BB: Gazpacho

Meryl of My Bit of Earth has selected Ina's Gazpacho which can be found in the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook.

I wasn't sure that a cold tomato soup was going to be up my alley, but YUMMO! This month's Barefoot Bloggers recipe is a keeper for sure. Very fresh, VERY summery, VERY tasty!!! It makes a lot, but both my husband and I agreed we will eat it for lunch and dinner until it is gone (it's that good). Thanks, Meryl, for a great pick!

Gazpacho

Copyright, 1999 The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

Prep Time: 20 min

Level: Easy

Serves: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 hothouse cucumber, halved and seeded, but not peeled
• 2 red bell peppers, cored and seeded
• 4 plum tomatoes
• 1 red onion
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 23 ounces tomato juice (3 cups)
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup good olive oil
• 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Roughly chop the cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, and red onions into 1-inch cubes. Put each vegetable separately into a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until it is coarsely chopped. Do not overprocess!

After each vegetable is processed, combine them in a large bowl and add the garlic, tomato juice, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well and chill before serving. The longer gazpacho sits, the more the flavors develop.

This is a sappy, gushy post...beware!

This is for my darling dearest, who has been traveling for just under 15 months out of the past 2.5 years...I love you with all my heart and can't wait to see you again (in 4 days!!!!).

BB: Curried Couscous

So let me begin this post by saying how much I d.r.e.a.d.e.d. making this dish. I don't like curry and the ingredients just about gagged me when I thought about them all together. It was almost to the point of "What would happen if I just didn't make this one?" ALAS...with furrowed brow and hellacious attitude, I forged onward, purchased all of the ingredients, and made it today (with forewarning to my friend whose house I took it to for dinner!). VERDICT: This was unbelievably awesome. And trust me, I nearly didn't try it to say I didn't like it!! I am SO glad I did.

So without further adieu, may I introduce Ellyn of Recipe Collector and Tester, who selected Ina's Curried Couscous for our first June Barefoot Bloggers selection! Aside from all three adults liking it (and taking seconds and thirds), all of the kids liked it too! Unreal! We think it was the allure of the raisins (which I used because the store I was in did not carry currents), but likely it was the fact that my dear friend referred to this dish as "Fairy Princess Food" which of course, our daughters fed into hook, line and sinker. I did halve the quantity of curry and turmeric (I was afraid, what can I say) but honestly, I was very pleased with the flavor and I can't say I would add anymore the next time I make this either. The carrots and almonds just gave it enough texture, then add to it the onion flavor (my friend's husband was allured by that part!) and this was a real winner. I used Greek yogurt because I already had some in the fridge, and although I was initially concerned that the consistency might be too much for this, my concerns were quickly allayed.

GREAT dish, I highly recommend it. Thanks, Ellyn!! You've cured my fear of curry!

Wordless Wednesday (there just plain aren't any for this)