Foodie Friday ~ Tomatoes-A-Plenty

[Penni]

As many of you know, my dad has been an amazing organic master gardener since before I was born. Now at 82 and a half and with a recent leukemia diagnosis, dad's been really slowing down. He no longer feels like working in the glorious garden that he so lovingly created. (sad face)

I've been driving to his lake home about every 3 - 4 days to help him with a bit of food prep, house chores & gardening. 

Yesterday's harvest offered TWO 5 gallon buckets of vine ripened tomatoes (just look at those beauties!). His plants are still loaded with tons of green ones so there is no end in sight to the abundance of organic goodness! Here is a simple and delicious soup recipe I threw together this week while I was busy with paperwork - too busy to prepare anything complex. Feel free to use whatever fresh ingredients you have on hand to create something similar.  I would also LOVE if you'd be willing to share any of your favorite recipes for using fresh tomatoes in the comments below. 'Tis the season - ENJOY!!

Organic Gardener Bliss Soup
This collection of ingredients is power packed with everything needed to satisfy & energize!

2 ripe tomatoes
1 carrot
½ red bell pepper
½ zucchini
½ small avocado - add more if you like it creamier
1 small shallot
1 lime, juiced
½ jalapeno pepper, seeded (add only if you like a little heat)
splash of apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon turmeric
pinch of sea salt & fresh cracked pepper, to taste
pure water, only as needed to blend

If you don't have a high speed blender, just chop your ingredients in smallish pieces then blend everything until smooth. I added some chopped tomatoes & minced habanero pepper as garnish - yes, I like it hot : )

[Susan : )]

Yummmmmmers!  : )

[Kamala Raab]

I found organic tomatoes at the Farmers Market this week and juiced them all but now I will go back for more to make this soup.  Thanks!

[ShaJ]

just thinking what am I going to have for lunch--uummm, well thanks Penni, I have all the ingredients & some raw buttery walnut crackers, so I'm off to the kitchen.

[Carolynn McDade]

This looks delicious!  Bet you enjoyed it !

thank you for the recipe ~~carolynn

[kathleen]

Hello Penni & everyone! I just made this, following it precisely, except substituting a cucumber for the zucchini and hemp seeds for the avocado...also added cayenne pepper.  It was spicy and delicious! Thanks for the inspiration Penni!

[Susan Roseberry Rowlands]

This looks great!  Can't wait for my tomatoes to ripen!

[Corinne Dixon]

This looks like a really yummy recipe.

[Wendy Geesey]

So sorry to hear about your dad slowing down Penni :(  Thanks for taking time out to post this.

Today I used

3 large tomatoes

2 Dates

sun-dried tomatoes

garlic powder

Italian herbs

onion powder (not much)

blend this well

then added about

7 oz of spinach

for a green soup/stew

I added some sweet corn cut off the cob :)

This is one of my favorites and it's so simple.

[kathy caulfield]

Fabulous!!

I am so in love with tomatoes this year :)

[Maureen Griffin]

Lovely recipe -I'm looking forward to our Summer and home grown toms. Take good care of yourself Penni , as you do,  so that you can give your Dad what you're able to. Sometimes it all comes at once -excitement, difficulties etc. Dont forget we are all here for you too!

[smallangie]

Thank you for this wonderful recipe, Penni! I bought a case of organic tomatoes and i'm going to try your recipe tomorrow.:-)

[HippyDaisyChick]

looks amazing, you are going to have tons of fun with all those tomatoes, lots of yummy recipes!!