gazpacho.

I like soup. A lot. I could easily live on it (along with the occasional taco and pizza slice). Of course, I like to experiment and try new recipes, but the standby is my world-famous Escarole and White Bean Soup. I could eat it every night of the week, and often do during the winter. The recipe couldn't be easier:

2 cans vegetable broth
3 cloves of garlic
1 can of white or garbanzo beans
1/4 head of escarole
a few spoonfuls of macaroni
parmesan cheese

I sauté the garlic, add the beans and vegetable broth and bring to a simmer, then add the escarole, and cook until wilted but still green. Ladle into a bowl over the macaroni, top with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and voilá! Enjoy with Keith Olberman, 30 Rock or whatever you ordered from Netflix that week.

But that's not what I wanted to talk about. What I really wanted to talk about was my (and everyone's) summer soup of choice--gazpacho. I made my first batch last night in honor of the long weekend and the middle-of-the-year mark, and man, was it good.

In the past, I've always pureed the ingredients in a food processor, which makes it really easy, but I decided this year I was going with something that had more of a soup consistency. So, I diced all the vegetables, added them to tomato juice and chilled. I also wanted to make something with more color and pizzazz that the basic version, so I used heirloom tomatoes, plus red and orange peppers. Here it is:

2/3 English cucumber, peeled
4 small-med heirloom tomatoes
1/2 orange and yellow pepper
1/4 sweet onion
handful or basil and cilantro
juice of one lime
2 dashes white balsamic vinegar
salt, pepper and tobasco to taste
tomato or vegetable juice

Dice all ingredients and mix in plastic bowl. I put the herbs in the food processor to give them a really fine texture, and next time I'll probably throw in a jalapeno, too. Pour in the tomato juice, plus lime juice and vinegar, then season to taste.

It's that easy! Plus, refreshing and delicious. I added a few croutons and garnished with herbs, and look how beautiful it is! (See photo at top.)

Happy 4th of July Weekend everyone! The year is flying by!