Soup Up Your
Summer Evenings
I love summer. There's something special about it. Some of
my fondest memories are centered around cooking and dining
outside in the summer. If you've never done it, please by
all means give it a try. A backyard deck, a screened-in
porch, and even an apartment balcony can be festive and
romantic. And, then there's a picnic in the park. Everyone
loves a picnic. Eating outdoors is a great way to enjoy the
warm weather.
I eat outside every chance I get. I bring out a vase of
flowers (a permanent furnishing in my house), placemats,
the flatware and the plates and of course a glass for my
beverage. None of that paper or plastic stuff that I
associate with fast food goes on my table. Once you get
into a routine, you'll realize that it's just as easy to
set a table on the porch as inside the house.
Ok, so you're going outside. What do you serve?
There's something about the warm weather that makes people
want to eat just a little bit lighter. Cold fruit and
vegetable soups make an excellent first course. Follow it
with a grilled piece of meat and a salad. It'll be paradise
on the porch.
I frequently choose to serve cold soups. When the weather
is warmer, they set such a perfect tone: cool, soothing,
and full of flavors. It's the same principle as hot soup
making you comfortable in the winter. Let the variety and
abundance of fruits and vegetables available in the summer
inspire new creativity in you. They're made ahead of time
and can go straight to the table. No last minute heating or
cooking - simple as can be.
Take a look through your cookbooks. You'll be pleasantly
surprised by how many recipes you'll find. One of the most
wonderful cookbooks in my collection is Bernard Clayton,
Jr.'s The
Complete Book of Soups and Stews, published by Simon and
Schuster. He devotes an entire chapter to fruit soups. It
has 16 recipes. The Vegetables chapter has 98 recipes -
everything from artichoke to zucchini. There are seven
different recipes for tomato soup alone.