too hot to cook?

When a heat wave strikes, very little actual cooking takes place in our kitchen. However, our family still has to eat, so we rely on recipes that require not so much hard labor but are still very tasty. Like gazpacho. Here is the ingredient list for an easy version:

1 pint tomato juice
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 large cucumber, chopped
2 green peppers (I usually use the Italian pepper), chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 large clove garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon cumin
3 T red wine vinegar
1 T olive oil
bread crumbs (optional)

There are a couple ways to prepare the soup. One is to mix all of the ingredients together in a blender. Another is to combine the juice and the spices, vinegar, and oil, and then serve the chopped vegetables on the side for each person to add to his or her own bowl. Additionally, if I have some day-old bread (and we usually do), I make fine bread crumbs and add before blending, to create a slightly thicker version. Most importantly, the soup should be served very cold. Therefore, it's best to make early in the day and let it chill in the fridge for several hours. Serve with freshly sliced baguette for a very simple and refreshing light dinner, perfect for the dog days of summer!