Ode to Summer Tomatoes

DSCN0036
Originally uploaded by mickeynick.

On date night, with both kids out at friends' homes for the evening, I decided to fix my sweetheart an old-fashioned steak dinner. The heirloom tomatoes at the grocer were too good to pass up and became the centerpiece of the meal, dressed up with some balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and a sprinkling of shredded basil. Here's another tomato-rich dish.

Gazpacho

6-8 ripe red tomatoes
1 English cucumber
1/2 purple onion
3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 cups V-8
tabasco sauce

Finely dice half of the tomatoes, cucumber, and onion and place them in a large glass bowl. Roughly chop the other half of the vegetables and place in the food processor. Add the garlic, parsley, cilantro, and about 1 cup of V-8 to the food processor. Process the vegetables until smooth. Pour the processed vegetables into the bowl with the finely chopped ones. Add more V-8 until you get the consistency you want. Add tabasco to taste. Salt and pepper to taste. Chill for at least 3 hours. Serve very cold. Makes a nice light dinner with an open-faced cheese toastie.