Guest Recipe ~ Stef’s Gazpacho

Happy Monday!  Since I’m on vacation for a few days, staying in a hotel in a place that is this hot

I’m not going to be doing much cooking this week. I do plan to write a couple of posts about what I’m eating, but for today, we have a recipe from my dear friend Stef…

Stef’s Gazpacho

2 medium cucumbers, chopped
6 medium ripe tomatoes, cored and chopped (big pieces are okay)
1/2 red pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
1/4 red onion, plus 2 Tablespoons diced fine for garnish
1 avocado (especially a super-ripe, meant-to-eat-that-yesterday avocado)
1 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 T rice vinegar or juice of 1 lemon
2 grinds of salt, or about 1 dash (or more to taste)

Put everything, in this order, into your vitamix or blender and start LOW, gradually adding speed as the cucumbers and tomatoes get mixed in (too fast, too soon, or the tomatoes on the bottom will give you that yucky “tomato froth” at the top)

Blend until smooth (or, if you prefer, leave a few hunks)

Garnish with fine onion, garlic chives, jalapenos, or whatever else you have on hand.

Serve with toast points or croutons.