We're dining out with my friends from Mumbai and they're taking us to their favorite restaurant in Queens, NY.

I have no idea what they'll be ordering but I know it will be special!

Eat well, everyone!

I'm using this as a main dish. The only hot preparation is simmering the quinoa.

Heat index is 99 right now. YUK!

Air fryer steak bits with mushrooms

Mashed potatoes

Steamed broccoli with cheddar cheese

Iced sweet tea

Made with Insta-Pot pinto beans, fresh leaf lettuce, garden tomatoes, ripe olives, green onions, plain yogurt and salsa. Yum.

Slow baked as usual with a tomato based BBQ sauce near the end of baking
Baked sweet potato
Macaroni and cheese
Watermelon

stir fried veggies, and rice-a-roni rice pilaf. The first two I did myself. Excellent meal.

Small bowl of vanilla ice cream with walnuts and Hershey chocolate before bedtime.

... or at least, my home approximation of such.

- with pitas and hummus.

. Also the

OK - it's summer. Don't want a hot soup? How about this - a great, easy Gazpacho!
Rich, cool, refreshing, very satisfying. Just as easy as the Bisque.

Place, in a large bowl:

1 chopped large sweet onion
1 peeled chopped cucumber
1 large sweet pepper, seeded, cored and chopped
(optional if you like it spicy - 1 or more hot peppers, such as Jalapenos...chopped and seeded - but don't say I didn't warn ya!)
1 tbsp salt
2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
a dozen or so chopped medium to medium large tomatoes, preferably the best flavored heirloom types you can get your hands on - again, watch the color combos! The color of your soup will reflect the color of your tomatoes
1/2 cup sherry vinegar (the secret ingredient - very important - use a good one and no substitutes!)

Stir it all together well , cover with plastic wrap and just put it in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

When you are just about ready to eat, add lots of basil leaves (we use about 20 or so), cut into shreds - get your immersion blender and puree the soup.

Serve with a swirl of extra virgin olive oil and, if desired, a small swirl of great balsamic vinegar and great bread.

It is the absolute essence of summer!

braised with onions and mushrooms, with a tomato and cucumber salad and pasta. Peach cobbler for dessert.

Your peanut-cauliflower soup sounds great!