Cold Soup for a Hot Day: Raw Cucumber Avocado Soup

I just returned from vacation Saturday evening (more on that in my next post) and it's suddenly blisteringly hot here in Middle Tennessee.  The thought of turning on the stove or oven makes me break out in miserable sweat, so I found a great savory meal that's cooling and super fast to make; perfect for the busy working mom... Raw cucumber avocado soup.  Check it out:

Cucumber Avocado Soup

1 cucumber, peeled if not organic

1/2 avocado

1/2 green apple

1/2 cup fresh cilantro

3 tbsp. lemon juice

1-2 kale leaves

1/4 - 1/2 cup broccoli

2 garlic cloves

1/8 - 1/4 cup red onion

sea salt to taste

2 tbsp. nutritional yeast (optional)

1/4 tsp chipotle pepper powder (optional, but amazing)

Add everything but the avocado to a blender and blend on high until smooth.  Next, add the avocado and blend on a medium setting until creamy.  Avocado will "froth up" in the blender if you blend too much, so you want to be gentle with it.  This soup is fantastic topped with fresh sprouts, hemp seeds, chopped tomato and green onion, or a scoop of guacamole.  It's light, refreshing, and great for cooling off on these humid summer days.  I've had it for lunch every day since Sunday, and I don't see myself tiring of it any time soon.  So good!