• In the heat, there is one cool food we can always count on - cucumbers. The reason for the cukes�?cool persona is that they have an amazing ability to retain water and remain cool. In fact, the inside if a cucumber can be up to 20 degrees cooler than the outside temperature.
• When shopping for cucumbers, look for firmness without any soft spots. They should have a solid green color with no yellowing. Avoid cukes that appear shriveled from lack of moisture.
• Some cucumbers can be bitter, especially at the ends. You might want to cut off the ends because of this. In particular, cut off the blossom end of fresh cucumbers, as the blossoms contain enzymes that are bitter and cause excessive softening of pickles.
• Cucumbers are great just peeled, sliced lengthwise and served as appetizers. Many like a bit of salt on these. My absolute favorite way of serving cucumbers is:

 Sour Cream Cucumbers

Just peel and slice cucumbers very, very thin. Salt the cucumbers generously and set in the refrigerator for about two hours. Then squeeze out the excess water accumulated. Add a generous amount of sour cream. Mix together and serve. 

From http://directrecipes.com

• Vinegar is the most perfect deterrent against deerfly!! I purchased a terry turban and
  soaked it in white vinegar; making sure it covers my ears, I am able to spend hours outside without the fear of vicious deerfly bites!
• Arthritis tonic and treatment: 2 spoonfuls of apple cider vinegar and honey in a glass of water several times daily.
• Thirst-quenching drink: Apple cider vinegar mixed with cold water.
• Sagging cane chairs: Sponge them with a hot solution of half vinegar and half water. Place the chairs out in the hot sun to dry.
• Skin burns: Apply ice cold vinegar right away for fast relief. Will prevent burn blisters.
• Add a spoonful of vinegar to cooking water to make cauliflower white and clean.
• Storing cheese: Keep it fresh longer by wrapping it in a vinegar-soaked cloth and keeping it in a sealed container.
• Remove stains from stainless steel and chrome with a vinegar-dampened cloth.
• Rinse glasses and dishes in water and vinegar to remove spots and film.
• Prevent grease build-up in your oven by frequently wiping it with
  vinegar.
• Wipe jars of preserves and canned food with vinegar to prevent mold-producing bacteria.

• To eliminate mildew, dust and odors, wipe down walls with vinegar-soaked cloth.
• Clean windows with vinegar and water.
• Hardened paint brushes: Simmer in boiling vinegar and wash in hot soapy water.
• Clean breadbox and food containers with vinegar-dampened cloth to keep fresh-smelling  and clean.
• Pour boiling vinegar down drains to unclog and clean them.
• Clean fireplace bricks with undiluted vinegar.
• An excellent all-purpose cleaner: Vinegar mixed with salt. Cleans copper, bronze, brass, dishes, pots, pans, skillets, glasses, windows. Rinse well.
• Make your catsup and other condiments last long by adding vinegar.
• To clear up respiratory congestion, inhale a vapor mist from steaming pot containing water and several spoonfuls of vinegar.
• Apple cider vinegar and honey as a cure-all: Use to prevent apathy, obesity, hay fever, asthma, rashes, food poisoning, heartburn, sore throat, bad eyesight, dandruff, brittle nails and bad breath.
• When boiling eggs, add some vinegar to the water to prevent white from leaking out of a cracked egg.
• When poaching eggs, add a teaspoon of vinegar to the water to prevent separation.
• Weight loss: Vinegar helps prevent fat from accumulating in the body.
• Canned fish and shrimp: To give it a freshly caught taste, soak in a mixture of sherry and 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
• Add a spoonful of vinegar when cooking fruit to improve the flavor.
• Soak fish in vinegar and water before cooking for a tender, sweeter taste.
• Add vinegar to boiling ham to improve flavor and cut salty taste.
• Improve the flavor of desserts by adding a touch of vinegar.
• Add vinegar to your deep fryer to eliminate a greasy taste.
• Add a tablespoon of vinegar to fruit gelatin to hold it firm.
• Steep your favorite herb in vinegar until you have a pleasing taste and aroma.
• Use vinegar instead of lemon on fried and broiled foods.
• To remove lime coating on your tea kettle; add vinegar to the water and let stand overnight.

• To make a good liniment: Beat 1 whole egg, add 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup turpentine. Blend.
• Apply vinegar to chapped, cracked skin for quick healing.
• Vinegar promotes skin health: Rub on tired, sore or swollen areas.
• Reduce mineral deposits in pipes, radiators, kettles and tanks by adding vinegar into the system.
• Rub vinegar on the cut end of uncooked ham to prevent mold.
• Clean jars with vinegar and water to remove odor.
• Avoid cabbage odor by adding vinegar to the cooking water.
• Skunk odor: Remove from pets by rubbing fur with vinegar.
• Paint adheres better to galvanized metal that has been wiped with vinegar.
• Pets' drinking water: Add vinegar to eliminate odor and encourage shiny fur.
• For fluffy meringue: Beat 3 egg whites with a teaspoon of vinegar.
• Pie crust: Add 1 tablespoon vinegar to your pastry recipe for an exceptional crust.
• Half a teaspoon per quart of patching plaster allows you more time to work the plaster before it hardens.
• Prevent discoloration of peeled potatoes by adding a few drops of  vinegar to water. They will keep fresh for days in fridge.
• Poultry water: Add vinegar to increase egg production and to produce tender meat.
• Preserve peppers: Put freshly picked peppers in a sterilized jar and finish filling with boiling vinegar.
• Olives and pimentos will keep indefinitely if covered with vinegar and refrigerated.
• Add 1 teaspoon vinegar to cooking water for fluffier rice.
• Add vinegar to laundry rinse water: Removes all soap and prevents yellowing.
• After-shampoo hair rinse: 1 ounce apple cider vinegar in 1 quart of distilled water.
• For a shiny crust on homemade bread and rolls: Just before they have finished baking, take them out, brush crusts with vinegar, return to oven to finish baking.
• Homemade sour cream: Blend together 1 cup cottage cheese, 1/4 cup skim
  milk and  1teaspoon vinegar.
• Boil vinegar and water in pots to remove stains.
• Remove berry stains from hands with vinegar.
• Prevent sugaring by mixing a drop of vinegar in the cake icing.
• Cold vinegar relieves sunburn.
• When boiling meat, add a spoonful of vinegar to the water to make it more tender.
• Marinate tough meat in vinegar overnight to tenderize.
• A strength tonic: Combine raw eggs, vinegar and black pepper. Blend well.