"I've Got Enough Gazpacho For Everyone!"

From one of my all-time favorite The Simpsons episodes. "Lisa the Vegetarian" is about Lisa becoming a vegetarian after bonding with a lamb at a petting zoo. However, she gets ridiculed by her schoolmates and family (of course) for her beliefs. But after meeting Paul and Linda McCartney via a secret passage to the roof of Apu's Kwik-E Mart, she vows to vegetarianism. I'm smiling just thinking about how absurd this storyline is. But it is oh so funny.

[Homer fills the grill with lighter fluid and prepares to grill]
Lisa: Wait Dad! Good news, everyone! You don't have to eat meat! I've got enough gazpacho for everyone.
[Crowd murmurs]
Lisa: It's tomato soup, served ice cold!
[Crowd laughs out loud as Lisa growls and stomps off]
Barney Gumble: Go back to Russia!

If Lisa can enjoy gazpacho, my boys surely can, right? It was worth a try. It's been too damn hot to cook, and great way to get some veggies in.

Shrimp Gazpacho
Adapted from Everyday Food: Great Food Fast from The Kitchens of Martha Stewart Living

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 6 plum tomatoes, chopped (about 3 cups)
• 1/2 small red onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/2 cucumber, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup finely chopped, jarred roasted red bell peppers 
• 1/4 cup finely chopped sundried tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups tomato juice
• 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over high heat, swirling to coat bottom of pan. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Add half the shrimp; cook until browned on both sides and opaque in the center, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate; repeat with remaining shrimp (reduce heat if browning too quickly).
   
   
   
   
   
2. In a food processor, combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, cucumber, and half the roasted peppers; process until combined. Add tomato juice and vinegar; process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
   
   
   
   
   
3. To serve, divide tomato mixture among bowls; top with shrimp and remaining roasted peppers.
   

The Good: Quick and easy to prepare. The boys loved the shrimp.

The Bad: Shrimp with gazpacho flavor combo had me thinking I was eating shrimp cocktail. Not necessarily a bad thing I guess!

Grade: B+. Totally refreshing, clean dish for the summer. The boys tolerated the shrimp but wanted nothing to do with ice cold tomato soup.