Gazpacho

Gazpacho is a quick and simple dish that anyone can make. It is a chilled vegetable soup of Spanish origin and perfect on a hot Summer day when you don't feel like cooking. Its refreshing and light, overflowing with vegetables from the garden or your local farmers market.

For this recipe, you will need the following:

• 1 hothouse cucumber (these are the cucumbers you see in the grocery store wrapped in plastic)
• 1 yellow bell pepper (you can substitute red or orange if you like)
• 4 plum tomatoes
• 1 red onion
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 3 cups of tomato juice
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp pepper
• 1 cup chopped cooked shrimp or cooked bay shrimp (optional)

Chop the cucumber, bell pepper, tomatoes and onion into 1/4 pieces. Mince the garlic.

Combine the vegetables, garlic, tomato juice, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper into a large bowl. Add the shrimp (if you choose to do so). Mix well before serving. The longer Gazpacho sits, the more the flavors develop.

Enjoy!