It’s hot. It’s too hot to eat, much less cook. The kids, however, insist on being fed. Get out your can openers, folks, it’s dinnertime.

This version of gazpacho originally came down to me from the sample counter at Trader Joe’s, and I’ve been passing it along and trying new variations ever since. It can be as convenient or as “scratch” as you want it to be, and it holds up well in the fridge for a few days, so make plenty. You can adjust the heat levels to suit your family’s taste, and any child of finger-food age or older will find something tasty in their bowl. It’s incredibly simple (and fun) to vary this recipe according to what you have on hand or what looks good at the market. And healthy? Hell yeah.

Chunky Gazpacho

Mix the following ingredients in a large bowl:  

1 container fresh salsa

1 can chickpeas, drained

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cucumber, peeled/seeded/chopped

1 avocado, diced

A handful of chopped fresh cilantro

Fresh lime juice 

Enough regular or spicy vegetable juice to make it “soupy” (go low-sodium)

I like to add a couple of chopped tomatoes to give it some more bulk, and you can vary the different beans. Fresh or frozen corn kernels are a great addition, and I often put a bowl of crumbled cotija cheese on the table for everyone to top their servings. I like to serve this with thin wedges of quesadilla or tortilla chips and call it a meal, but it also works great as a vehicle for fish, shrimp, or shredded chicken. This gazpacho can be served immediately, but it’s even better if you can make it ahead by at least an hour or two and chill it before chowing down.

Speaking of cool treats on a summer day, that ice cream idea from yesterday has already become a family favorite: I rocked their socks by busting out a bag after dinner and shaking us up a little dessert.  We’ve decided to make this a part of the vacation time we’ll be spending with our extended family soon, and I can’t wait to experiment with different flavors. I wish I’d known about this in time for the last birthday party we threw.
 

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