reader, Cathy, asked for a Scandia restaurant chicken salad recipe. Since you couldn’t find it, allow me to give it to you. I have been collecting recipes for some 55 years and am now slowly filing them in my computer. --DAN

DEAR DAN: How very good of you.

SCANDIA CHICKEN SALAD KON-TIKI 2 cups diced cooked chicken breast 3/4 cup diced crisp celery hearts Freshly grated coconut 1 tablespoon chutney Curry Dressing 2 cantaloupes

Combine chicken, celery, 1/2 cup coconut and chutney and mix well. Toss with Curry Dressing.

Cut cantaloupes in halves, remove seeds and fill cavities with chicken mixture. Or spoon chicken salad on shredded lettuce and garnish with cantaloupe or melon slices. Or dress salad by covering with dressing and arrange 3 slices of melon on top to form crown and sprinkle with coconut. Makes 4 servings.

Each serving contains about: 401 calories; 452 mg sodium; 57 mg cholesterol; 21 grams fat; 39 grams carbohydrates; 17 grams protein; 1.33 grams fiber.

Curry Dressing 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon curry powder 1 teaspoon lime juice Dash sugar Salt, pepper

Blend together mayonnaise, sour cream, curry powder, lime juice, sugar and salt and pepper to taste.