Summer Cucumber Soup (Vegan and non-Vegan options)

Summer hasn't officially started, but, boy, the heat sure has! In weather like this, we like to eat a lot of salads and raw foods. Not only because they help cool down our bodies, but also because they save me from having to stand in front of a hot stove.

To add variety to our summer meals, I like to make cold, no-cook soups. Here's one that serves as a great appetizer, as well as a wonderful main dish for hot summer evenings. I use fresh mint that I grow in my garden. If you don't grow your own mint, I'm telling you, you should. It's just about the easiest herb to grow, and you can use it fresh or dry it. If you don't have room for a garden, you can grow mint on your balcony or even on a sunny window ledge. Just get a starter plant, either from a nursery or pull out a rooted stem from a friend's garden, put it in a pot with some soil, give it water on a regular basis, and watch it grow. Seriously, it's that easy.

You can make this soup vegan by using almond milk yogurt, or, if you like cow's milk yogurt, use the good Greek kind, with active bacteria (don't worry, it's the beneficial kind of bacteria that keeps your digestive system healthy).

Summer Cucumber Soup

(serves 4 as an appetizer)

Fountainof Youth Juice

What do you get when you combine ginger, carrots, tangelos, mint and E3Live? Pure yumminess!

But that’s not all. By drinking this juice, you’re doing favors for your body that will have lasting benefits. Let’s take a quick look at the ingredients:

Ginger’s healing properties have been known for centuries. The natural chemicals it contains reduce nausea and inflammation, so it’s no surprise that ginger has been used to treat issues like motion and morning sickness, colic, gas, nausea and diarrhea as well as pain from arthritis and muscle soreness.

Carrots are the crunchy superfood that I eat nearly every day. Why? Well, as a great source of vitamin A and beta-carotine, they contribute to beautiful skin, good eyesight, anti-aging, prevention of cancer, stroke and heart disease, and are helpful in cleansing the body.

Tangelos are a citrus hybrid of tangerines and pomelos (or grapefruit). I love how their tangy flavor sets off the sweetness of the carrots.  Like other citrus fruits, tangelos are an excellent source of vitamin C and flavinoids. Vitamin C is well known for the treatment and prevention of colds and throat infections, as well as urinary tract infections. And for anti-aging, vitamin C can’t be beat for preventing the damage done by free radicals.

Mint is the hardy herb that anyone can grow.  Whether in a pot or in the ground, mint easily takes hold and grows with very little attention. Just give it a home and regular water, and you can have a fresh sprig of mint anytime you want! Aside from its delicious scent, mint is wonderful for treating digestive tract issues as well as for cleansing the blood.

E3Live is the world’s first and only fresh-frozen algae. It contains more than 65 vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids that are more readily absorbed by your body. To learn more about this nutritious powerhouse, click here. Be sure to check out my video on that page and let me know what you think!

And now, for the recipe!