STEAMED NEW POTATOES WITH CUCUMBER (for two)

8 red skinned new potatoes, about ¾ pounds

2 large, firm cucumbers, washed

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons finely chopped Italian or flat leaf parsley

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

juice of ½ lemon

1.Trim the ends off of the cucumber and, using a vegetable peeler, remove the skin. Cut the cucumber crosswise into 2 inch thick rounds, then quarter each round lengthwise. Using a vegetable peeler, remove a strip of skin all the way around the center of the potatoes. If the potatoes are tiny, leave them whole. If they’re larger, cut them in half.

2. Put the potatoes in the rack of a steamer over boiling water and steam for between 7 and 10 minutes, depending on their size Add the cucumbers and steam for 3 minutes more. Do not overcook.

3. Heat the butter in a saucepan and add potatoes, cucumber, parsley, salt and pepper. Add lemon juice and toss. Heat for 30 seconds.

adapted from the New York Times