Forgive the novice gardener a melodramatic observation: growing food from seeds is amazing!  I pressed a few tiny specks into the dirt, watered faithfully, and hoped something would happen.  Something did: a neat little row of twin-leaved seedlings.  That’s great, I reported to my mother, but I can’t quite bring myself to believe they’re going to become actual vegetables.  They will, she said.

Growing vegetables is, for me, a little like having a baby (but without the massive responsibility and boundless love, of course).  I saw two pink lines on a stick — twice — but couldn’t wrap my head around the eventuality of a new little person until the moment he (and she) arrived.  And I didn’t really believe those seedlings would become radishes until I saw their blushing heads break the surface of the soil.

With great anticipation and pride, I pulled up about a dozen from the garden this morning, and used them in a recipe I found on the back of the seed packet.  Mine are an elegant, oblong variety called d’Avignon or breakfast radish, which have a mild zing and juicy crunch, but regular red radishes will work as well.  I think the salad is absolutely delicious — and not just because I grew the radishes myself.

Cucumber and radish salad

Adapted from From the Cook’s Garden by Ellen Ogden

6 radishes, trimmed and very thinly sliced

2 cucumbers, trimmed and very thinly sliced

1 tbsp. kosher salt

3 scallions, white and light green parts only, very thinly sliced

2-3  tbsp. chopped fresh dill

1/3 c. unseasoned rice vinegar

Freshly ground black pepper

Toss radishes and cucumbers with salt in a colander.  Set aside for about half an hour.

Rinse radishes and cucumbers under cool running water, then press gently between your palms to remove excess moisture.  Toss in a bowl with scallions, dill, vinegar, and a few grindings of pepper.

Marinate at least 30 minutes or overnight.  Serve chilled.

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