Summer is coming and so is the hot weather. Nobody likes to cook in the heat of summer. A really hot meal on a hot day is almost as unpopular. It could be that a cool, easy to prepare summer soup is just what you need.

Below are 3 recipes for soups that can be made in your food processor or blender. If you have the ingredients on hand, none of them take more than 10 minutes to make. They are all delicious, nutritious, and really refreshing on a hot day. While the recipes all suggest you use a food processor, you can get very good results by using a blender or hand blender too.

These are all very simple recipes, so don’t be shy to modify them and get a taste that your whole family can enjoy.

Here are the recipes.

Summer Vegetarian soup

This is great tasting soup with a touch of Italy included. It is super easy to make and very healthy. It is particularly good on a hot summer day

an avocado – skin and pit removed of course

4 Roma tomatoes – they may not be quite juicy enough (see below)

Basil to taste (Thai basil is really good in this)

4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

Process

How easy is this soup? Simply throw everything into your food processor and mix until it is smooth. If you find that it is more like a smoothie than soup, simply add more liquid (or swap one of the Roma tomatoes for another more juicy variety). Pour into bowls, garnish as you wish (minced chives are nice) and enjoy.

Sensational Salsa & Black Bean

This soup is a very simple soup that takes just a few minutes to prepare. It can be served hot or cold, but always benefits from being heated.
Roughly 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

2 normal sized cans of black beans (any brand is OK, but try for low salt)

1 1/2 cups soup stock (Just use chicken, beef, or vegetable bullion)

1 cup of your favorite salsa (chunky makes a heartier soup)

1 teaspoon cumin (best to use fresh ground in the soup and you can sprinkle seeds on top too)

1/4 cup of sour cream

1-2 green onions chopped fine

Process:

Put the beans, salsa, cumin, and soup stock into a food processor (a blender is OK too). Puree the mixture until it is creamy in texture. Pour the mixture into a mid-sized pot and heat on low-medium until it is completely hot. This allows the flavours to merge. If you are going to serve it cold, move it to the fridge to cool off till it is time to eat. To eat it hot, simply serve into bowls and garnish with the onions and some of the sour cream.

MANGO SOUP

Mangos are simply divine. They are great as a fruit, mixed into drinks, added to salads. They also make a really good cool summer soup which is explained below.

Ingredients:

1 large RIPE mango (it will be soft, no squishy, to touch)

2 cups chicken soup stock (make your own or use bullion if you must)

1 TBSP lemon grass (available in most Asian markets, it looks like long
greenish reeds when you buy it)

1 TBSP ginger – Freshly chopped is best

Ground chili peppers to taste

1 cup yogurt (2% plain is best)

2 TBSP cilantro (chinese parsley) chopped fine

Process:

Chop mango and put in food processor. Mix briefly and then put in the ginger, lemon grass, chili and 1/2 cup of soup stock. Mix again till everything becomes very smooth. Move the soup into another bowl (be sure it is large enough) and mix in first the rest of the stock, and then the yogurt. This is best served cold, so put in fridge till you are ready to eat. Then put into bowls and serve with the cilantro as the garnish.

As the temperature starts to go up give these soups a try. They are all very simple and will add a new delicious and healthy dimension to your summer diet.

When looking to purchase a new oven in Toronto Ontario, consider buying a KitchenAid wall oven which is a built in model. This appliance is great at saving space. A built-in wall oven, unlike a freestanding range, is completely surrounded by kitchen cabinets. The cabinets are usually built under and above the oven, which provides plenty storage space for your bake ware and cookware.. Each detail of this KitchenAid wall oven meets the highest standards of design, performance and quality. I purchased a KitchenAid wall oven in Toronto, Ontario and have found that there are various options that meet my unique cooking needs. The appliance offers advanced technology for an excellent performance. It comes with the even-heat True convection system which provides a thorough oven heat temperature with a fan that circulates the heat evenly within the oven and cooks food more quickly and evenly. This prevents you from switching sheets of cookies from one rack to another.

To complement you kitchen décor there are a wide variety of colours you can choose from. The KitchenAid wall oven has a large capacity which adds culinary versatility.

This wall oven is the recommended type of oven accommodating for persons with disabilites. This oven can be installed at the most appropriate height for the user, and the controls can be placed within reach of a standing or sitting user.

Before purchasing this KitchenAid appliance in Toronto, make sure your measurements are precise since the oven will be built-in and will need to be flush with the cabinets. If you are an avid cook or chef and want access to 2 ovens consider a double wall oven if you have space. With the double wall oven you can cook simultaneously two different baking settings and temperature.

You must also decide before the purchase – if you want a gas or electic wall oven. That has most probably already been determined already by your home. Gas wall ovens are usually cheaper to operate, but you are limited in sizes and manufacturer. Electric ovens are usually more common and are available in all styles and sizes.

Wall ovens are made by a number of manufacturers, such as KitchenAid, and the competition is fierce. Features and prices range a lot, so proper research should be done before buying your new stylish wall oven. Online research is the first and best step in your quest for a wall oven and http://www.canadianappliance.ca/ is a great start.

By: Paul Rollins

About the Author:

I am looking into buying the eco-friendly Vortex hand-crank blender. If you have used it, please answer the following:
-Is it durable??
-Does it work?
-How is it on heavy-duty ingredients? (ice and such)
-Is it worth $75?

Thank you!!!

Healthy Reasons For Eating In

If you are searching for an easier way to achieve a healthy lifestyle for you and your family, one of the most effective ways is to prepare home-cooked meals. Here are some useful hints.

With our time being at a premium, eating at home is very often exchanged with on the go meals at fast food or casual dining dining establishments. Not only are these choices usually more taxing on the wallet than eating in, but also less healthy. You can dramatically increase the health benefits by eating at home.

Eating at Home Puts You in Control

Eating at home has numerous health benefits, but most importantly it gives you the choice of what ingredients you decide to include or omit in your meals. Have you ever glanced at what a burger at a fast food restaurant is made with- there can be tons of ingredients, some with names you’ve never heard of or cannot pronounce. When you cook at home, you can keep your foods natural and whole.

Do You Have Special Dietary Needs?

Another health benefit of eating in is that if you have special dietary needs such as limitations on fat in your foods, you can conveniently fix dishes that accommodate your health needs. No need to fret if the restaurant has a low fat dish or if there is any extra sugar included in a meal.

Portion Control

One of the reasons that many people have gained weight is due to the portions that many casual dining restaurants serve you. They are much larger than necessary. If you eat in, you can choose the appropriate amounts for you and your loved ones, reducing excessive food intake.

Food Allergens

When you eat at home, you can be more mindful in preparing foods, especially if you or a loved one has a food allergy. Food allergies many times can be serious and possibly even fatal. Preparing food at home can eliminate the risk of an allergic reaction to allergic food reaction.

Quality Time

Another benefit to dining in is the quality of time spent together. Everyone likes to be taken care of once in a while so it’s okay to eat out for special events. However, preparing home-cooked meals allows you to spend quality time with family. Each person can take part in meal preparation so it’s a shared event. By allowing children to participate in meal planning and cooking you are teaching them valuable self-sufficiency skills. The ambiance is more conducive to talking.

Make a commitment to prepare more home-cooked meals. The benefits of preparing a home-cooked meal exceed the time it takes to prepare a home-cooked meal. Your family will thank you in the end.

By: Christine Steendahl

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