Gazpacho - Fresh Garden Soup

This is a great way to use the summer surplus. This recipe comes to me from my friend Julie.

"Here is my recipe. I added in fresh basil and sundried tomatoes."

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 pound tomatoes (about 2 or 3 medium), divided use

1 cup chopped sweet onions, divided use

1 medium cucumber, peeled and chopped, divided use

1 medium bell pepper, seeds removed, divided use

5 ounces roasted, peeled red peppers (jarred is fine), divided use

1 (14-ounce) can tomato juice

1 clove garlic

2 teaspoons olive oil

2 or 3 slices of bread, cubed

1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon hot sauce, or to taste

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 Tablespoons chopped chives

Preparation:

Place half of each of the tomatoes, sweet onions, cucumber, bell pepper, and roasted red peppers into a food processor or heavy-duty blender. Add 1 cup of the tomato juice and puree until smooth.

Pour puree into a large mixing bowl and mix in the remaining tomato juice. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours. Place serving bowls in the refrigerator to chill.

Rub the clove of garlic around the interior of a large skillet. Heat over medium heat until hot but not smoking, then add the bread crumbs and saute until golden brown. Set bread cubes aside.

Chop remaining vegetables to a uniform 1/4-inch dice. Place in a small mixing bowl along with balsamic vinegar, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine. Let marinate at room temperature up to 1 hour, then mix into the refrigerated puree.

To serve, ladle gazpacho soup into chilled bowls and garnish with chopped chives and toasted bread cubes.

Yield: 8 servings

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Oatmeal Breakfast Smoothie

Smoothies are loaded with vitamins and nutrition.  Everyone has their own special recipe or combination.  This is more of a method than a recipe. 

OATMEAL BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE
Fruit
Oatmeal
Sweetener

Ice/Water

Layer ingredients like a parfait in the size of glass you want.  Add oatmeal (about 1/3rd ).  Top with berries, (frozen or fresh) Add ice and enough water to blend
Sweeten with stevia or honey. Blend.




Healthy additions

If you omit the oatmeal then try adding a tablespoon of whole flax seeds or flax seed meal (vitamix will grind the seeds whole).  Dark leafy greens for green smoothies

Hemp - great protein source.  

I gleaned the oatmeal idea from a friend.  she also also adds peanut butter for protein.  The protein makes this a filling meal replacement without the need for pricey protein powders. 

Final note on smoothies - blenders work, but to really get pulp and seeds liquefied as well as crushing ice thoroughly - you need a powerful blender.  I'm a fan of Vitamix because it is a whole food juicer.  I use it once or more each day and I also use it to grind wheat into flour.  It's a two in one machine which equals less clutter.   It's was an investment but for me it was worth it. 

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