Garden Gazpacho

Cold soups based on fresh vegetables became popular with Westerners in the 1950s. Of these, gazpacho - combining soup and salad in a single bowl- has long been a summertime favorite in California and the Southwest. The version below can take two forms. Made with chicken broth, its light and mild; if you use nippy tomato cocktail, it has more substance. Serve it well chilled, with juicy lime wedges to squeeze into each serving.

1 large cucumber (about 12 oz.)
2 large ripe tomatoes (about 1 lb. total), peeled, seeded and chopped
1 large red, green or yellow bell pepper (about 8 oz), seeded and chopped
1 can (about 2 1/4 oz.) sliced ripe olives, drained
1/4 cup lime juice
4 cups chicken broth or spicy tomato cocktail
1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dry thyme
Liquid hot pepper seasoning

Lime wedges

Peel cucumber and cut in half lengthwise; scrape out and discard seeds. Chop cucumber; place in a large bowl and add tomatoes, bell pepper, olives, lime juice, broth, garlic, onions and thyme. Stir well; season to taste with hot pepper seasoning.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until next day. Before serving, stir well. Ladle into bowls and serve with lime wedges. Makes 8 servings.

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Sweet Potato Soup

Thick, smooth sweet potato soup is a nice opener for a cool-weather dinner. Try it before an entree of pork tenderloin or roast chicken.

3 pounds sweet potatoes or yams, peeled and diced
About 6 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 tablespoon curry powder
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup dry sherry (optional)
salt and pepper
Cilantro leaves (optional)

In a 4- to 5-quart pan, combine sweet potatoes and 6 cups of the broth. Bring to a boil over high heat; then reduce heat, cover and simmer until potatoes are enough to mash readily (about 20 minutes). With a slotted spoon, transfer potatoes to a food processor or blender; add curry powder and a little of the broth. Whirl until smoothly pureed.

Return puree to pan; add tomato paste, lemon juice and sherry (if used). Stir over medium heat until heated through; thin with more broth, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with cilantro, if desired. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

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Water Chestnut Appetizers

Salty, smoky and sweet, these bacon-wrapped bites taste best when made ahead, the heated.

1/4 cup soy sauce
16 canned whole water chestnuts (from one 8 oz. can), drained
4 slices bacon
1/4 cup sugar

Pour soy sauce into a small bowl; add water chestnuts and let stand for 30 minutes. Cut each slice of bacon in half clockwise; then cut each piece in half again lengthwise.

Drain water chestnuts briefly. Roll each one in sugar, ten wrap in a piece of bacon and secure with a wooden pick. Arrange bacon-wrapped chestnuts on a wire rack in a shallow baking pan lined with foil. Bake in a 400 degrees even until bacon is browned and crisp (20 to 25 minutes). Drain on paper towels. Serve hop. If made ahead, let cool; then cover and refrigerate for up to 8 hours. To rehear, arrange in a shallow baking pan and heat in a 350 degrees oven for about 5 minutes. Make 16 appetizers.

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