Cucumber Boat stuffed with Flaked Fish Salad

Description

 * Yield: 8 salads

Ingredients

 * 4 medium cucumbers
 * 2 cups cold flaked fish, such as halibut, bass, etc. (or use canned tuna or salmon)
 * ½ cup celery in ½-inch pieces
 * ½ cup sour cream
 * 4 tbsp lemon juice
 * 2 tbsp sugar
 * ½ tsp salt
 * 1 head lettuce
 * 1 slice American cheese per serving
 * 1 pimento piece ½ inch x 1½ inches per serving
 * 2 or 3 tomato slices per serving
 * parsley sprigs

Directions

 * 1) Peel 4 medium cucumbers in strips ½-inch apart. Cut each in half lengthwise to give eight halves (or one half per person).
 * 2) Cut out soft centers with a grapefruit knife. Chop and set aside.
 * 3) Cut a strip from bottom of cucumber half so that it will rest firmly on the plate.
 * 4) In a 2-quart bowl, combine 2 cupsthe fish, celery and all the chopped cucumber scooped from "boats".
 * 5) Blend the sour cream with lemon juice, sugar and salt.
 * 6) Add to mixture, blend well, and chill.
 * 7) Shred the head lettuce in long thin slivers to simulate "waves".
 * 8) Arrange on dinner or large salad plates.
 * 9) Place the cucumber boat on the lettuce.
 * 10) Heap the fish mixture to fill the cucumber shells.
 * 11) Cut 1 slice American cheese in half diagonally to form a "sail".
 * 12) Place in the center of fish mixture, narrow edge upright.
 * 13) Cut a tiny banner of 1 pimento piece ½ inch x 1½ inches and pin it to the center of narrow side of cheese with a piece of toothpick.
 * 14) Garnish around edge with 2 or 3 tomato slices and parsley sprigs.