Watermelon Gazpacho

Summer is in full swing and a deliciously different and healthy way of taking advantage of the best summer produce is this unique gazpacho made up of fresh watermelon, and packed with a few fresh vegetables. Traditionally, gazpacho is a Spanish cold tomato based soup containing many raw vegetables and herbs. This version is a little sweet a little savory and perfect served anytime during the hot summer weather, and the colors are just gorgeous!

Ingredients:

5 cups peeled, seeded, and roughly chopped watermelon, plus 1 cup finely chopped
1/2 cup cranberry juice
1 cup peeled, seeded, and diced cucumber
1 cup diced celery (about 2 ribs)
3/4 cup diced red bell pepper (about 1 pepper)
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, minced
1/4 cup fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley, minced
Juice of 1 lime (about 3 tablespoons)
1-1/2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon jalapeno pepper, minced


Combine the 5 cups of watermelon and the cranberry juice in the bowl of a food processor, and puree until mixture is smooth.


Pass through a fine sieve into a large container, discarding pulp. You should have 3 cups of strained liquid.

Add all the remaining ingredients to the watermelon liquid, and stir to combine. Cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator until soup in well chilled, at least 1 hour.

Serve cold and enjoy. Store the rest in the refrigerator up to 1 day!

Roasted Beef, Mushroom, and Barley Soup

What better time of the year to enjoy delicious hot soup than the dead of winter time!

This recipe for Roasted Beef, Mushroom, and Barley soup is so delicious, and perfect for cold weather enjoyment. It's also good for you too!

Very simple to put together and ready in under an hour, make a steaming pot of this soup tonight! Start out by roasting the mushrooms and the meat. Roasting concentrates the flavors of the beef and mushrooms, which gives this hearty barley soup a deep, rich character.

Ingredients:

1 lb sirloin steak, cut into 1/2" strips or pieces
1 lb cremini or button mushrooms, stems trimmed and caps halved or quartered
2 shallots, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 Tbls. extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 cups of low-sodium chicken broth or water
1/2 cup quick-cooking barley

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet, toss together the steak, mushrooms, shallots, and olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer and roast until beef and mushrooms are browned, about 30 minutes.

Transfer to a medium pot and add broth and barley. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat and simmer until barley is soft, about 12 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper and enjoy with a nice piece of freshly baked bread!

Slow-Cooker Bean and Barley Soup

Serve this delicious hearty and healthy soup during the comfortable days of Autumn as well as the cold days of Winter! It guarantees to satisfy!

A helpful tip: Soak the beans overnight, in about 8 cups of cold water, just for a little re-assurance that they will not be "crunchy" when the soup is finished.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried Great Northern beans, picked over and rinsed
• 6 cups water
• 1 (14-ounce) can whole tomatoes, with juice
• 3 cloves garlic, smashed
• 2 ribs celery, chopped
• 2 medium carrot, chopped
• 1/2 medium onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup pearl barley
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 teaspoons dried Italian herb blend
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 ounce dried porcini mushrooms, optional
• 3 cups cleaned baby spinach leaves (about 3 ounces)
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• Coarse Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper to season
  
• Extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Put beans, water, tomatoes and their juices, garlic, celery, carrots, onion, barley, bay leaf, herb blend, pepper, and porcini mushrooms (if using) in a slow cooker; cover and cook on LOW until the beans are quite tender and the soup is thick, about 8 hours.

Stir in the spinach, cheese, and vinegar, cover, and let the soup cook until the spinach wilts, about 5 minutes. Taste and season with salt and black pepper, to taste.

Ladle the soup into warmed bowls and drizzle each serving with olive oil.