When summer gives me cucumbers I make a lot of tzaziki, that garlicky cucumber yogurt salad that is at its best with plenty of freshly ground black pepper and dill stirred in (at least in this humble girl’s opinion).

But at a certain point I get a bit tired of garlic-studded cucumber yogurt. Last night I was in the mood for a cocktail. No bottle of beer, no glass of wine. I wanted a big girl, grown-up cocktail. So I shook myself up a gin martini and threw a few slices of cucumber in it along with a grind of black pepper. I shook the life out of it, strained out the cucumber and added fresh garnish-quality slices. I kicked back to watch the sun set in many shades of pink and orange in the California sky as I sipped its icy coolness. Peace and calm were mine. I wish the same to you.

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Each week, the Friday Food Files are deliciously brought to you by Molly Watson. For more on Molly and her delicious recipes, you can visit her in one of many wonderful places:
Writer: mollywatsonwrites.com
Blogger: thedinnerfiles.com
Recipe Wizard: localfoods.about.com
Radio Girl: eatthatradio.wordpress.com
tweeter: twitter.com/mollywatson
teacher: mediabistro.com/courses/cache/instr404.as

[ Photos courtesy of smaku, and Molly Watson. ]