Today, I had a wonderful group with my patients.
Sometimes, when I run a group, I ask patients to introduce themselves with the following questions: “what do you love to do?” Or, “what do you do that makes you lose track of time?”
Surprisingly, such a simple question generates a lot of discussion. It engenders positive feelings of well-being and it is an opportunity for patients to share with each other their passions in life.
One patient, Henri, (I wrote about him in The Birthday Party https://coffeeklatchinsight.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/the-birthday-party/) shared in an earlier group that he loves to garden and he even grows his own vegetables.
Today, he surprised us. He brought in his first crop of tomatoes. With such luscious tomatoes, I decided to make gazpacho soup.
I have not made gazpacho soup in years. I forgot how great it is.
This recipe comes from my Aunt Perel (A”H). Aunt Perel was a fabulous cook! I think of her often, especially when I cook.
Cooking was Aunt Perel’s passion in life. She could quote the source and the originator of a particular recipe the way other people discuss academic research.
This soup is particularly great when using fresh, ripe tomatoes. It feels like eating salad in a bowl.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs ripe tomatoes
3/4 cup onions
1 cucumber, peeled
1 small green pepper
1-2 garlic cloves
1.5 teaspoons salt, to taste
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup olive oil (can add up to 1/3 cup, but my family does not like things with too much oil)
1/2 cup wine vinegar
1/2 cup water
Optional: 3/4 cup dried breadcrumbs, or serve with croutons
Instructions
Place ingredients in food processor and pulse until desired consistency. Adjust seasoning. Serve chilled.
I must say, this soup surpassed my wildest expectations!
My husband loved it! He said, “this is fantastic! I don’t even like gazpacho….. Can I have some more?”
A true vote of confidence!
Many blessings to Aunt Perel (A”H) for sharing her wonderful recipes and culinary expertise.
Reblogged this on On the Road Cooking and commented:
This gazpacho soup does look fantastic!
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Way to go!! Nothing better than using home-grown vegetables. You can honestly taste the difference! Great post, I really enjoyed reading this 🙂
xox
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Thank you! I say that I can taste the love he put into the vegetables.💖
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Mhmm, I know exactly what you mean 😉
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Very refreshing!
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It really was. And, husband approved!🌿
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yeah!
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😊
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Wow! That sounds delicious!
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It was a hit!🍅
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My husband would LOVE it!
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This is definitely husband approved.
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Gazpacho is good and very refreshing in the heat, where it can be difficult to manage much hunger.
I use another Spanish recipe and it use to be a success too 🙂
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Is it posted on your blog? Now, thanks to my patient, I have luscious tomatoes.
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No, I haven’t posted any recipes at my blog yet. Great with your patient 🙂
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Ooooh can’t wait to try this before the summer is over. You might also enjoy my cucumber soup recipe: https://ankithagadag.wordpress.com/2016/08/13/chilled-avocado-cucumber-soup/
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I must check it out! Thank you! Enjoy!🌿
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I am not a big food person, but I truly enjoy gazpacho soup. On these hot humid days, cold gazpacho soup is really satisfying.
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This recipe even made a convert out of my husband, who is also not a food person in general or a soup person in particular.
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I’m not surprised. With you as the chef, I am certain there will be many foods he will be surprised at enjoying. I’m sure the love you put into cooking improves the flavor and taste as well. 🙂
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I think so! I even have my husband agreeing that “you can taste the love.” Of course, the tomatoes were grown with love too by my patient. So, that also helped.🍅
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Yum! You can also add fresh basil which really goes well with the tomatoes and serve it with diced avocados on top instead of croutons. All of your recipes are delicious and easy to prepare – thanks so much for sharing!
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Fresh basil and fresh avocado sound awesome! I love your cooking. Thank you!
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Such a sweet story and a fabulous recipe, thank you for sharing! Happy Summer!
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😊
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The soup looks delicious, thanks for sharing! What warmed my heart is how one of your patients shared his bounty with rest of you all – so touching 🙂
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I know. This man is such a gentle and caring soul. He shared them with the whole group! It also warms my heart.
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This is gazpacho as I love it … Many recipes clued stale bread and with a gluten intolerant daughter I never included it … And in fact I think it’s much nicer without. Maybe that was what your husband didn’t like before he tasted your delectable cool brew?
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My husband is very particular about food. He really liked the wine vinegar. That hit the spot!
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Wonderful recipe for the fresh tomatoes finally coming out! YUM!
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It looks great! The combination of tomatoes with the other ingredients will really bring out the flavors of gazpacho. Love the recipe 🙂
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Enjoy! This is one of the best recipes I have ever seen.
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Instant salad – that makes it sound more palatable.
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Visualize the positive 😉
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This is great; I’ve got all the ingredients too. I’m not much of a gazpacho fan either, but I don’t really remember having some. Probably because cold soup doesn’t sound good.
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I see this as instant salad. I think the red wine vinegar gives it a really nice kick. I also think fresh tomatoes really made a difference.🍅
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looks delicious and refreshing!
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This came out really great. It must be because the tomatoes were so awesome.
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