Recipe: Gazpacho

It's summer, the temperatures are rising, and on long days playing and working out in the sun, it's nice to have some cool refreshing food.  Our favorite is gazpacho; a Spanish cold raw vegetable soup.  For many people, this soup is an acquired taste.

Ingredients:

• 5 tomatoes
• 2 bell peppers
• 1/2 large onion
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1 garlic clove
• salt
• vinegar
• olive oil

* You will need a blender (stand alone or hand blender).  

Wash and quarter the tomatoes.  Blend these first so there is liquid in the blender.

Wash and cut the other vegetables into large chunks.  If you get heartburn, you may want to use less onion and leave out the garlic.

 Put the rest of the vegetables in the blender.

Blend very thoroughly.  I often work it up to high power and then leave it on for a few minutes.  Then you can add the vinegar, olive oil, and salt to taste.  I put about 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil and a teaspoon of vinegar, but you can add these ingredients to your liking.  Once you've added the oil, vinegar, and salt, you should blend it thoroughly again.  The final product should be creamy and frothy like the photo below.

Other ingredients you can also include dried bread and hard boiled egg.  If you add these two, just blend them with the rest of the ingredients. For garnish, you can chop up onion, green bell pepper, and cucumber to sprinkle on top.

Chill the soup in the fridge until you are ready to eat!