Gazpacho or Cucumber Salsa?

It's time for a recipe post.

So since I was pretty much non-existent/missing in action all weekend at clinicals.

I thought I'd make a big batch of "side-dish" to have around for the weekend. So Friday I did some recipe-research and found a great recipe for Gazpacho.

I have never made or ate Gazpacho before, and neither has Ryan. So I pulled out from fresh veggies, our handy food processor and cooked away.

I didn't really "dig" the recipe, since it was calling for raw onions (and that makes my stomach SCREAM in pain) -

 So I tweaked. And here it is:

• 2 cans Tomato Juice
• 1 medium tomato
• 1 cucumber, sliced/chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley
• 1/2 large onion
• 1/2 green pepper
• 1/2 Habenero pepper (if that's how you "roll"...you can skip this if your feelin' mild)
• 2 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• pepper to taste (salt is kind of unneccessary since there's tomato juice in this!)

1. Sautee the onions, habenero, and garlic in a pan until soft
2. Chop all ingredients and add to food processor
3. Add cucumbers and tomatoes last, for you don't want these chopped too finely.
4. Refridgerate for 2 hours minimum to allow flavors to blend.

Now, Friday night instead of eating this as the traditional Gazpacho soup, that is normally is. I used it as a garnish to our Tilapia Fillets. It. Was. Heavenly. An excellent complement to the fish! Very, very fresh!

Here is where the humor comes in.

Saturday I was at clinicals all day. We had a going away party to attend that evening. So, I planned on just meeting Ryan there (since I don't get off clinicals until about 7:40 pm).

When I arrived, Ryan said, "Hey, I am so sorry - I put it in a container and everything, but I forgot to bring that cucumber salsa to the party. Man I ate that stuff right up today -- best salsa you've made in awhile! Nice work!"

....I hesitated for a moment, because I didn't get what he was talking about.

And then it dawned on me -- that he thought the garnish on our fish Friday night was salsa.
So, apparently I did something wrong with this recipe. I had some for lunch yesterday - and yep, it definitely was tasting like a salsa with a fresh-cucumber-y kick.

But delicious! So, if you decide to try this recipe....don't expect gazpacho-y freshness.