Sal's Gazpacho Soup Two Ways - RH Week DAY 3!

Welcome to RH Week Day 3!! Hope you have been enjoying the tasty treats so far, I already have both recipes printed out and queued up to prepare for my next dinner party!! Today's guest entry is not one but TWO versions of Gazpacho soup, (a creamy gazpacho and a more traditional one,) sent in by a reader named Sal (no twitter or website he says in his e-mail, just an Organic Eats Fan... love it!) who got the recipes from an old, worn out and "thoroughly loved" recipe book entitled "Soups & Stews: A Two in One Cookbook" by Joanne Waring Lindeman c. 1976 Nitty Gritty Productions.

Personally, I really believe that there are fewer things more culinarily delightful than sipping chilled Gazpacho on a balmy summer day, so thank you again Sal for your contribution to many future nights spent in summer soup-filled splendor!

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Creamy Gazpacho

yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 lb ripe tomatoes

1/2 large cucumber

1/2 cup soft bread crumbs

1 clove garlic, mashed

1 tbs. salad oil

1 tbs. vinegar

2 cups cold water

salt and pepper

1 tsp. McCormick's Season All dash Tabasco

1 cup (1/2 pt.) heavy cream

finely chopped parsley

Directions:

Peel and chop tomatoes and cucumber. Put into blender container along with bread crumbs, garlic, oil vinegar and water. Cover and blend 2 minutes. Chill mixture until icy cold. When ready to serve, stir in salt, pepper, Season all, Tabasco and cream. Sever in chilled bowls garnished with finely chopped parsley.

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Traditional Gazpacho

Says the cookbook: "This Spanish tradition is first cousin to a salad but even more refreshing. It must be served icy cold."

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients:

4 cups tomato juice

2 beef bouillon cubes (can substitute for vegetarian to make this a vegetarian or vegan soup)

2 tomatoes

1/2 cup chopped, unpeeled cucumbers

1/4 cup chopped green pepper

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup wine vinegar

2 tbs. salad oil

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

6 drops Tabasco

Directions:

Bring tomato juice to boiling. Add bouillon cubes and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and cool. Peel, seed and dice tomatoes. Add to cooled broth along with remaining ingredients. Refrigerate. Serve in chilled bowls.

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*Editor's Note: I love to top each bowl of chilled gazpacho with a few slices of avocado, a dollop of sour cream and some fresh chopped cilantro or basil for garnish and extra flavor.