Cool soup for a HOT day!

Okay,...today is really hot and muggy again and definitely NOT cooking weather...so I have a bunch of fresh veggies from the market sitting in the basket collecting fruit flies (eek)...gotta use 'em today. Looking through my vast collection of favorite recipes(really), I figure a cold soup and salad will have to do...

Gazpacho is one of my favorites...basically love anything with cilantro in it
You can dice the tomatoes yourself or use canned diced tomatoes...fresh of course is better, but more work for you...
All you need is a large bowl and a large space in your frig to cool it! Good luck Americans!

Start with 2 pounds of tomatoes...diced ( I don't mind the peel, but if you do...peel them)
or use 2 large cans of chopped tomatoes....try to get any of this stuff organic due to pesticides
1 cucumber (peeling optional) small diced as well
1 bunch (4-5)of green onion thinly sliced up into the green parts for color and flavor
2-3 garlic cloves chopped ...or 2 T already diced garlic, if you are lazy like me...great to have in the frig
2 cups of tomato juice (or V-8 is great too)
Juice of at least 1 lime....maybe 2...this is vital to the flavor
Salt and pepper to taste
Now for the best part...a handful of fresh cilanto chopped

Another little trick if you have any Tequila laying around, put a couple tablespoons of that in there...yummy!

Also a jalapeno pepper is great to add...as you like the hot...small diced of course or a few red pepper flakes to taste or a few shakes of red pepper sauce...the hot is in your hands!

Now stir and let it chill and blend to yummy goodness...some recipes call for up to 6 hours of chilling but who can wait that long?...

Serve with Tortilla chips and diced avocado and more cilantro...it's up to you!
Enjoy...I gotta make this stuff today!

Fruit and Nut Granola (gluten free)

Hey everyone...this is my new blog...how important am I????
I just wanted a space to share recipes, swap pointers and helpful food hints, and just have fun!
...The first recipe is the one I made this morning...and it's not like I cook every morning...
It's a really yummy granola that I altered a bit to NOT include any wheat or gluten products because my husband can't eat it...so hear we go!

You need a big bowl , a small bowl, a big spoon and a cookie sheet that's about 10x15 or so with a 1 inch lip..

4 cups of rolled oats
1 cup flaked coconut ( I like to use unsweetened coconut )
1/2 cup sunflower kernels, flax seed, pecans, walnuts, sesame seeds, etc...each...depending on what you like and have in the cupboard

Mix all that in the big bowl
In the little bowl...

1/2 cup of honey ( or maple syrup or brown sugar)
4 T. of oil...olive or expeller pressed canola or whatever you like to use
4 T of orange peel...or a dash of orange extract...or omit if neither...the orange peel really adds a kick to the flavors.
2 t. vanilla extract
1/2 t. salt...but I leave this out because it really doesn't need salt

Mix that up in the little bowl and stir into big bowl until well mixed
Spread it out on the ungreased cookie sheet or baking dish...as thin a layer as you can for baking
Pop it into a 350 degree oven and set timer for 10 minutes
Stir in 10 minutes and set timer for 10 minutes
Stir it up again...turn it over on the sheet to get it all brown and yummy, then set the timer 10m
It usually needs about 40 minutes or 4 times of stirring to get it evenly browned and not burned

Then comes the good part...put the hot oat mixture back into the big bowl and add...

1 cup each dried cranberries, raisins, dates, figs, whatever you have in the dried fruit department......I like to add the fruit when the oats are hot to soften them a bit too

Let it dry completely and store in an airtight container...
This last a couple of weeks if no one is in the mood to eat granola ...or a couple days if everyone is in the mood to eat granola..

Okay...I need someone else to share a recipe they have fun with...improvisation is greatly encouraged!