Hiking Trails and Tuna Tales

Every childhood summer, we piled into our minivan and drove up to the mountains to pitch a tent and escape humanity for a while. Sometimes family friends joined in, and we all swam in the lake, cooked burgers in the fire, and munched on gooey s’mores.

But everyone loved hiking the most. Mom packed a backpack with all sorts of fruit gummies and peanut butter crackers and granola bars, and we stopped in the shade to sit on boulders and enjoy the snacks.

One girl always begged her dad to bring a can of tuna. While the briny fish smell repulsed my brother and me, she peeled back the lid and happily ate the fish plain or with a bit of mayo using her little fold-up spork.

Within the last year or two, I finally picked up my first can of tuna from the grocery store and gave it a chance. Although not quite love at first bite, it did grow on me, and I realized just how convenient it is to crack open the lid when I don’t have a stove, like back on those dusty trails. Or simply when I don’t want to cook.

Tuna Cucumber Rounds

serves 8-10 as an appetizer

These couldn’t be easier to throw together! If spicy food isn’t your thing, omit the cayenne or just add in a pinch.

1 medium cucumber

½ c. plain Greek yogurt

1 tsp dried thyme

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

1 (5 oz) cans tuna in water, drained

Slice the cucumber in ¼-inch thick rounds. In a small bowl, stir together the yogurt, thyme, and cayenne. Spoon about ½ tsp of the yogurt mixture onto each round (or just evenly distribute it), and smoosh it down a bit with the back of a spoon. Add a few flakes of tuna on top of each yogurt-covered cucumber slice.