This is a great summer recipe to prepare when it’s hot outside and you have loads of vine ripe tomatoes bursting with flavor!

Ingredients:
4 cups of tomatoes (2 1/2 cups for blending and 1 1/2 cups chopped for garnish)
1/2 cup of fresh squeezed orange juice
1 heaping cup of celery
1 medium ripe, red bell pepper, seeds and stem removed (I like to leave my bell peppers on the counter for a few weeks until they get soft and wrinkly. This makes them much sweeter and more flavorful.)
2 or 3 small persian cucumbers made into noodles. I cut my noodles into small one inch pieces for easier eating.
A handfull of fresh basil (2 large leaves or 4-5 small leaves finely chopped)

Directions:
Blend 2 1/2 cups of tomatoes with orange juice, celery and bell pepper until creamy. If making this on a cold day you can blend until slightly warm in a high powered blender like a Vitmaix. (Not hot or steaming if you want your soup to remain raw – Keep it below 118 degrees F) The Vitamix is great for gently warming soups like this. Just don’t let it run too long or it will start to boil, unless of course, that’s what you want.

Pour into a bowl and garnish with 1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes, cucumber noodles and fresh chopped basil. 
It likely won’t need it but feel free to season to taste with salt and pepper.

Bon Appetit!