COOK THE ISSUE 2010

Cook the Issue 2010: Gazpacho "coolers"

By Pielove, member

August 30th, 2010

It's hot here in Chicago-- perfect gazpacho weather. Plus, all the vegetable ingredients arrived in my CSA box this week, including an abundance of tomatoes. I got a "flame" hot pepper in the box too, which I stuck in the gazpacho, making this a very spicy "cooler", but also adding great pepper flavor. For the tomato juice cubes, I was casting about for a spare ice cube tray when I found a set of silicone flower-shaped ice cube molds from Target. Well, those flower cubes turned out so cute-- my daughter was irked that I had made the gazpacho too spicy for her to try. This is a delicious recipe and would be great with the whole cocktail party menu as a bright, fruity and acidic counterpoint to all the other rich, salty, and fried food.

Recipe Used: Gazpacho Shots

posted in: Gallery, Cook the issue 2010

ICDOCEAN1 writes: My husband doesn't normally care for "cold soups", but toss in the crab or shrimp and he's all about cold soup, ate two servings. I personally love any kind of gazpacho, but I have never used bread in recipe that I have made in the past, must be a texture thing with me.

the corn cob takes care of the lips and all!

Posted: 5:40 pm on August 31st

Pielove writes: Sucking on a corn cob? That is the first time I have ever heard of that as a remedy for hot-mouth! I bet it works-- all the starch in the corn might adsorb some of that capsacin. Luckily my husband and I are on the same page for hot-- he really liked the gazpacho too, which surprised me as he generally dislikes raw tomatoes. Posted: 8:44 am on August 31st

ICDOCEAN1 writes: That flower is just so cute. I really liked that recipe, but of course added my own touches like crunchy vegetables.

I would have to take your side in this war as I love spicy, but I also know that other people would like to eat my food. I have long since learned to taste the peppers, there are so many on the market today, before adding it to anything. DH came home with some rainbow peppers and while they are so cute and colorful I was leery enough to taste the little buggers. Hot! I divided the salsa and added the peppers to mine.

When I was a child, I insisted upon tasting a pepper and well I sat sucking on a corn cob for the next 1/2 hour. I love hot and spicy! Posted: 7:49 am on August 31st